Dave Rosenberg

The Strategic Veteran

🎖️🇺🇸Former Navy flight officer Dave Rosenberg shares how his leadership skills evolved from the cockpit to C-suite influence in this inspiring Strategic Veteran podcast episode.

🎙️ In this episode, host Adam Peters sits down with Dave Rosenberg — author, dynamic speaker, and former Navy Naval Flight Officer — to discuss everything from flying a surprise mission in Operation Desert Shield to leading four companies in the civilian world. Dave unpacks what ‘radical accountability’ truly means, the misunderstood value of soft (high-leverage) skills veterans carry, and how a single counseling session with a struggling sailor helped shape his entire philosophy on leadership.

This powerful interview breaks down resilient transition mindsets, Veteran imposter syndrome, and the career pivots that transformed Dave’s military ethos into a civilian mission. If you're a transitioning service member, veteran entrepreneur, or leader searching for purpose-driven direction — this episode is for you.

📘 Dave is the author of *Locked On Leadership* and host of the *Business Wingmen Podcast*. He's coached over 100 businesses and brings firsthand experience combining military service, martial arts, and entrepreneurship into transformative frameworks for leaders.

📌 Episode Chapters:

0:00 - Intro to Dave Rosenberg & Naval Aviation Background

3:40 - Mission to Transition: Soft Skills vs. Hard Skills

7:21 - Flying in Operation Desert Shield: The Accidental First Mission

11:18 - From Test Scores to Flight School: Becoming a Naval Flight Officer

18:05 - Civilian Flight Training & FAA Medical Challenges

22:41 - Leadership That Sticks: A Sailor, A Dirty Head, and a Lesson

30:45 - Bloom Where You're Planted: Career Advice for Veterans

38:12 - Sales, Transition Struggles & Military Identity Crisis

44:10 - Radical Accountability Defined: What It Is and Why It Works

54:33 - Unlocking Veteran Potential in Consulting & Coaching

1:05:18 - Discovering Your Values: The Exercise That Changes Everything

1:12:46 - Closing Thoughts & Dave’s Leadership Impact

📍 Key Discussion Points:

• Transitioning from Naval officer to a corporate leadership coach

• Flying the first Navy mission in Operation Desert Shield — by accident

• Breaking through imposter syndrome and undervaluing soft skills

• Creating cultures of accountability using military leadership tools

• Why veterans are uniquely qualified to become impactful consultants

• How defining personal values can maximize career and life alignment

🎖️🇺🇸 Military Experience Highlights:

- Branch: United States Navy

- Role: Naval Flight Officer, Aviation Officer Candidate School (Pensacola)

- Notable Moment: Flew the first Navy mission in Operation Desert Shield

- Leadership: Division Officer, Legal Officer, Operations

- Key Impact: Mentored sailors, shaped team morale, learned adaptation through frequent leadership rotations

💼 Expertise & Civilian Success:

- Career: President of four companies, Consultant for 100+ businesses

- Focus: Radical accountability, leadership development, veteran soft skill application

- Author: *Locked On Leadership*

- Podcast Host: Business Wingmen Podcast

- Community: Advocates for veteran entrepreneurship & leadership training

#LeadershipDevelopment #VeteranSuccess #RadicalAccountability #MilitaryTransition #DaveRosenberg