china — Podcast — 12 Geniuses

Vance Cryer | The Threats to American Democracy

Finding and fighting against national security threats is a crucial job. In any election cycle, it’s even more necessary as political enemies and disinformation can pose serious threats to our democratic process. As a career veteran and defense specialist, Vance Cryer helps spotlight the threats we may face in the intersection between polarization and national defense and how we can overcome them. Vance describes America’s external threats, what they stand to gain by a weakened America, and how they are using America’s division as a tool to undermine democracy.

Vance Cryer was born in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1968. To help pay his way through school, Vance worked as a journeyman plumber and also helped his grandfather in a business that prewired new houses for telephone service. During his first semester of school, he joined the Air Force ROTC. He then got a job at the local airport filling airplanes with gas and scraping bugs off windshields, using the cash he earned to pay for flying lessons thereby fulfilling his lifelong dream of being a pilot. By the end of that first semester, he contracted with the Marines to compete for one of two slots in north Texas for Officer Candidate School.

Vance's 27-year career with the Marines took him through flight school in Pensacola, Florida; to Top Level School at the National War College in Washington, D.C., where he earned a master's degree in national strategic studies; to four AV-8B squadron tours, including as the commanding officer of Marine Attack Squadron 211. He completed six combat tours in Iraq and served two tours of duty at the Pentagon-Headquarters Marine Corps in the Department of Aviation. In 2013, he was promoted to colonel and commanded the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit at Camp Pendleton. In 2016, he was handpicked by Secretary Ray Mabus as the Marine Military Assistant to the Secretary of the Navy.

In August 2018, Vance retired from active duty in the Marine Corps and is now serving as a Director for Special Programs at Lockheed Martin Missiles & Fire Control (MFC). He serves as the liaison between MFC and Lockheed Martin Aerospace, working on the leading edge of missile and sensor technologies and future capabilities.

Thank you to Starts with Us for their collaboration on this series. Starts with Us is an organization committed to overcoming extreme political and cultural division. Check them out at startswith.us.

Scott Stalker | Transitions, Space Exploration, & Conflict

In this episode of 12 Geniuses, Scott Stalker joins the show to talk about his career transition, the future of space exploration, and the signals the wars in Ukraine and Middle East are sending us about the future. Scott has been a guest of 12 Geniuses twice in the past while he was Command Senior Enlisted Leader of US Space Command in Colorado Springs, CO. After 31 years of dedicated service, Scott retired from the United States Marine Corps in August of 2023.

In this discussion, he shares some of the important lessons he learned from his own career transition. He talks about being prepared for opportunities before they arrive, the importance of activating his personal network and having respected supporters ready to advocate for him, and why it is critical to know his value and worth. Scott believes anyone going through a career transition should understand what they love and enjoy. He said he took a test of his personal strengths to help determine that. He also shared his belief that transition is a journey and he is actively preparing for where that journey may take him years into the future.

The second part of the conversation focuses on the potential of space - mining, tourism, and colonization. Scott talks about how investment in space will continue and grow significantly in the next decade. He cites regulation as one of the challenges to current expansion, however, he believes that - much like the International Space Station - there will be space hotels in the future where humans will be able to take vacations. Scott talks about the incredibly valuable resources - precious metals and water - in space available for mining that will keep the Earth economy going. He truly believes humans “will be a multi-planetary species.” He notes that the current advances in space are not led by governments as in the past. Instead, it is commercial investments like Space X that are leading the way.

The conversation finishes with Scott’s assessment of the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. He talks about the signals they are sending about the future. Traditional assessment of an enemy involves thinking about the weather, the enemy, and the terrain. Scott says the war in Ukraine has demonstrated that another assessment variable needs to be added to this list - “the will” of the leader and the people. He believes other governments are watching the international support of Ukraine with caution.

Scott Stalker served on active duty in the United States Marine Corps for 31 years, retiring in August 2023. While on active duty, Scott served as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader for the Defense Intelligence Agency, United States Cyber Command, National Security Agency, and in his final assignment with United States Space Command. He served in a multitude of locations during his distinguished military career to include combat operations in Somalia and Iraq and was assigned to Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command from 2010 to 2014.

Scott has a bachelor’s degree in intelligence studies and a master’s degree in cybersecurity, as well as an organizational leadership certificate from Harvard Kennedy School of Government. He completed studies at John Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, where he became a SECDEF Strategic Thinkers Program CAPSTONE graduate.

Scott currently serves as a senior consultant and executive advisor for several different corporations. He is a keynote speaker for high-profile events within the federal government, intelligence community and national security sector and serves on the boards of several businesses and nonprofits. Additionally, Scott currently serves as a senior fellow for the National Defense University.

Previous episodes with Scott Stalker:

The Future of War with MGySgt Scott H. Stalker from November 10, 2020

Leadership and Love with MGySgt Scott Stalker from November 9, 2022

China's Global Leadership with Paul Haenle

In this episode, Paul Haenle and 12 Geniuses host Don MacPherson talk about the rise of China as a global economic and military superpower. They discuss President Xi Jinping’s consolidation of power and future as China’s leader. They also talk about the past, present and future of US/China relations, China’s challenges, and their “no limits” agreement with Russia that was signed days before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The Future of War with MGySgt Scott H. Stalker

In this episode, Don MacPherson is joined by MGySgt Scott H. Stalker, the Command Senior Enlisted Leader of United States Space Command. They discuss the future of war, including new technology, how we fight, and the importance of protecting equal access to space. They also discuss new and developing threats against American democracy, the dangers of misinformation and manipulation, and the ways in which the United States military is preparing to protect its citizens from new technologies.

MGySgt Scott H. Stalker is the Command Senior Enlisted Leader of the United States Space Command. MGySgt Stalker has dedicated his career to serving in the United States military. Prior to accepting his current position, MGySgt Stalker served as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader for the National Security Agency, the Defense Intelligence Agency, and United States Cyber Command.

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