In this episode of Phoenix Cast, hosts John and Rich are joined by special guest Vice Admiral (ret) Craig Clapperton - the former Commander of Navy’s Fleet Cyber Command. They discuss how technical mastery, leadership development, and career progression differ across ranks, and why early-career officers and operators must prioritize deep warfighting competence before broadening into team leadership and enterprise impact. They also explore how to brief and influence senior leaders effectively, integrate kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities, and build trust through competency, character, and integrity in high-stakes cyber and joint operations.

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