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The MILCOM Founders Podcast

The MILCOM Founders Podcast

Written by: Rod Loges
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 Championing and celebrating veteran founders through weekly conversations. Each episode features military entrepreneurs sharing their journey from service to success, uncovering real strategies for business growth, capital raising, and applying military leadership in the private sector.2024 One Degree Financial Economics Leadership Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • Michael Parks | Daystar Photography

    Michael Parks | Daystar Photography
    May 12 2026
    MilCom Founders Podcast — Episode 42: From K-9 Handler to Capturing Stories That Matter with Michael ParksJoin host Rod Loges and guest Michael Parks as he shares his journey from Air Force K-9 handler and retired Supervisory Federal Air Marshal to founder of Daystar Photography, a veteran-owned photography, videography, and drone services company serving clients nationwide.In this episode:How growing up with an active duty Army father gave Michael the foundation to pursue military serviceHis path from Air Force K-9 handler to Secret Service bomb dog detail to Federal Air MarshalThe moment on a glass-bottom boat in Destin, Florida that sparked his love of photographyHow his mom saw the spark before he did and gave him his first camera for ChristmasWhy he treats every client like family instead of a transaction, a lesson he learned from his working dogsThe story of Captain Johns, who refused to leave Michael's side during an explosive detection alert in KuwaitHow he founded Vet Fest, a free festival celebrating veterans that has grown from 300 attendees to 550 and is expanding to multiple citiesHis advice on balancing the entrepreneurial drive with personal time and familyKey takeaways:The loyalty and focus of a working dog taught Michael how to serve clients: show up fully, earn trust, and give everything to the relationshipDon't treat people as transactions. Treat them as familyGod places people in your life to support you when it matters most, whether it's a captain in a war zone or a mom who notices what lights you upThe military teaches pride and excellence, but entrepreneurs also need to learn when to step away and give themselves graceLearn to have a work-life balance. The business isn't going anywhere, but you can never get back the time you've been givenGuest: Michael Parks, Owner and CEO of Daystar Photography LLC, US Air Force veteran (12+ years, K-9 Handler/Security Forces), retired Supervisory Federal Air Marshal (22 years, Department of Homeland Security)LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/professionalphotopgraher-recruiter-law-enforcement-advisor/Website: www.daystarphoto.comMichael Parks is the Owner and CEO of Daystar Photography LLC, a Veteran-Owned professional photography, videography, and drone services company serving Atlanta, Tampa, and Orlando. Through Daystar Photography, Michael captures powerful visual stories that spotlight leadership, service, and impact. He is the official photographer for Syracuse University's D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) and proudly serves as a Brand Ambassador for IVMF's Ambassador program. Throughout his career, Michael has traveled nationwide documenting major veteran and corporate events, working with nationally recognized organizations including Wounded Warrior Project, Walmart, Fiserv, USAA, JPMorgan Chase, and Amazon. Michael is also a retired Supervisory Federal Air Marshal with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS), serving honorably from January 2002 to November 2023. Over his 22-year career, he held numerous leadership and operational roles, including Federal Air Marshal, Primary Watch Officer, FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) Task Force Supervisor, Program Manager and International Planner for the Middle East & Africa, and ultimately retiring as a Supervisory Federal Air Marshal. His service took him to more than 50 countries and over 350 destinations worldwide, supporting national security and international operations. In addition to his primary duties, Michael was entrusted with several critical collateral roles, including Law Enforcement Chaplain, Certified Peer & Grief Counselor, EEO Counselor & Investigator, Counter-UAS/Drone Supervisor, and Lead Recruiter & Hiring Specialist. Prior to his federal service, Michael served over 12 years in the United States Air Force, where he built deep expertise as a K-9 Handler (Explosive & Narcotics) and Program Manager. His Air Force career included progressive leadership roles as Kennel Master, Trainer, and Security Forces K-9 Handler. He is also the founder of Vet Fest, a growing annual festival celebrating veterans and connecting them with resources across the country.The MilCom Founders Podcast champions and celebrates military community business owners. Each episode brings practical insights and lessons learned from veteran entrepreneurs.Sponsored by One Degree Financial www.onedegreefinancial.comWant to support veteran entrepreneurs? Donate to the Dick Loges Veteran Entrepreneur Scholarship Fund: https://bold.org/funds/dick-loges-veteran-entrepreneur-fund/
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    42 mins
  • Michael Segal | Eagle Law Group

    Michael Segal | Eagle Law Group
    May 5 2026

    MILCOM Founders Podcast, Episode 41: From F-15 Fighter Pilot to Founder of Eagle Law Group with Michael Segal

    Join host Rod Loges and guest Michael Segal as he shares his path from flying F-15s in the United States Air Force to founding Eagle Law Group, P.C., a law firm in Los Angeles that serves the aerospace and defense industry. Michael also discusses building BizVets LA, a nonprofit connecting veteran professionals across the city.

    In this episode:

    • Michael's journey from the Air Force Academy to F-15 pilot training, Big Law at Loeb & Loeb, and eventually starting his own firm
    • How his 22-year Air Force career, including combat operations and managing billions in DoD resources, prepared him to lead a legal practice
    • The leadership lessons he took from his first fighter squadron commander at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa
    • Why he founded BizVets LA, a nonprofit that has grown to 92 paid members in its first year and a half
    • The legal mistakes startup founders make most often, from loose contracts to unclear equity structures
    • How AI is changing the legal profession and why the billable hour model may be on borrowed time

    Key takeaways:

    • Contracts exist for a reason, and shortcuts with legal documents work until they don't
    • Founders should figure out their organizational structure, equity splits, and decision-making processes before going to an attorney
    • Litigation is expensive in every way: financially, emotionally, and operationally
    • Veterans naturally trust and want to do business with each other, and that instinct is worth building on
    • AI is making legal work faster, but interpersonal skills and client trust are becoming more important as a result

    Guest: Michael Segal, Founder, Eagle Law Group, P.C., USAF F-15 Fighter Pilot (retired Major, 22 years of service)

    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-segal-f15/
    • Business Website: https://eagle.law/

    Michael Segal is a former USAF F-15 fighter pilot who served 22 years in the Air Force, including time at the Air Force Academy, active duty flying F-15Cs and Es, and Reserve service. He earned his MBA during his military career and later attended UCLA School of Law. After working at Loeb & Loeb and several smaller firms, he founded Eagle Law Group in November 2023, focusing on complex commercial litigation and transactional work for aerospace, defense, and technology companies. He also founded BizVets LA, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that connects veteran professionals in Los Angeles through monthly meetings, business education, and networking. Michael retired from the Air Force Reserves as a Major in August 2024.

    The MILCOM Founders Podcast champions and celebrates military community business owners. Each episode brings practical insights and lessons learned from veteran entrepreneurs.

    Sponsored by One Degree Financial www.onedegreefinancial.com

    Want to support veteran entrepreneurs? Learn about the Dick Loges Veteran Entrepreneur Scholarship Fund at https://www.milcomfounders.com/

    For each podcast guest, One Degree Financial donates $100 to the Dick Loges Veteran Entrepreneur Scholarship Fund.
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    40 mins
  • Dr. Lori Smith | Acu-Elligent

    Dr. Lori Smith | Acu-Elligent
    Apr 28 2026
    MILCOM Founders Podcast, Episode 40: Dr. Lori A. Smith, Founder of Acu-Elligent LLC and Sowing Our Seeds EmpowermentJoin host Rod Loges as he sits down with Dr. Lori A. Smith, a retired federal contracting officer, US Air Force veteran, and one of the most authoritative voices in government contracting today. Over a career spanning decades across military and federal service, Dr. Smith exercised direct oversight of more than $143 billion in federal contracts, including the $128 billion Community Care Network at the Department of Veterans Affairs, the single largest healthcare contract portfolio in the federal government.In this episode:How a high school job at Robins Air Force Base planted the seed for a career in military service and contractingThe buddy program that took Dr. Smith from the Air Force Reserves to 22 years of active duty across six bases on four continentsA leadership lesson from Master Sergeant Karen Armstrong that shaped Dr. Smith's entire careerBuilding a dual-engine ecosystem with Acu-Elligent (government contracting strategy) and Sowing Our Seeds Empowerment (nonprofit focused on closing gaps for underresourced entrepreneurs)Why readiness, not hustle, is what separates sustainable businesses from struggling onesThe role of AI in government contracting and why the human element still matters more than the toolKey takeaways:The seat you sit in was never designed for you alone; your job as a leader is to prepare the person who comes after youHustle is not a business model; it may be a short-term emergency posture, but it should never be the standardWhen proposals lack a real human story, evaluators notice; your response needs authenticity and feeling, not a recycled promptCoachability is the only way to get value from any investment in coaching or consultingAI can make you more efficient, but you still need to teach it your story and hold it accountable for accuracySoft skills training belongs inside every business development program, not alongside itGuest: Dr. Lori A. Smith, Founder, Acu-Elligent LLC and Sowing Our Seeds EmpowermentLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/acuelligent/Website: https://acuelligent.com/Podcast: GovCon ClarityDr. Lori A. Smith is a retired federal Contracting Officer, U.S. Air Force veteran, and one of the most authoritative voices in government contracting today. Over a career spanning decades across military and federal service, she exercised direct oversight of more than $143 billion in federal contracts — including the $128 billion Community Care Network at the Department of Veterans Affairs, the single largest healthcare contract portfolio in the federal government, delivering care across 49 states.Dr. Smith's career began at age 16, working as a clerk at Robins Air Force Base near her hometown of Macon, Georgia. She went on to serve 22 years of active duty in the U.S. Air Force across six bases on four continents — from Italy and Japan to Turkey and Honduras. She managed disaster recovery contracting for nine hurricanes at FEMA, directed contracting operations at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, and was hand-selected by name for the most critical acquisition assignments at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Her contracting officer response to a vendor protest on a $27.5 billion contract was so thorough that the vendor withdrew entirely.Today, Dr. Smith leads a dual-engine ecosystem built to serve women-, veteran-, and minority-owned businesses. Acu-Elligent LLC is the economic engine — providing government contracting strategy, the VETR Framework for AI-powered proposal management, The Readiness Room membership community, and certification training including the Narrative Blueprint Workshop. Sowing Our Seeds Empowerment is the empowerment engine — a nonprofit that runs the SOS Convergence, a structured 4-day business intervention addressing funding access, network gaps, and the systemic barriers that keep capable entrepreneurs underresourced and overextended.Dr. Smith is a published author of Winning Business Proposal Strategies for Success and is currently writing a memoir tracing her journey from a single-parent home in Macon, Georgia to the table where $128 billion in decisions were made. She hosts GovCon Clarity, a podcast and video series focused on the readiness gap in federal contracting.Her recognitions include Black Impact Magazine's 100 Entrepreneurs to Know in 2025, the 2024 IMPACT Award, the FORUM Women in Leadership 2024 Award, Georgia Woman Veteran of the Year nominee, the Department of Veterans Affairs Outstanding Career Award, the Army Commander's Award for Civilian Service, and multiple Meritorious Service Medals. She holds a Doctorate in Business Administration from National University, serves as a Women in Leadership Program Advisor at the University of North Georgia, and is certified in NLP, Time Line Therapy, and Hypnotherapy."I've sat on every side of the table — and I've read every line of the contract."Looking ahead...
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    45 mins
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