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Michigan's Defense Leadership, From Two Different Chairs

Michigan's Defense Leadership, From Two Different Chairs

Author: Mission Ambition, LLC September 1, 2026 Duration: 55:13
Hardcore and At Ease - powered by Others Over Self®
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Ep63: Michigan's Defense Leadership, From Two Different Chairs | Hardcore and At Ease - powered by Others Over Self®

Michigan's defense leadership doesn't come from one seat. This week you'll hear host Shelly Rood interview two entirely different chairs, and uncover what holds both of them up when nobody's checking the work anymore.

This episode is dedicated to Julie Fathbruckner, a founding member of Women in Defense who spent years working alongside AUSA and NDIA on behalf of Michigan's defense community. She will be deeply missed.

Episode Description

Scott Davis, President of NDIA Michigan, the National Defense Industrial Association's Michigan chapter, spent 30 years in the U.S. military including time as a Army Reserve officer and a program executive officer at the Detroit Arsenal before leading BAE Systems' combat vehicle division. He talks candidly about the two-billion-dollar-a-year funding shift threatening Michigan's ground vehicle industrial base, and why the instincts he built in uniform are the same ones guiding NDIA's advocacy today.

Chuck Cogger, Chapter President of the Arsenal of Democracy Chapter of the Association of the United States Army, AUSA, spent 23 years of active duty as a field artillery officer. He shares how the planning discipline he built in the military now runs an all-volunteer chapter of over 1,600 members, and why leading through trust instead of rank has made Michigan's AUSA chapter a model the national organization points to.

Two different roles, two different organizations, and the same underlying thread: judgment built while earning a title doesn't expire the day the title does. Shelly calls this Lived Authority. It's still yours to use, whether or not anyone is still checking.

Chapters

(00:00) Show Intro and Premise (01:11) When Orders Stop (01:53) Remembering Julie (03:03) Meet Scott Davis (04:13) Michigan Defense Legacy (07:41) Scott's Career and Deployments (11:19) NDIA Leadership Path (13:37) Arsenal Funding Risks (20:08) Getting Involved With NDIA (27:34) Sponsor Break and Return (29:04) Meet Chuck Cogger (51:17) Final Reflections and Homework

In This Episode You'll Discover

  • Why Michigan's defense industrial base is facing a two-billion-dollar-a-year funding shift, and what it means for the state's workforce
  • How Chuck Cogger leads an all-volunteer chapter of 1,600-plus members through trust instead of rank
  • What Scott Davis learned bridging both sides of the industry-government divide
  • Why the AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition, October 12-14 in Washington, D.C., matters for Michigan's defense community

Featured Guests

Scott Davis - President, NDIA Michigan. 30-year Army Reserve officer, former Detroit Arsenal program executive officer, former VP of combat vehicle systems at BAE Systems. Connect: https://ndia-mich.org/

Chuck Cogger - Chapter President, Arsenal of Democracy Chapter of AUSA. 23-year field artillery officer. Connect: https://www.ausaarsenalofdemocracy.org/ | presidentaod@ausa.org | membership.aod@ausa.org

Resources & Links

Portions of this conversation are featured in A&D Intel, the newsletter Macomb County's Chamber of Commerce publishes for the aerospace and defense community. Subscribe: https://macombcountychamber.us18.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=794f0be43deedac8bc379a174&id=48431cb0b8

Explore membership: Arsenal of Democracy Chapter of AUSA (https://www.ausaarsenalofdemocracy.org/) | NDIA Michigan (https://ndia-mich.org/)

2026 AUSA Annual Meeting registration: https://www.ausa.org/news/registration-opens-2026-ausa-annual-meeting

Learn More: Hardcore and At Ease Framework: https://www.othersoverself.com | Personal Mission Statement Workshop / Strategy Session: info@missionambition.org

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Subscribe & Connect

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify (https://hardcore-and-at-ease.captivate.fm/listen) | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbwdY5eMeQlCbUmUIAmiiedzPazjuPBxG) | https://othersoverself.com Connect: LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/missionambition/) | Instagram @TheShellyRood | Twitter/X @OthersOverSelf Email: info@missionambition.org | Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts | Work with Shelly: info@missionambition.org


Hardcore and At Ease-powered by Others Over Self® explores the quiet tension between relentless drive and sustainable peace. This isn't another leadership podcast about hustle culture or empty platitudes for work-life balance. Instead, it digs into a very specific, often unspoken dilemma: what happens when your innate intensity-your hardcore commitment to exceptional results-feels at odds with your well-being and the health of your team? You might recognize the feeling of operating from a constant state of urgency, wondering why success feels so arduous while others seem to navigate their careers and lives with more grace and less friction. The conversations here are built on the premise that you are not broken or lacking; the problem is that most conventional advice fails to address the core conflict of being both highly driven and genuinely at ease. Through candid interviews and reflective commentary, the podcast examines this intersection of business, culture, and personal philosophy. Listeners will hear practical frameworks and stories that challenge the either/or mindset, suggesting that profound achievement and profound calm aren't mutually exclusive. It’s for managers, founders, and anyone in a position of influence who is tired of the burnout narrative and seeks a more integrated, sustainable approach to ambition. Each episode aims to provide not just insight, but a tangible shift in perspective, helping you channel your deep care for results without sacrificing your sense of self or compassion for others. The dialogue is rooted in the principle that putting others over self isn't about martyrdom, but about building a foundation of trust and collective efficacy that, ironically, allows for greater individual focus and resilience. Tune in for a nuanced take on what it means to lead and live with both ferocious intent and genuine composure.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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