Today's episode is all about the U.S. Air Force Special Operations mission to rescue Vega 31, a downed pilot of a F-117A Nighthawk stealth fighter that was shot down behind enemy lines.

My guest is retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Jim Cardoso, who flew in the rescue package. At the time, Cardoso,was a young Air Force Captain flying the impressive MH-53 Pave Low helicopter with the 20th Special Operations Squadron.

Cardoso led the rescue helicopter package on a daring night mission behind Serbian enemy lines to bring Vega 31 back — and they did it navigating through dangerous airspace, pushing the limits of both man and machine — and for his extraordinary actions, he was awarded the Silver Star.

In this episode, you'll hear an inside perspective of Air Force Special Operations, Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR), and the raw courage it takes to fly into the unknown to bring a fellow warrior home.

You'll hear how the mighty MH-53 Pave Low — a beast of a helicopter — was a key to that mission's success. But more importantly, you will hear all about the rescue from the man who was there, guiding his crew into harms way, and out again.

This is the kind of story that defines Go Bold! We don't just talk history — we talk to the people who made it!

As a special note, we are publishing this episode on March 27, exactly 26 years after the event you will hear.

My thanks to Colonel Cardoso for his time and kindness in sharing this story of duty, professionalism and bravery.

Strap in everyone, this is one episode of Go Bold you cannot miss!

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We are honoured to welcome our guest, Commodore Matthew Coates of the Royal Canadian Navy.

On 1 July 2024, during a formal Change of Command ceremony in Toulon, France, Commodore Coates assumed command of Standing NATO Maritime Group Two — known as SNMG2 — from Rear Admiral Yannick Bossu of the French Navy. 

SNMG2 is one of four Standing Naval Forces that operate under NATO Allied Maritime Command, headquartered in Northwood, United Kingdom. SNMG2 is a multinational integrated task group that projects a constant and visible reminder of the Alliance's solidarity and cohesion afloat. This continuous maritime capability performs a wide range of tasks, including exercises and real-world operations in periods of crisis and conflict.

Under Commodore Coates' leadership, HMCS Charlottetown, which deployed as part of Operation REASSURANCE, served as the flagship of Standing NATO Maritime Group Two.

This was the second time Canada commanded SNMG2, although Canadian ships have often served in NATO Standing Naval Forces, demonstrating Canada’s commitment to the Defense of Alliance vital interests.

During Commodore Coates’ tenure as Commander of SNMG2, Canada led two NATO multinational groups — SNMG2 and the NATO Multinational Brigade in Latvia. This is all part of the largest reinforcement of NATO’s collective defence in decades.

In this conversation, Commodore Coates reflects on training and leadership, and his tenure commanding SNMG2. Under the Canadian deployment, Commodore Coates commanded ships from five different Allied navies, ranging from two to a peak of five ships under his command at any one time. The group took part in the multi-domain vigilance activity Exercise Neptune Strike 24-2 and in Exercise Dynamic Guard - a NATO MARCOM-led electronic warfare and anti-ship missile defence exercise. SNMG2 also collaborated on numerous occasions with American, British, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Moroccan, Romanian, Turkish, and Spanish units under national operational control. This included HMCS Charlottetown escorting the Wasp Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), made up of United States Ship (USS) Wasp (LHD 1), USS New York (LPD 21), and USS Oak Hill (LSD 51), and the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, as it sailed through the Mediterranean Sea.

Commodore Coates handed over command of SNMG2 to Rear Admiral (LH) H. İlker Avcı of the Turkish Navy on 3 December 2024, during a ceremony at Aksaz Naval Base.

We hope you enjoy this candid and compelling discussion with a senior naval leader.

Our thanks to Commodore Coates for his time and insight.

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In this powerful episode of Go Bold, we sit down with former fighter pilot and test pilot Billie Flynn to dive deep into one of the most groundbreaking — and life-saving — technologies in modern aviation: Auto-GCAS (Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System).

Billie played a key role in the testing and validation of Auto-GCAS, a system designed to automatically take control of a jet when a pilot becomes disoriented, incapacitated, or unaware of impending terrain impact. This tech has already saved dozens of lives — and counting. But astonishingly, not all high-performance aircraft are equipped with it.

Why? That’s one of the hard-hitting questions we tackle in this conversation.

With firsthand insight from a pilot who has flown the edge of the envelope and lost friends to preventable crashes, Billie speaks passionately about why Auto-GCAS matters, and how it could —and should — expand beyond military aviation into general and commercial aviation.

Whether you’re a pilot, aviation enthusiast, or simply curious about cutting-edge technology, this episode offers a rare look behind the scenes of a system that is truly changing the game — and saving lives.

Strap in for an unforgettable conversation with a test pilot who helped bring Auto-GCAS to life.

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In this compelling episode of Go Bold, we welcome Commodore David Mazur, Commander of Canada's Pacific Naval Fleet, to discuss two pivotal exercises that underscore the Royal Canadian Navy’s evolving strategic capabilities.

Commodore Mazur begins by unpacking a landmark event: the forward re-arm of a Halifax-class warship in Australia with Evolved SeaSparrow Missiles. This marks the first time Canada’s Navy has demonstrated the ability to re-arm a major warship in a remote or non-traditional location. With clarity and insight, Commodore Mazur explains why this capability is a game-changer. From operational flexibility in distant theaters to real-world readiness in uncertain environments, this exercise highlights the Navy’s ability to project power and sustain operations far from home waters.

Next, we dive into the Joint Littoral Targeting Exercise (JoLTEX) — a major milestone in Canadian naval operations. For the first time, a Halifax-class warship not only launched Harpoon missiles but did so by executing the full targeting chain, including real-time command, control, and targeting directives from higher headquarters. Commodore Mazur guides us through the complexity and significance of this breakthrough, which signals a new era in dynamic targeting and land attack capabilities. As the Royal Canadian Navy looks ahead to the future River-class destroyers, this exercise lays essential groundwork for greater operational reach and lethality.

This episode of Go Bold offers a rare inside look at the strategic decisions shaping the Navy’s future. Commodore Mazur’s leadership and vision shine through as he explains how these exercises are not just tactical achievements — they are steps toward a more agile, capable, and forward-thinking maritime force.

Listen in for a masterclass in maritime strategy and capability development, straight from the front lines of naval innovation.

Our thanks to Commodore Mazur for his time, kindness and professional insight.

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**Don't forget to like and subscribe to the "Go Bold with Joetey Attariwala" YouTube channel for exclusive videos!

Our guest for this episode is Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew Faith of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).

Lieutenant-Colonel Faith is a CF-18 Hornet fighter pilot and a true subject matter expert in Fighter Lead-In Training (FLIT), so our episode today is a front-row seat to what it’s really like to train and fly as a fighter pilot in today’s Royal Canadian Air Force.

LtCol Faith shares his motivation to serve, and he describes highlights of his career flying fighter jets in Canada as part of NORAD, and in combat over Libya.

We then dive into the world of advanced pilot training, including Canada’s involvement in the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program (ENJJPT) which takes place at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas. 

Lieutenant-Colonel Faith takes us into the cockpit, sharing his perspective on new technologies like Virtual Reality which is facilitating modern pilot training, and he provides his insight on the Hawk jet trainer that was used by the RCAF, and the T-38 Talon supersonic trainer that is used at ENJJPT.

This is more than just an interview - it’s a masterclass from someone who is passionate about training the next generation of fighter pilots.

Our thanks to Lieutenant-Colonel Faith for the time he shared with us, and for his expert perspective.

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In this episode we have the privilege to speak with Commander Tyler Smith of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). Commander Smith is the Chief Operations Officer for Maritime Forces Pacific, and he shares insight into a recent landmark exercise called the Joint Littoral Targeting Exercise 2024 (JoLTEX 24).

For this exercise, the Royal Canadian Navy for the first time successfully executed the entire strategic planning and targeting chain to project power from the sea to the shore, which ultimately led to the launch of Harpoon Block II Missiles from HMCS Regina, a Halifax class surface combatant warship which was operating in the United States Navy's Point Mugu Sea Range off the coast of California.

JoLTEX developed and tested targeting processes, including firing a surface-to-surface missile against a simulated surface combatant. The exercise supported the Royal Canadian Navy’s ability to employ sea-based weapons against targets on or near land.

JoLTEX 24 progressed several capabilities, including synchronizing communication pathways with a deployed warship, the development of targets in the maritime domain, and certifying that the tasked asset was able to successfully engage its onboard Harpoon Block II missile system.

This episode dives into details of the exercise, offering you an unparalleled look into how the Navy is honing its capabilities.

These are the kinds of insights you won’t find anywhere else, making this a must-listen for anyone wanting to understand the cutting edge of naval operations.

Our thanks to Commander Smith for his time and insight.

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For this episode of Go Bold we are proud to welcome back Royal Canadian Navy Commodore David Mazur, the Commander of Canada's Pacific Fleet.

Our topic is Exercise Kakadu, which is a biennial exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), and is supported by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).

Exercise Kakadu is the RAN’s flagship regional international engagement activity and has grown in size and complexity since its inception in 1993.

Exercise Kakadu provides an opportunity for regional partners to undertake multinational maritime activities through a broad spectrum of activities, from constabulary and humanitarian operations, to high-end maritime warfare in a combined environment.

For those that are interested for more context, please listen to Episode 45 of Go Bold, where we spoke with Australian Navy Captain Pete Bartlett about the previous iteration of Exercise Kakadu.  

For this year, Exercise Kakadu took place from September 9 to 20, and was the largest and most diverse iteration of the exercise yet.

Nearly 3,000 personnel from over 30 countries, ships from 10 countries, and aircraft from five nations all gathered at the North Australian exercise area which was centered at Darwin.

Canada was one of the participants with HMCS Vancouver taking part, and Commodore Mazur had the privilege to lead a Task Group at sea during the exercise.

You will hear Commodore Mazur's reflections on the exercise, which started with a large Fleet Commanders Conference.

You'll hear about the ships that participated and the type of warfare they exercised, including serials against a submarine and 5th Generation fighter jets.

The Commodore shares lessons from the exercise and how he will leverage them for Canada's upcoming Exercise Trident Fury in 2025.

This wide-ranging discussion offers a rare glimpse into the intricacies of one of the world’s most complex maritime exercises so it is a must-listen episode for anyone interested in the strategic importance of maritime operations and the leadership behind large-scale multinational exercises.

This is a conversation that you will only find here on Go Bold, the platform that is uniquely known to feature the voices of senior military leaders from Allied Forces.

Our thanks to Commodore Mazur for his time and kindness.

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This is another special episode of the "Go Bold with Joetey Attariwala" podcast as we are coming to you from Camp Adazi in Latvia.

Camp Adazi is a major military installation of the Latvian National Armed Forces, and it is also the main base for the Canadian-led NATO Multinational Brigade in Latvia.

Joining me for this episode is Lieutenant-Colonel Philippe Tremblay, a Canadian Army Officer who is serving as the Chief of Staff for the NATO Multinational Brigade.

As Chief of Staff, Lieutenant-Colonel Tremblay has detailed institutional knowledge about the makeup and activities of the Brigade. You will hear context on how it is evolving, and some of the intricacies that Canada faces in leading this critical defensive force on the Eastern flank of the NATO Alliance.

It's a fascinating perspective from a senior leader in the Brigade, and one that will give insight on how land warfare is evolving.

I want to thank LtCol Tremblay for his time and kindness to help explain how Canada is leading the NATO Multinational Brigade in Latvia.

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We are honored to be joined by Commodore Kristjan Monaghan, a Flag Officer in the Royal Canadian Navy who served as the Combined Forces Maritime Component Commander (CFMCC) for the 2024 iteration of the RIMPAC exercise.

For those who are unfamiliar with RIMPAC, it is the largest military exercise in the world in the maritime domain, and is hosted by the United States Navy 3rd Fleet. RIMPAC brings together forces from multiple nations to enhance interoperability and readiness in complex maritime operations.

During RIMPAC 2024, Commodore Monaghan had the responsibility of commanding and controlling a multinational force comprised of several Task Forces, including 40 ships and 3 submarines, as they executed a series of challenging scenarios.

In this episode, Commodore Monaghan will walk us through some of the major aspects of the 2024 RIMPAC exercise, including a large-scale Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) serial, the innovative use of Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), and the SinkEx serials that showcased the US Air Force’s QUICKSINK weapon capability.

Additionally, Commodore Monaghan will share insights on the significant contributions made by Royal Canadian Navy ships; including the first-ever participation of a Harry DeWolf class Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel, new records set by the Combat Support Ship Asterix, and Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile firings by HMCS Vancouver.

This wide-ranging discussion offers a rare glimpse into the intricacies of one of the world’s most complex military exercises and the advanced capabilities of Allied Forces.

This is a must-listen episode for anyone interested in the strategic importance of maritime operations and the leadership behind such large-scale multinational exercises.

Tune in to this episode for exclusive insights from a senior military leader in the Royal Canadian Navy, which you only will find here on Go Bold, the platform that is trusted to feature the voices of senior military leaders from Allied Forces.

Our thanks to Commodore Monaghan for his time and kindness.

Also, don't forget to like and subscribe to the "Go Bold with Joetey Attariwala" YouTube channel which has unique and exclusive videos!

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Welcome to a special episode of the "Go Bold with Joetey Attariwala" podcast! For this episode, we are coming to you straight from the front lines at Camp Adazi in Latvia, where we had an exclusive opportunity to sit down with Canadian Army Colonel Cedric Aspirault, the Brigade Commander of the Canadian-led NATO Multinational Brigade.

Our visit coincided with Exercise Silver Arrow, a major combat readiness evaluation, which gave us an inside look at NATO's efforts to reinforce its Eastern flank.

Colonel Aspirault takes us through NATO’s strategic importance in the region, and highlights Canada's leadership role as the framework nation for the Canadian-led NATO Multinational Brigade in Latvia.

We’ll dive into how the Brigade has evolved from a Battlegroup, and how Canada is expanding its presence in Latvia with a new camp and Brigade headquarters, and new air detachment facilities.

Plus, you’ll hear how Canada is taking its renowned Maple Resolve high-end training exercise and moving it to Latvia and is rebranding it as Exercise Oak Resolve so the entire NATO Multinational Brigade can train together.

This is an important conversation with a senior leader, straight from the heart of NATO's mission in Latvia!

Note: If you haven't already listened to them, I encourage you to listen to Episodes 74 & 75 where we spoke with Lieutenant-Colonel Marc Kieley, who discussed Operational Planning for the Canadian Army. Those were wonderfully detailed and insightful episodes which will help add context to this episode.

I also want to share that this episode is accompanied by exclusive videos that you can find on the "Go Bold with Joetey Attariwala" YouTube channel, where we’ve posted videos of the Canadian-led NATO Multinational Brigade in action at Camp Adazi!

Please make sure to subscribe to the "Go Bold with Joetey Attariwala" YouTube channel so you don’t miss out!

Our thanks to Colonel Aspirault for his time, and to the men and women who helped facilitate our visit to Camp Adazi in Latvia.

Go Bold!