The Shawn Ryan Show

Michael Lester is a decorated U.S. Marine Corps combat pilot, cybersecurity educator, and author who has spent his career operating at the intersection of military power, technology, and national security. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy and a member of MENSA, Lester also holds a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School and an MBA, giving him a rare blend of technical expertise and strategic insight.

During his military career, Lester flew combat missions across Asia and the Middle East, witnessing firsthand the realities of modern warfare and U.S. foreign policy. After his operational service, he returned to Annapolis to teach electrical engineering and leadership at the U.S. Naval Academy, helping shape the next generation of naval officers.

Today, Lester continues his work in national security and technology as an adjunct professor teaching graduate-level cybersecurity at St. Mary’s University and Wake Forest University. He is also the founder of IronClad Family, a company focused on protecting families and individuals from digital threats, identity theft, and modern information warfare.

Over the past two decades, Lester has conducted an extensive independent investigation into U.S. foreign policy after noticing a stark contrast between what he witnessed overseas and what was presented to the public at home. That research culminated in his book *We Are the Bad Guys: How the U.S. Wages War, Controls Economies, and Calls It Freedom*, a controversial examination of American military intervention, economic influence, and global power structures.

With the launch of Operation Epic Fury on February 28, global tensions and strategic maneuvering have once again taken center stage, making Lester’s analysis of geopolitical strategy and modern warfare more relevant than ever. Follow the market here: https://polymarket.com/event/will-the-us-invade-iran-by-march-31

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Michael Lester Links:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mtlester

Books - https://michaeltlester.com

IronClad Family - https://www.ironcladfamily.com
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Shyam Sankar is Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President at Palantir Technologies, where he has served since 2006 as one of the company’s earliest hires and key builders. A seasoned technologist with over two decades of experience, he has led the design and deployment of software platforms that support some of the world’s most complex and high-stakes environments. from defense operations to enterprise systems.

Sankar holds a B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Cornell University and an M.S. in Management Science and Engineering from Stanford University. His career reflects a commitment to advancing technology that strengthens national resilience and accelerates industrial and defense innovation.

A vocal advocate for applying artificial intelligence to empower American workers and reindustrialize the United States, Sankar is deeply engaged in initiatives such as the American Tech Fellows program, which develops domestic AI talent. He regularly speaks on the role of AI in transforming national security and industry through practical adoption rather than speculation.

Rejecting narratives of AI “doomerism,” Sankar emphasizes real-world deployment and measurable results—showing how Palantir’s tools are redefining the speed of warfare, industrial output, and decision-making across the defense and commercial landscapes. His insights are frequently featured in conversations about the future of AI, national power, and America’s technological edge.

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Shyam Sankar Links:

X - https://x.com/ssankar

Substack - https://www.shyamsankar.com

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shyamsankar

On The Defense Reformation - https://18theses.com

First Breakfast - https://www.firstbreakfast.com

Book - https://www.amazon.com/Mobilize-Reboot-American-Industrial-World/dp/B0FQWGC94Z/ref=sr_1_1
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Barry E. “Butch” Wilmore was raised in Tennessee, where an early fascination with aviation, engineering, and disciplined teamwork set the course for his career. He earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in electrical engineering from Tennessee Technological University, along with a master’s degree in aviation systems from the University of Tennessee. Before NASA, Wilmore served as a U.S. Navy aviator, test pilot, and squadron officer, accumulating more than 8,000 flight hours and 663 carrier landings in tactical jet aircraft.

Wilmore flew A-7E and F/A-18 aircraft during four operational deployments aboard the USS Forrestal, Kennedy, Enterprise, and Eisenhower. He completed 21 combat missions during Operation Desert Storm and also flew in support of Desert Shield, Southern Watch, and NATO operations over Bosnia. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, he contributed to the early development and carrier certification of the T-45 jet trainer, experience that proved critical to his later astronaut duties.

Selected as a NASA astronaut in 2000, Wilmore flew three space missions totaling 464 days in space. He piloted STS-129 aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis in 2009, delivering critical hardware to the ISS. In 2014–2015, he launched aboard a Russian Soyuz as part of Expedition 41, later assuming command of Expedition 42, spending 167 days in orbit and conducting four spacewalks. Most recently, he commanded Boeing Starliner’s first crewed flight in 2024; following an uncrewed return decision, he completed a long-duration ISS mission and returned to Earth in March 2025 aboard SpaceX Crew-9.

Wilmore retired from NASA in July 2025 after 25 years with the agency, one of the few astronauts to fly aboard the Space Shuttle, Soyuz, Starliner, and Crew Dragon. He is married to Deanna, with whom he has two daughters, and is known for steady leadership, deep technical skill, faith, and continued commitment to mentorship and STEM outreach.

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Butch Wilmore Links:

Website - www.butchwilmore.com
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Ethan Thornton is the Founder and CEO of Mach Industries, a defense technology company developing next-generation unmanned systems and hydrogen-powered weapons platforms to redefine modern warfare and energy logistics. Ethan left MIT after one semester in 2023 to focus on building Mach full-time.

Originally from Texas, Ethan grew up on a farm where he began prototyping weapons in high school. Funded through car tech jobs, knife and furniture sales, and small engineering projects. His early hands-on ingenuity and deep sense of urgency, intensified by the war in Ukraine—motivated him to accelerate U.S. innovation in unmanned aircraft and weapon systems to help deter China and strengthen national defense capabilities. Under his leadership, Mach Industries has attracted backing from top venture firms including Sequoia Capital, Khosla Ventures, and Bedrock, and has secured major U.S. Army contracts while expanding manufacturing operations.

Ethan’s work reflects a broader vision beyond defense. He frequently speaks on the strategic significance of Taiwan’s semiconductor industry, the U.S. dollar’s reserve status, the challenge of social decay and neo-feudalism, and the need for productive, post-partisan solutions that secure America’s technological and economic future.

Follow the market - https://polymarket.com/event/china-x-taiwan-military-clash-before-2027

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Ethan Thorton Links:

X - https://x.com/ethanrthornton

Mach Industries X - https://x.com/mach_industries

Mach Industries - https://www.machindustries.com

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Father Chad Ripperger is a Roman Catholic priest, theologian, philosopher, and exorcist serving in the Archdiocese of Denver. He is the founder and superior general of the Society of the Most Sorrowful Mother (Doloran Fathers), a religious community dedicated to spiritual warfare, deliverance ministry, and the traditional liturgy.

Born in Casper, Wyoming, and raised in a devout Catholic family as the youngest of six children, Father Ripperger was ordained in 1997 with the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP). In 2012, he established the Doloran Fathers, serving as exorcist for the Diocese of Tulsa from 2012 to 2016 before moving to the Denver Archdiocese, where he continues his ministry. Bound by the discipline of clerical celibacy in the Latin Rite, he frequently teaches on marriage, family, virtue, and the spiritual life.

A classically trained Thomist, Father Ripperger holds degrees in theology and philosophy from the University of San Francisco, master’s degrees from both the University of St. Thomas and Holy Apostles College, and a doctorate in philosophy from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome. His scholarship and experience make him a respected authority on demonology, angelology, spiritual warfare, and the integration of theological principles with psychology.

Through Sensus Traditionis Press, he has authored several influential works, including Deliverance Prayers for Use by the Laity, Dominion, and Introduction to the Science of Mental Health. Known for his clear, no‑nonsense teaching style rooted in Thomistic philosophy and Church tradition, Father Ripperger continues to give talks, conferences, and guidance on prayer, virtue, the sacraments, and protection from spiritual evil.

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