Episode #113: Strategy and Tactics for the Surge with Joe Katuzeinski

Lessons From The Cockpit

🎙️ Episode – Lessons from the Cockpit Welcome to another mission-ready episode of the Lessons from the Cockpit show! I’m your host Lt. Col. Mark Hasara, retired Air Force KC-135 pilot, Weapons School graduate, and aviation fanatic for over 60 years. Strap in for this one—because we’re bringing serious airpower experience to the table. Joining me today is one of the smartest Air Force officers I’ve ever worked with—Lt. Col. Joe “TAZZ” Katuzeinski. He and I go way back to our Weapons and Tactics days at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa in the '90s. Since then, TAZZ has led combat operations from the heart of Iraq to the highest levels of campaign planning. TAZZ served as the Operations Support Squadron Commander at Baghdad International Airport in 2006 and returned in 2008 as a strategist for the Surge and its air campaign, helping dismantle terror networks and put major pressure on insurgents and Hezbollah operatives backed by Iran’s Qassem Soleimani. These stories aren’t just historic—they’re tactical gold. This is air campaign planning at its highest level—and it’s all in this episode. 🛩️ Sponsor Highlight – Wall Pilot Aviation Art Support for this show comes from Wall Pilot—your source for high-quality vinyl aircraft profile art. Choose from over 158 ready-to-print designs or get your own jet custom-drawn with your name on the canopy, accurate loadout, and unit markings. Perfect for your home, office, squadron walls, or hangar—these 4, 6, and 8-foot aircraft prints bring history to life. 🎯 Custom profiles: Want to surge on a Home for Heroes? Visit Valorous TV's YouTube channel to FREE stream movies, documentaries and interviews with the tough as nails military badasses, law enforcement champions, Wild West gunslingers, and First Responder Superstars. Valorous TV is at 🎖️ Join the All Ranks Club on Patreon Want behind-the-scenes access to this kind of high-level content? Join the All Ranks Club on Patreon and unlock: 🎙️ Group Q&A sessions 🧭 Private Zoom calls with me 🍺 Virtual Bar Nights—aviation stories, war updates, and real talk ✈️ Monthly 7-inch aircraft profile stickers—exclusive collector’s series! 🔗 Join the squadron here: 🎁 Gift a membership to the aviation nut in your life: 💸 Keep the Show Airborne Every dollar keeps these missions flying. Support the show directly via: ✈️ Venmo: ✈️ Zelle: 📲 Follow Me on Social Media for Daily Aviation Content 📷 Instagram: @markhasara 🎬 TikTok: @markhasara ▶️ YouTube: Lessons from the Cockpit Thanks for tuning in, supporting the mission, and keeping the stories of air combat, leadership, and strategy alive. And remember... Nobody kicks ass without tanker gas... NOBODY!