Andy Yakulis—West Point graduate, former Army pilot, and Special Operations officer turned defense tech entrepreneur—joins Joe to talk about leadership, transition, and the rapidly changing nature of modern warfare.
Recruited to West Point just days before September 11th, Andy entered the Army knowing he would serve during a generation defined by war. After flying Kiowa Warrior reconnaissance helicopters and spending nearly a decade in Special Operations, he became increasingly frustrated with the gap between the technology soldiers used in combat and what existed in the civilian world.
Joe and Andy discuss Andy’s decision to leave the Army at 18 years to start Vector, a company focused on unmanned systems, as well as the challenges of military transition, the realities of leadership in the private sector, and how paying attention to what captures your curiosity might reveal the work you’re meant to pursue.
Watch the full interview on YouTube!
Joe and Andy also discuss:
- Why physical fitness and sleep still shape Andy’s decision-making as a CEO
- The value of civilian education for military leaders
- The “Saturday morning coffee test” for discovering what you’re passionate about
- Why veterans shouldn’t feel pressure to find the perfect post-military job immediately
- The challenge of leading teams in the private sector
- How drone warfare is reshaping the battlefield
- The concept of “attritable mass” and the future of unmanned systems
- Why the future of warfare may shift from one operator controlling one drone to one operator orchestrating many
Whether you’re transitioning out of the military, thinking about entrepreneurship, or trying to understand how technology is changing warfare, this episode offers insights on leadership, innovation, and the courage to pursue the work you feel called to do.
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