Thad Forester, Author at

Ep 090 | Troy Bye – The Long Road to Cyber Security, Insider Threat & Intelligence

June 20, 2022 By Thad Forester

M. Troy Bye, is an Executive Director with ManTech and has spent much of his career managing large IT programs for customers within the Intelligence Community in the Washington D.C. area. ManTech has a long history of supporting the FBI. Now, with the FBI’s transition of many of their cyber programs to Huntsville, AL, Troy recently relocated his family to support ManTech’s efforts in transitioning the FBI work to the Huntsville area.

In early 2022, Bye started the “Our Town Podcast” to facilitate his integration into the community as he interviews a wide range of guests on various topics related to business, entertainment, sports, and the arts. Troy and his wife, Wendy, have four children and reside in Madison, AL.

As a very young boy, his father and mother both suffered serious and permanent brain injuries–one year apart. Fortunately, he had family and other role models to help him get where he is today.

Mentioned in this episode:
–Huntsville ranked #1 place to live in US – US News and World Report
–Rocket City Trash Pandas
–ManTech

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Ep 089 | Jennie Taylor – Gold Star Wife and Mother of 7

May 2, 2022 By Thad Forester

Jennie Taylor was taking a much needed break by spending the weekend with friends from college, therefore she wasn’t home when the “knock” came at her door.

In January of 2018, her husband, Major Brent Taylor left his position as Mayor of North Ogden, UT and deployed to Afghanistan with the US Army for what would have been a year-long deployment. On November 3, 2018 Major Taylor was killed in action in a planned, insider attack by one of the Afghan commandos he was training.

In the months and now years since Brent’s shocking death, Jennie has unexpectedly and frequently found herself in a position to speak out about the price of freedom, the value of community support, and the healing that can be found when moving forward with a conviction to find hope and happiness in spite of life’s heartache and pain.

You can read more about Major Brent Taylor below:

Military Times

https://www.majorbrenttaylor.com/

And watch Jennie’s Ted Talk here

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Ep 088 | Combat Controllers – Small Force, Big Impact

February 7, 2022 By Thad Forester

CMSgt (retired) Michael Lamonica and MSG (retired) Kyle Stanbro, both retired Air Force combat controllers join us to break down what CCT’s do and their roles in the war on terror, Afghanistan withdrawal, and humanitarian missions throughout the world. And, why CCTs are arguably the deadliest force to ever walk the planet.

With each of them having over 30 yrs of active service, they’ve experienced a wide range of deployments, both combat related and due to natural disasters. In addition, they’ve trained CCT’s in the pipeline.

We also discuss their fundraising efforts for the Combat Control Association. Mike is the President and Kyle is a member of the board and they have worked tirelessly to raise money thru the Combat Control Foundation so they can support CCT’s and their families in times of need.

Previous episodes mentioned:

Episode 15 – Ronnie Rains

Episode 64 – Dan Schilling – Alone at Dawn

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Thad’s Recommended Reading

January 23, 2022 By Thad Forester

Clearly, I’m not a fiction guy.

2022

–The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter
–Fortitude by Dan Crenshaw
–Lead to Serve and Serve to Lead by Armfield and Fister

2021

–The Power of Awareness by Dan Schilling
–Three Wise Men by Beau Wise and Tom Sileo

2020

–Lucky 666: The Impossible Mission by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin
–The Stenuous Life: Theodore Roosevelt and the Making of the American Athlete by Ryan Swanson
–Stealth War: How China Took Over While America’s Elite Slept by Robert Spaulding
–Coming Back Stronger: Unleashing the Hidden Power of Adversity by Drew Brees
–The Man Who Knew the Way to the Moon by Todd Zwillich
–Leadership Strategy and Tactics: Field Manual by Jocko Willink

2019

–Catch me if you Can: The True Story of a Real Fake by Frank Abagnale
–Grateful American: A Journey from Self to Service by Gary Sinise
–Alone at Dawn by Dan Schilling

2018

–Rocket Men by Robert Kurson
–Always My Hero: The Road to Hope and Healing Following My Brother’s Death in Afghanistan by Renee Nickell
–The Time of Our Lives by Tom Brokaw

Ep 087 | Kyle Defoor – Former SEAL, Sniper and current Firearms Instructor

December 27, 2021 By Thad Forester

To end the year, I’m playing my all-time most downloaded episode.

Right after high school graduation, Kyle Defoor @defoorproformanceshooting left for boot camp in Orlando. A few months later, he was in Coronado going thru BUD/S as an 18-year-old kid.

We talk about growing up together in the small town of Haleyville, AL. And since his chances of playing D-1 football were looking slim, he joined the military. He knew he wanted some type of special operations, but all he knew was the Army’s Green Beret’s (from watching Rambo). After meeting with an overweight Army recruiter, he moved along and met a decent Navy recruiter showing the old video “Someone Special”.

Kyle also shares how he prepared for the Navy and BUD/S. These were pre-internet days, so information wasn’t easy to get. He went to the library and talked with a man in town who was a SEAL from the Vietnam era.

After serving 10 years in the Navy, he got out, did some contracting and other odd jobs and then formed his own company in 2010 “Defoor Proformance Shooting”.

This episode is good stuff from an experienced special operator who was part of multiple military operations globally. He also speaks in generalities about the teams he was part of.

If you’re preparing for BUD/S, this is a good one to listen to b/c you get some insight on Kyle’s mindset and advice. He also shares what he’d do differently.

Read more about Kyle and you’ll understand why he says “boot camp was the greatest thing ever” and why he’d do BUD/S again.

Kyle Defoor supports The Mark Forester Foundation

My notes from Kyle’s Scoped Rifle Class

*This is a rebroadcast from 2017*

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