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What does combat leadership have to do with running a business?
More than you think.
In this episode of the American Operator Podcast, Bret Boyd—West Point graduate, Army Ranger, and founder of Sustainment—shares how his experience in war shaped the way he builds teams, leads people, and is now working to rebuild American manufacturing.
From War to Business
Bret was at West Point during 9/11—watching history unfold in real time.
“We were packing our gear, ready to go to New York that day.”
That experience—and the years that followed—shaped how he thinks about leadership, responsibility, and mission. The Leadership Shift Most People Miss
In the military, leadership isn’t about control.
It’s about orchestration.
Empowering people to make decisions
Trusting teams in high-stakes environments
Coordinating chaos—not controlling it
And that same mindset applies directly to business. The Real State of American Manufacturing
Most people think manufacturing is dominated by massive corporations…
But the reality is:
~250,000 manufacturing businesses in the U.S.
~99% are small businesses
~70% of the workforce is in those small shops
These are the businesses quietly powering America.
The Mission Behind Sustainment
Bret’s company is building a platform to:
- Connect American manufacturers
- Make them easier to find and work with
- Strengthen local supply chains
Because right now?
It’s often easier to find overseas suppliers than local ones.
The Big Takeaway
Whether in combat or business:
Great leaders don’t do everything
They build teams that can operate without them
American Operator
Stories from the people building, operating, and protecting the backbone of America.
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Tactical insights and behind-the-scenes stories from America’s operators:
- Website: www.americanoperator.com
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- Newsletter: https://americanoperator.substack.com
- Locally Owned and Operated: https://www.locallyownedandoperated.org/
