Against All Odds in Leadership with Mike Crosby

Today we're going to be talking to Mike Crosby, veteran, CEO, and cancer survivor. In this episode, we're going to look at leaders who've taken on their own survival as an access to leading others and making a difference. It's a powerful conversation. You can find his bio in the description and on our website. Please stay tuned after the guest discussion for skill highlights. www.AmplifyVoices.io About our guest: CDR Crosby is the founder and CEO of Veterans Prostate Cancer Awareness (VPCa). The 501(c)3 non-profit organization was formed in 2016 when Crosby recognized a need to raise awareness of Prostate Cancer incidence among Veterans and improve education and assistance to those diagnosed with the disease. VPCa was formed to educate Veterans and Active-Duty military populations on the need to screen for prostate cancer, provide resources to aid men in their treatment decisions, and promote the newest technology for the treatment and cure of prostate cancer. There are over 500,000 Veterans in the national Veterans Healthcare Administration (VHA) and over 16,000 of those men dealing with a metastatic form of the disease. With over 15,000 new diagnosis each year the need to educate men on how to screen for the disease is a critical undertaking. Crosby is also the CEO of Green Life Can Corp, a Canadian Holding company, with investments in innovative 100% biodegradable plant-based chemicals that provide better performance and safer solutions than existing hazardous industrial chemical products. Green Life also owns Revitalize Energy Inc. a junior oil and gas company, implementing the biobased technologies in the production and cleanup of petroleum. Crosby graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1983 and after earning his wings as a Naval Aviator served on active duty in the United States Navy from 1983 to September 1997. During his active service, he was assigned to VF-101, VF-41, VX-4, and VF-142. He then transitioned to the US Navy Reserves and was assigned to VF-301 in San Diego until 1999 when he was selected as Commanding Officer of Mobile Operations Command Center Western Pacific, based at Pt. Mugu, CA. In 2002, because of the events of 9/11, CDR Crosby was recalled to active duty in the Naval Reserves and assigned to U.S. Central Command where he served as the Chief of Counter Proliferation and directed operations in support of “Operation Iraqi Freedom.” Because of his efforts, CDR Crosby was awarded the “Joint Force Commendation” medal for organizing and leading a multi-national team in conducting counter-proliferation operations. Upon his departure from active duty in 2004, Crosby formed Aria International Holding Inc. and immediately deployed back to Iraq in support of the US Marine Corps. Aria recruited a group of international experts providing specialized engineering and surveillance infrastructure solutions. During operations in Iraq, Crosby led Aria’s further expansion through similar offerings to clients such as the United Arab Emirates Air Force, Kuwait Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Interior of India, and the Royal Thai Army. Aria was responsible for designing and managing the construction of defensive security structures around air bases and along many sections of borders for clients.Crosby holds a Master of Science in Systems Management from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Applied Science.  He is a graduate of the US Navy Fighter Weapons School “TOPGUN” in San Diego, California, as well as the Allied Air Forces Central Europe “Tactical Leadership Program” in Germany.