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.