America’s Frontlines

Tom Sheffield
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Government

”America’s Frontlines” brings you firsthand perspectives from those shaping the future of national security and defense. From military leaders and system integrators to technologists and field operators, each episode dives into the challenges, innovations, and missions that define America’s defense infrastructure. Whether it’s AI at the tactical edge, supply chain resilience, or frontline decision-making, this podcast delivers powerful stories and actionable insights for defense professionals, policymakers, and citizens who care about the security of our nation.

  1. 8h ago

    America's Frontlines Podcast 30 October 2026

    In this episode of America’s Frontlines: What was a Russian military satellite doing just hundreds of meters from a Ukraine-linked spacecraft? Colonel Denny and Matt examine reports of an unusually close encounter between a Russian military satellite and a commercial European satellite associated with Ukraine. Was this a surveillance operation, a deliberate show of intimidation, or a warning of what future conflicts in space might look like? They discuss the growing military importance of commercial satellites, the challenges of protecting critical space-based technology, and whether increasingly aggressive maneuvers in orbit could signal a new era of warfare beyond Earth's atmosphere. Colonel Denny also takes us through some of the week's most significant news stories, examining developments at home and abroad that are affecting our daily lives. From international security concerns to issues closer to home, he offers his perspective on the headlines and why they deserve our attention. And, as always, Colonel Denny delivers another round of his trademark humor and one-liners to lighten the mood and bring a few smiles along the way. Of course, we continue our regular journey through military history, revisiting significant events that occurred around this date. From important battles and remarkable achievements to difficult decisions and lessons learned, these historical reminders help us understand the challenges previous generations faced, the sacrifices they made, and how those experiences can help us better appreciate and protect the freedoms we enjoy today. And it's time once again for Service Academy Football! Our Football Co-Host Quinton Roberts returns to join Colonel Denny for another look at the action on the gridiron. A U.S. Air Force Academy graduate and former varsity football player—quite a number of years ago, as we occasionally like to remind him—Quinton reviews last weekend's Service Academy action and previews the upcoming matchups. They discuss how Army, Navy, and Air Force are performing as the season progresses, what challenges lie ahead, and what fans can expect from another exciting weekend of college football. From the growing threat of conflict in space and today's most pressing headlines to the lessons of military history and the traditions of Service Academy football, this episode brings together another engaging mix of national security, historical perspective, good humor, and friendly competition on America's Frontlines.

  2. 2d ago

    America's Frontlines Podcast 28 October 2026

    In this episode of America’s Frontlines: When does surveillance cross the line and become a military threat? Colonel Denny and Matt examine reports that U.S. Central Command destroyed an Iranian-affiliated vessel in the Gulf of Oman after identifying it as a surveillance and targeting platform operating against American warships. With the crew reportedly removed before the vessel was destroyed, they explore the difficult decisions facing military commanders, the rules governing naval self-defense, and the challenge of protecting American forces while avoiding unnecessary loss of life. Where does intelligence gathering end and a hostile military threat begin? Colonel Denny and Matt also examine an increasingly complicated international security environment—from reports of Italian troops being deployed to Milan following violent unrest and proposed peace negotiations that could shape Ukraine's future without its president at the table, to China's disputed territorial claims involving Taiwan and a confrontation with an American warship in the South China Sea. They also discuss growing diplomatic tensions between South Korea and Ukraine. Together, these developments raise an important question: Are civil unrest, territorial disputes, and shifting international relationships creating new challenges for global stability and American national security? And, as always, Colonel Denny delivers another round of his trademark humor and one-liners to lighten the mood and bring a few smiles along the way. Our featured guest is Marine Corps veteran and Pastor Ron Carter, who returns to share more about his experiences serving our country in uniform and his continuing commitment to serving others through his faith. Ron and Colonel Denny discuss the upcoming midterm elections, the importance of the United States Constitution, and the responsibilities of citizenship. Drawing on their experiences in military service and their personal beliefs, they explore the meaning of the oath to support and defend the Constitution, the protection of religious liberty, and the importance of understanding the principles upon which our nation was founded. Of course, we continue our regular journey through military history, revisiting significant events that occurred around this date. From important battles and extraordinary acts of courage to difficult decisions and lessons learned, these historical reminders help us understand the sacrifices, achievements, and challenges that shaped our nation and the world we live in today. Retired Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer Roland Ashby returns with another installment of “Warrant Wisdom.” This time, Roland takes a look at the future of multi-purpose military bombers, examining how evolving technology, changing mission requirements, and emerging threats could influence the next generation of American airpower. It's another opportunity to learn from Roland's years of experience and his perspective on the military technology of tomorrow. And Navy veteran Theresa Robinson returns with another inspiring installment highlighting the women who have served our country. This time, she introduces us to a female Marine Corps veteran with a remarkable story worth hearing. Through their conversation, listeners will have an opportunity to learn more about her military experiences, the challenges she has faced, and the lessons she has carried forward from her service. From naval self-defense and rising international tensions to constitutional principles, military history, the future of American bombers, and the experiences of those who have worn our nation's uniform, this episode brings together another wide-ranging collection of stories and perspectives that define America's Frontlines.

  3. Oct 23

    America's Frontlines Podcast 23 October 2026

    In this episode of America’s Frontlines: Why is Israel restricting British diplomats in Jerusalem, and what does this growing dispute reveal about the tensions between Israel and its European allies? Colonel Denny and Matt examine the diplomatic confrontation over Israeli settlements, Britain's economic sanctions, and the contested status of East Jerusalem. Israel considers the city part of its capital, while Britain and much of the international community regard East Jerusalem as occupied territory. Following negotiations, Israel and Britain reached a compromise that reduced Britain's diplomatic presence and redesignated its consulate as the UK Mission, Jerusalem, with 20 British diplomats departing and a smaller staff remaining. Colonel Denny and Matt explore what these developments mean for Israeli-British relations, national sovereignty, and the continuing struggle for peace and stability in the Middle East. Colonel Denny also takes us through some of the week's most significant news stories, examining developments at home and abroad that are affecting our daily lives. From international affairs to issues closer to home, he offers his perspective on the headlines and why they deserve our attention. And, as always, Colonel Denny delivers another round of his trademark humor and one-liners to lighten the mood and bring a few smiles along the way. Our featured guest is a familiar voice to America's Frontlines listeners—our very own Service Academy Football Co-Host, Quinton Roberts! A U.S. Air Force Academy graduate and former varsity football player—quite a number of years ago, as we occasionally like to remind him—Quinton takes us behind the scenes of his academy days. He shares stories about life as a cadet, the challenges and rewards of playing football, and even the memorable experience of getting cut from the choir! Colonel Denny and Quinton also review last weekend's Service Academy football action and preview this weekend's matchups, including Navy hosting North Texas on Saturday and Air Force traveling to Wyoming on Friday. They discuss what's ahead for Army, Navy, and Air Force as the season continues. Of course, we continue our regular journey through military history, revisiting significant events that occurred around this date. From important battles and remarkable achievements to the sacrifices and difficult decisions that shaped our nation, these historical reminders help us appreciate the challenges previous generations faced and the lessons they left behind. From the diplomatic tensions surrounding Jerusalem and today's most pressing headlines to military history, Service Academy traditions, and Quinton's entertaining memories of academy life, this episode offers another engaging mix of serious discussion, personal stories, and good humor on America's Frontlines.

  4. Oct 21

    America's Frontlines Podcast 21 October 2026

    In this episode of America’s Frontlines: What does the successful return of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mean for America’s future in space? Colonel Denny and Matt examine the mission, NASA’s growing partnership with private industry, and the remarkable technology that makes human spaceflight possible. They discuss why continued American leadership in space exploration matters—not only for scientific discovery, but also for technological innovation, national security, and the next generation of explorers. Colonel Denny and Matt also tackle a difficult question: What costs America more—the price of confronting Iran or the potentially catastrophic consequences of a nuclear attack? They examine the economic and military considerations surrounding that debate, along with the remarkable longevity of America's strategic bombers and nuclear submarines, allegations of North Korean operatives infiltrating American businesses, and China's ambitious efforts to expand its influence in Europe's automobile industry. Together, these stories highlight the increasingly complicated relationship between military strength, economic security, and emerging global threats. And, as always, Colonel Denny delivers another round of his trademark humor and one-liners to lighten the mood and bring a few smiles along the way. Our featured guest is Greg Kelley, CEO of Unknown Nations, a Christian missionary organization working to bring the Gospel to communities around the world with limited access to Christian resources. Greg joins Colonel Denny to share his personal background, explain the organization's unique approach to international outreach, and discuss its work among people of different religious traditions. Their conversation offers a look at the challenges, opportunities, and experiences involved in carrying out this mission across different cultures. Of course, we continue our regular journey through military history, revisiting significant events that occurred around this date. From pivotal battles and extraordinary acts of courage to decisions that changed the course of nations, these historical reminders help us better understand the sacrifices and lessons that shaped the world we live in today. Retired Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer Roland Ashby returns with another installment of “Warrant Wisdom,” bringing his years of military experience, practical insight, and unique perspective to another thought-provoking discussion. And it's time once again for our Movie of the Month! Diane Raver of the Garden State Film Festival joins Colonel Denny to discuss this month's featured film and share more about the festival, its celebration of independent filmmaking, and the stories and filmmakers it helps bring to audiences. From America's future in space and the difficult choices surrounding national security to international Christian outreach, military history, Warrant Wisdom, and the movies, this episode brings together another wide-ranging collection of stories, perspectives, and conversations that make America's Frontlines worth tuning in to.

  5. Oct 16

    America's Frontlines Podcast 16 October 2026

    In this episode of America’s Frontlines: Could artificial intelligence make North Korea's missiles nearly impossible to stop? Colonel Denny and Matt examine Kim Jong Un's latest claims about AI-assisted missile technology and the growing challenges facing American missile defenses. With North Korea claiming its newest missiles can change their flight paths to evade interception, they discuss what these developments could mean for South Korea, Japan, American forces in the Pacific, and the future of nuclear deterrence. Is this a genuine technological breakthrough, or another attempt by Pyongyang to intimidate its adversaries? Colonel Denny also takes us through some of the week's most significant news stories, examining developments at home and abroad that are affecting our daily lives and raising important questions about America's future. And, as always, Colonel Denny delivers another round of his trademark humor and one-liners to lighten the mood and bring a few smiles along the way. Our featured guest is Samuel Coolbaugh, whose life took an unexpected turn when plans to join the U.S. Army led him down a very different path. Along the way, Samuel developed an interest in studying Islam, its history, and its teachings. He joins Colonel Denny to share his personal journey, what he has learned, and his perspectives on a subject that continues to generate considerable discussion and debate around the world. Of course, we continue our regular journey through military history, revisiting significant events that occurred around this date. From the founding of our nation and the sacrifices of those who defended it to major conflicts and turning points in world history, these reminders help us better understand the events that shaped the world we live in today. And it's time once again for Service Academy Football! Our Football Co-Host Quinton Roberts returns to join Colonel Denny for another look at the action on the gridiron. A U.S. Air Force Academy graduate and former varsity football player—quite a number of years ago, as we occasionally like to remind him—Quinton reviews last weekend's games and previews the upcoming matchups for Army, Navy, Air Force, and the other Service Academies. From North Korea's emerging missile technology and the challenges of modern national defense to understanding different religious traditions, remembering military history, and celebrating Service Academy football, this episode offers another wide-ranging discussion of the issues, people, and traditions that make America's Frontlines worth tuning in to.

  6. Oct 14

    America's Frontlines Podcast 14 October 2026

    In this episode of America’s Frontlines: How did one of the world's most capable militaries fail to prevent the devastating Hamas-led terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023? Three years later, Colonel Denny and Matt revisit the tragedy that claimed approximately 1,200 lives and resulted in hundreds being taken hostage. They examine Israel's acknowledgment of serious security and intelligence failures, the questions surrounding accountability, and the lessons that nations must learn when confronting the continuing threat of terrorism. Colonel Denny and Matt also explore a world where technology, energy, and diplomacy are rapidly reshaping the balance of global power. From the intensifying artificial intelligence competition between the United States and China and a controversial Russian energy agreement, to President Trump's diplomatic efforts to prevent renewed conflict with Iran and an Israeli hostage survivor's extraordinary message of courage and defiance, they examine the developments shaping America's national security and its relationships around the world. And, as always, Colonel Denny delivers another round of his trademark humor and one-liners to lighten the mood and bring a few smiles along the way. Our featured guest is retired U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant General Jack Bergman, who also serves as a member of the United States House of Representatives. Drawing on his distinguished military career and experience in Congress, General Bergman joins Colonel Denny for a conversation about the challenges facing our nation, the importance of strong leadership, and the responsibilities that come with protecting America's security and constitutional freedoms. Of course, we continue our regular journey through military history, revisiting significant events that occurred around this date. From remarkable victories and extraordinary sacrifices to difficult decisions and lessons learned, these historical reminders help us understand the events that shaped our nation and the world we live in today. Retired Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer Roland Ashby returns with another installment of “Warrant Wisdom,” bringing his years of experience, insight, and unique perspective to another thought-provoking discussion. We also welcome back Gil Maza, a Marine Corps veteran and retired U.S. Border Patrol agent. Drawing on his firsthand experience in military service and border enforcement, Gil shares his perspective on the challenges facing America's borders and the people responsible for protecting them. From the lessons of October 7 and the emerging competition for global power to military leadership, American history, Warrant Wisdom, and border security, this episode covers a wide range of issues while continuing the America's Frontlines mission of keeping Americans informed and honoring those who serve.

  7. Oct 9

    America's Frontlines Podcast 09 October 2026

    In this episode of America’s Frontlines: Who keeps the world's most critical shipping lanes open—and what happens when hostile nations threaten them? Colonel Denny and Matt examine America's long history of defending freedom of the seas, from the earliest days of our Republic to today's challenges in the Strait of Hormuz. They discuss Iran's threats to international shipping, the U.S. Navy's role in protecting global commerce, and why maintaining freedom of navigation remains essential to America's national security and the world economy. Colonel Denny also takes us through some of the week's highest-profile news stories, offering his perspective on the events shaping our nation and affecting our daily lives. From developments overseas to challenges closer to home, he helps listeners understand the issues making headlines—and why they deserve our attention. And, as always, Colonel Denny delivers another round of his trademark humor and one-liners to lighten the mood and bring a few smiles along the way. Our featured guest is retired Marine Major General Arnold Punaro, a longtime friend of Colonel Denny and a familiar voice to America's Frontlines listeners. Drawing on his distinguished military career and years of experience working with the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, General Punaro joins the Colonel for a conversation about the challenges facing America's military and the importance of maintaining a strong national defense. Of course, we continue our regular journey through military history, revisiting significant events that occurred around this date and remembering the courage, sacrifice, victories, and hard-earned lessons that helped shape the nation we are proud to call home. These reminders of our past help us better understand the challenges America has overcome and the freedoms future generations must continue to protect. And it's time once again for Service Academy Football! Our Football Co-Host Quinton Roberts joins Colonel Denny to review last weekend's action, including Air Force's victory over Navy in the opening game of this season's Commander-in-Chief's Trophy competition. Quinton, a U.S. Air Force Academy graduate and former varsity football player—quite a number of years ago, as we occasionally like to remind him—brings his firsthand experience to the conversation as they look ahead to this weekend's games and what lies ahead for Army, Navy, and Air Force. From defending freedom of the seas and maintaining America's military strength to remembering our nation's history and celebrating the traditions of Service Academy football, this episode brings together the issues, people, and traditions that continue to shape America's Frontlines.

  8. Oct 7

    America's Frontline Podcast 07 October 2026

    In this episode of America’s Frontlines: Colonel Denny draws on a lifetime of experience confronting America's adversaries—from fighting communists in Vietnam to later helping plan against terrorist threats in the Middle East. Now he and Matt ask a difficult question: How should America confront extremist ideologies while still protecting the constitutional freedoms that define our nation? They examine the challenge of recognizing genuine threats without sacrificing the liberties generations of Americans have fought to defend. Colonel Denny and Matt also examine threats that increasingly blur the traditional line between war and peace—from tightening the economic pressure on Iran and major changes within America’s military leadership, to concerns about Chinese-linked criminal networks operating on U.S. soil and Russia testing NATO through sabotage, cyberattacks, and other forms of gray-zone warfare. Together, these developments raise an important question: Are America and its allies prepared for conflicts in which the battlefield may not always look like a battlefield? As always, Colonel Denny delivers another round of his trademark humor and one-liners to lighten the mood and bring a few smiles along the way. Our featured guest is America’s Frontlines team member and retired U.S. Air Force Brigadier General John “Dragon” Teichert. Dragon and Colonel Denny tackle a wide-ranging discussion about leadership, the Constitution, and the competing political and ideological movements influencing America today. They discuss concerns surrounding radical Islamist extremism, socialism, communism, and other challenges to America's founding principles while examining the importance of leadership, informed citizenship, and remaining faithful to the oath so many Americans have taken to support and defend the Constitution. We also continue our regular journey through military history, revisiting significant events that occurred around this date. The victories remind us of what previous generations accomplished, while the mistakes and sacrifices remind us of the price that was sometimes paid along the way. Together, those lessons help us better understand what it took to build and defend the nation we have today. Retired Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer Roland Ashby is back with another installment of “Warrant Wisdom,” bringing more of his experience, insight, and well-seasoned perspective to help keep all of us a little sharper. And it’s time once again for our Battle of the Month. Retired U.S. Army Brigadier General Chris Petty joins Colonel Denny to take us back to 1781 and the Battle of Yorktown, the decisive campaign that effectively brought major fighting in the American Revolution to an end. General Petty examines the strategy, leadership, international cooperation, and battlefield decisions that helped secure an American victory and ultimately changed the course of history. From ideological threats and gray-zone warfare to leadership, military history, Warrant Wisdom, and the battle that helped secure American independence, this episode reminds us that defending the nation requires more than military strength—it also requires understanding the principles we are trying to protect.

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”America’s Frontlines” brings you firsthand perspectives from those shaping the future of national security and defense. From military leaders and system integrators to technologists and field operators, each episode dives into the challenges, innovations, and missions that define America’s defense infrastructure. Whether it’s AI at the tactical edge, supply chain resilience, or frontline decision-making, this podcast delivers powerful stories and actionable insights for defense professionals, policymakers, and citizens who care about the security of our nation.

Information

  • Creator
    Tom Sheffield
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    America’s Frontlines

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