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Mark Valentine is a retired U.S. Air Force officer and a combat veteran F-16 pilot who served for over 25 years. Today, he is the President of Global Government at Skydio, a leading U.S. drone manufacturer. Despite his vast experience flying combat jets, Valentine admits that in today’s battlefield, drones impact results in ways that new jets or missiles cannot.
 
As autonomous drones become more sophisticated, they now make far fewer errors compared to their human operators. However, in actual combat where lives are on the line, the humans behind the drones must face a deeper question about the desensitization that happens when a soldier uses a drone thousands of miles away, like a video game, to take another life.
 
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Dave Brown is an outstanding former Navy SEAL known for his small stature but immense determination. Standing at just 5'3", he was always underestimated, both by high school bullies and Navy recruiters, yet he remained undeterred and locked in on his goal to serve.
 
Despite being initially dismissed due to his size, Brown's persistence and resilience led him to pass the rigorous Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training, even running with two stress fractures during "Hell Week." He graduated with BUD/S Class 115 and served with Underwater Demolition Team 21 and SEAL Team 4. His deployments took him across Central and South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
 
His memoir, "And Goliath," tackles the human side of being a Navy SEAL. Especially in Brown's case, where his physical limitations seemed to doom his dreams, "And Goliath" chronicles the willpower he needed to tap into his potential for success, overcome perceived limitations, and come out at the end as an inspiration to all current, former, and aspiring special operators​.
 
Get a copy of "And Goliath": https://andgoliathbook.com/
 
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Sean Hagerty is a 25-year veteran of the US Army, serving with the 75th Ranger Regiment before being selected and assigned to a special operations unit at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Among his accolades over his decorated career are 3 Bronze Stars. Hagerty is also the author of 'Jones Point'.
 
'Jones Point' is a military-informed thriller about Dane Cooper, a special operations soldier who goes on a quest for revenge when his daughter gets abducted. His life would gain purpose again when a mysterious cabal offers him a path to redemption. The story intertwines his personal struggle with his efforts to investigate other cases of grieving parents, all while avoiding detection by an FBI agent and a dedicated team from the Virginia Bureau of Investigation. 
 
Get a copy of 'Jones Point': https://amzn.to/3xzWCpC 
 
Learn more about Sean Hagerty: https://authorseanhagerty.com/
 
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Jesse Fink is the author of 6 books, including 'The Youngs,' 'Pure Narco,' 'Bon,' and his latest book, 'The Eagle in the Mirror'. Fink shares his incredible literary journey that saw him spend a decade chronicling AC/DC, delving deep into Pablo Escobar's cocaine empire, and most recently, uncovering the secrets of Dick Ellis, the top spy of MI6 during World War 2.
 
Ellis is a controversial figure, accused of being a triple agent—allegedly working for the Allies, the Nazis, and the Soviets. Fink discusses how the Americans recognized Ellis's contributions, yet his reputation suffered in the aftermath of the war. Nonetheless, Ellis played a pivotal role in the formation of the CIA, the premier agency in global intelligence and counterintelligence today. 
 
Get a copy of 'The Eagle in the Mirror': https://amzn.to/3XF0Neg
 
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Jared Shepard is the Founder of Warriors Ethos, a nonprofit that helps veterans transition from military to civilian life, and the CEO of Hypori, the creator of a solution for secure communication in contested environments using cellphones bought off host nation markets.
 
Shepard reflects on his time in the military and how mentorship guided him towards IT instead of following the path of an infantryman. This life-changing choice led him to where he is today. He emphasizes the importance of seeking mentorship and helping others, especially when it is inconvenient, as that is when it truly matters.
 
Learn more about Warriors Ethos and Hypori:
 
- https://www.warriorsethos.org/
 
- https://www.hypori.com/
 
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Sgt Maj (Ret.) Randall Surles, U.S. Army, is a former Green Beret with Company B, 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne). He served almost 30 years, deploying over twenty times to South America, the Middle East, and Africa, with notable service in Panama. After retiring from the military, Surles transitioned his expertise and leadership skills to the literary world, becoming a freelance military editor and ghostwriter.
 
Surles shares his journey of how to self-publish books (and e-books) and the many landmines you may encounter. From profit sharing with Amazon, overcoming negative comments on social media, and having your intellectual property stolen, Surles dives into what aspiring writers can expect to encounter in the pursuit of making writing a career and what they can do about it. 
 
Learn more about Sgt Maj (Ret.) Randall Surles:
 
Website: https://militaryeditor.com/
 
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