Specter Aero - Brian Long

Brian "Bazz" Long has spent a career operating where performance matters most.A former 160th SOAR Night Stalker, Boeing Senior Program Manager, entrepreneur, and now Founder & CEO of Specter Aero, America's only veteran-owned consumer drone manufacturer, Bazz brings a rare perspective shaped by military aviation, aerospace leadership, and American manufacturing.In this episode of Bourbon & Ballistics, we discuss:The culture and lessons of the Night StalkersLeadership under pressureBoeing and billion-dollar aerospace programsEntrepreneurship and business growthBuilding an American drone companyThe future of manufacturing in the United StatesDrone warfare and lessons from UkraineArtificial intelligence and autonomous systemsPublic safety, surveillance, and privacyWhy reliability still matters in a world obsessed with innovationPaired with a pour of 1792 Small Batch Bourbon, this conversation explores a common theme: proven performance.From special operations to the factory floor, from entrepreneurship to emerging technology, Brian's story is a reminder that success isn't built on hype. It's built on discipline, preparation, and execution when the mission matters most.Episode Theme:"From the Night Stalkers to American drone manufacturing, Brian Long's story is about building systems, teams, and technology that perform when the mission matters most."