Michigan's Defense Leadership, From Two Different Chairs

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 DescriptionScott 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 HomeworkIn This Episode You'll DiscoverWhy Michigan's defense industrial base is facing a two-billion-dollar-a-year funding shift, and what it means for the state's workforceHow Chuck Cogger leads an all-volunteer chapter of 1,600-plus members through trust instead of rankWhat Scott Davis learned bridging both sides of the industry-government divideWhy the AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition, October 12-14 in Washington, D.C., matters for Michigan's defense community Featured GuestsScott 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.orgResources & LinksPortions 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=48431cb0b8Explore 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-meetingLearn More: Hardcore and At Ease Framework: https://www.othersoverself.com | Personal Mission Statement Workshop / Strategy Session: info@missionambition.orgAffiliate Disclaimer: I only recommend products I genuinely use. Full disclosure: https://othersoverself.com/affiliate-disclaimer/Get the Gear: Business Report: https://hardcore-and-at-ease.captivate.fm/biz-report | StoryBrand.ai: https://hardcore-and-at-ease.captivate.fm/storybrand-ai | Business Made Simple: https://hardcore-and-at-ease.captivate.fm/bms | Flight School: https://hardcore-and-at-ease.captivate.fm/flight-school | Marketing Report: https://hardcore-and-at-ease.captivate.fm/marketing-reportSubscribe & ConnectListen: 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