S4E1: Strategic Leadership in Volatile Times with Retired Rear Admiral Kevin Sweeney

For the Season 4 premiere, co-hosts Ted Stank and Tom Goldsby sat down with retired Rear Admiral Kevin Sweeney to explore how military leadership principles translate to the business world.  Throughout his remarkable career in the U.S. Armed Forces, Sweeney commanded the USS Cole during its historic rebuilding and served as chief of staff to Defense Secretary James Mattis. He is now a trusted senior advisor on government relations and management in the private sector. Sweeney’s conversation with Ted and Tom spanned geopolitics, defense manufacturing, cyber readiness, and building strong teams. Along the way, he offered insights into how trust and adaptability remain vital whether leading sailors, managing crises, or guiding corporate boards.   Recorded live at the Fall 2025 Supply Chain Forum, Sweeney brought decades of experience navigating complexity under pressure—wisdom that supply chain professionals can apply in their own leadership journeys.   This episode was recorded at the Marriott Knoxville Downtown on November 5, 2025.  Watch the video. Related links:   Relive the Fall 2025 Supply Chain Forum Download free white papers from UT experts for improving returns management processes, reshoring manufacturing, procurement capabilities, and more. Save the date for the Spring Supply Chain Forum, April 21–23 Learn about our SCM Academy programs, including upcoming virtual courses on Leadership (Jan. 30–May 10), Finance (March 2–May 3), and Planning (March 11–May 10). Join the Advanced Supply Chain Collaborative to explore advanced concepts in SCM with top industry experts and scholars Become a GSCI partner Follow GSCI on LinkedIn Subscribe to GSCI’s monthly newsletter  Read the latest news and insights from GSCI Text the Tennessee on Supply Chain Management team!