Deep Intel From the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

[Valin]

Sep 9, 2023

Admiral Mike Mullen, USN (Ret.), 17th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, joins Ward for an in-depth discussion about his unlikely path from Hollywood to the Naval Academy and 43-year career in the U.S. Navy, topped by four years as the U.S. military's highest ranking officer.

0:00 - 4:18: Young life in Hollywood

4:19 - 9:52: Path to the U.S. Naval Academy

9:53 - 20:35: Life as a midshipman during the Vietnam War

20:36 - 27:02: Junior officer sea tours 27:03 - 34:42: First command challenge and "zero defect mentality"

34:55 - 37:16: Senior commands and second career challenge

37:54 - 52:45: George Washington Battle Group command

52:49 - 1:10:20: Time as Chief of Naval Operations (including firing of Vice Admiral Joe Sestak)

1:10:25 - 1:26:51: Assignment as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and running the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan

1:26:52 - 1:44:37: Bin Laden raid

1:49:00 - 2:08:13: Thoughts on the war in Iraq (including the idea of re-instituting the draft)

2:08:15 - 2:16:49: Thoughts on the war in Afghanistan (including the Biden exit strategy)

2:16:50 - 2:19:49: Teaching future naval officers at the U.S. Naval Academy

2:19:50 - 2:29:55: Thoughts on the current politcal landscape and threats to American democracy (including the Senator Tuberville admiral nominations holdup)