GovDiscovery AI Podcast with Mike Shanley

Episode 61: Brig. General Christopher S. Walker (Ret.)
Release Date: September 15, 2025

Episode Overview

Mike Shanley engages retired Brigadier General Christopher S. Walker, former Assistant Adjutant General and Commander of the West Virginia Air National Guard, on a broad range of topics crucial to today’s defense sector. The conversation explores U.S. and NATO strategic engagement in the Arctic and Antarctic, the relationship between the National Guard, Reserve, and Active Duty, defense industry opportunities, service member resilience, and current cultural and institutional challenges within the U.S. military academies. The episode provides rich technical and cultural insights and actionable guidance for industry professionals navigating government contracting and policy shifts.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Strategic Challenges in the Arctic and Antarctic

(Timestamps: 00:55–13:12)

Arctic Security: Key Takeaways

• Climate Change & Geopolitics:
  Climate change is accelerating new shipping routes and commerce through the Arctic, raising stakes for U.S., Russia, and China. U.S. and NATO partners now convene regularly to discuss preparedness.
  "Russia and China are serious about trying to control [Arctic commerce]. And if we, God forbid, get into a tussle up there... we really need to know how to fight up there." — Gen. Walker [04:24]

• Operational Realities:
  U.S. military is just starting to understand the operational environment; extreme cold impacts humans and hardware at a level not experienced in the lower 48.
  "It's kind of like the first time you get punched in the nose. ...Even people who live up in Montana, North Dakota, ...the cold that they're used to is not the real cold that's up there." — [04:59]

• Equipment & Logistics:
  Specialized lubricants, batteries, and communication gear are essential; current U.S. equipment often fails under Arctic conditions. European partners (Norway, Sweden, Finland) have significant expertise, and their industrial base appears notably ahead.

• NATO Allies & Lessons Learned:
  Scandinavian countries routinely train for Arctic conflict, and Finland specifically has increased readiness since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. "Finland is taking it dead serious and they are not taking any chances." — [09:19]

Antarctic Presence

• Current U.S. Role:
  The Air National Guard 109th Airlift Wing supports scientific missions but faces new challenges as Russia and China ramp up “scientific” activities that may mask resource exploitation. "Russia and China say it’s for scientific purposes, but every other country suspects it’s for exploiting natural resources, energy and rare earth elements." — [12:28]

2. The National Guard in the Modern Defense Ecosystem

(Timestamps: 13:12–23:18)

Guard vs. Active Duty

• Changing Perceptions:
  Gen. Walker recalls entering the Guard after active duty believing it was less professional, only to realize the Guard’s high standards and unique expertise. "Everything that I was told about the Guard was bunk and these folks know what they're doing." — [14:41]

• Modernization (“Tug of War”):
  Traditionally, active duty prioritizes its own units for upgrades, relegating the Guard and Reserve; however, Guard-driven innovations (e.g., Lightning Pod, SADL) have shaped force-wide adoption. "Active duty is not always the smartest person in the room." — [16:08]

Industry Engagement

• Unique Guard Procurement Mechanisms:
  The Guard can lobby Congress via Title 32; industry should connect with the Guard’s Corporate Advisory Panel (CAP) and events (December’s Industry Day, August’s National Guard Association conference) for real procurement influence. "Industry should really concentrate on [the National Guard's] Naugus Industry Corporate Members Day...very, very beneficial to industry." — [20:14]

• Action Steps for Contractors:

  • Build relationships with the CAP leadership.
  • Leverage organizations, e.g., the Patriot Group, to translate operational needs into Congressional resolutions and appropriations.
  • Engage Guard and Reserve personnel already within your company for insights and advocacy.

3. Service Member Resilience & Industry Solutions

(Timestamps: 23:18–29:38)

Mental Health & Readiness

• The Problem Defined:
  “Resilience” is widely used as a euphemism—real issue is self-harm and suicide, especially for those exposed to trauma. "What we're really talking about is self-harm and suicide. But a lot of people don't like to say that. But let's be real, that's what's going on." — [24:12]

• Industry Innovation Example – EvenPulse:
  A small business, EvenPulse, has quietly trained over 65,000 service members, focusing on pre-incident (“left of boom”) readiness, breathwork, and practical neurophysiology—unlike standard, less engaging resilience briefings.
  "We're spending too much time trying to repair people, and what we should be doing is building them up so that we don't have to repair them." — [29:22]

• Effectiveness:
  Review from Kirtland AFB (Special Ops):

  "Much better and more effective than prior resilience training. ...I learned a lot today." — [27:31]

4. U.S. Service Academies: Cultural & Institutional Challenges

(Timestamps: 29:38–40:19)

Erosion of Standards

• Discipline & Tradition:
  Gen. Walker laments a decline in discipline at the Air Force Academy—visible in cadet behavior and uniform standards.
  "We have lost our standards. ...If that is going to be the case, it might as well just turn it into a regular college with ROTC." — [33:47]

• Faculty Composition & Indoctrination:
  Concerns over an increasing number of civilian professors, which he believes waters down military ethos, and ongoing culture-war issues (DEI/CRT).

• Alumni Activism:
  Gen. Walker was elected to the AFA Association of Graduates Board as part of a platform to “make the Academy military again” and revive enduring traditions.

Vision for the Future

• "I'd like to see the people think of the service academies as the pinnacle of military development. ...We keep losing our heritage and that upsets me greatly." — [39:05]

5. DoD & Policy Trends for FY 2026

(Timestamps: 40:19–43:12)

Return to the War-Fighter Ethos

• Reducing “Mission Creep”:
  General trend at the Pentagon—away from extraneous trainings (especially DEI), and back to core war-fighting skills for all, regardless of MOS/AFSC.

• Operational Feedback:
  “Heritage room” conversations at local wings reflect renewed focus: "They're saying, 'Alright, alright, we're getting back into the war-fighter mode now.' ...It is a beautiful thing to see." — [42:21]

6. Key Guidance for Industry

(Timestamp: 43:12–43:55)

• Engage the Guard and Reserve:
  Harness the expertise of your Reserve/Guard employees, and actively participate in Guard-led industry partnerships. "If you have people within the Reserve component working for your company, some of you in the C suite need to call them up for an office visit and say, 'Hey, how can we help? And how can you help us?'" — [43:43]

Notable Moments & Quotes

• On Arctic Operations:
  "There’s no movie that can prepare you for this. This is hard stuff." — Gen. Walker [07:53]

• On Guard-Driven Innovation:
  "The Guard sometimes is the lead in getting the active duty to turn the light bulb off." — [18:41]

• On Service Academy Standards:
  "We expect you to put in a career into this and lead our young men and women when it comes time to win our wars, not just go in for the benefits and get out and go into industry." — [36:43]

Major Timestamps

| Segment Topic | Time | |--------------------------------------------------|--------------| | Introduction & Arctic/Antarctic Overview | 00:55–13:12 | | National Guard vs. Active Duty & Industry Advice | 13:12–23:18 | | Service Member Resilience & Industry Example | 23:18–29:38 | | Service Academies: Culture & Vision | 29:38–40:19 | | Pentagon Policy & War-Fighting Focus | 40:19–43:12 | | Closing Guidance for Industry | 43:12–43:55 |

Concluding Action Items

• For Industry:
  Invest time and resources to engage with the National Guard (e.g., via CAP and dedicated conferences) and tap into SME knowledge within your employee ranks.

• For DOD & Policy Watchers:
  Monitor the shift towards war-fighter focus and modernization needs in Arctic/Antarctic operations.
  Consider proven resilience solutions already validated in Special Operations rather than “off-the-shelf” programs.

• For Academies & Military Education:
  Revisit core traditions and standards, emphasizing service, leadership, and military ethos.

Connect with General Walker for industry engagement or support in working with the National Guard.
Resources:

• EvenPulse (for resilience training): [evenpulse.com]
• National Guard Association Industry Event info: [ngaus.org]
• Podcast Website: [govdiscoveryai.com]

Host: Mike Shanley
Guest: Brig. Gen. Christopher S. Walker (Ret.)
Episode Date: September 15, 2025

This summary captures all key operational, strategic, and industry actionable elements from the episode. For more insights, contact Mike Shanley or explore relevant resources linked above.