Notre Dame International Security Center

Episode summary – In this episode of Students Talk Security, Notre Dame senior and NDISC Undergraduate Fellow Benjamin Erhardt sits down with retired Navy fighter pilot, admiral, and fellow podcaster James A. “Sandy” Winnefeld, Jr. Their discussion covers topics ranging from the Admiral’s storied career – including his time as unit commander of the USS Enterprise during the 9/11 terrorist attacks and his tenure as Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff – to his insights on the crisis in Ukraine, the U.S.’s great power competition with China, the future of American innovation in defense, TOPGUN, Top Gun (yes, both!), and more. All throughout, Adm. Winnefeld imparts noteworthy wisdom and leadership advice for both budding and seasoned professionals in military, political, and business disciplines. He also provides timely advice on how to handle stressful decisions in today’s volatile world. Interviewee bio – Adm. James A. Winnefeld, Jr. is a retired four-star admiral and was the ninth vice chairman of the