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TheMilVet PodcastAuthor: Brendan Aronson and Tim Hsia
Your hosts, Brendan Aronson and Tim Hsia, interview the highest-performing military veterans & civilian allies on earth. Our guests include CEOs of multibillion-dollar companies, founders of incredible businesses, and legendary investors. Our goal is educate, inspire, and entertain you. Language: en-us Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Ep. 165 - From Fighter Pilot to Founder: Thomas Higginbotham on Building the Future of Defense AI with Kestrel
Wednesday, 29 April, 2026
In this episode of TheMilVet Podcast, host Beau Higgins speaks with Thomas Higginbotham, Founder and CEO of Kestrel and United States Air Force Veteran. Thomas shares how growing up in a multi-generational Air Force family, serving as a fighter pilot, and later working through a grueling flight training experience shaped his resilience and mission-driven mindset.The conversation follows his journey from active duty to Stanford, then into roles at Google X and C3 AI, where he developed deep expertise in AI, enterprise systems, and defense technology. Thomas explains how he identified a scalable opportunity in defense software and ultimately founded Kestrel, while reflecting on the realities of becoming a founder, learning to sell, building conviction, navigating investor skepticism, and committing fully to a vision before the market fully existed.Listeners will gain insight into:How military experience can translate into startup leadership and technical innovationThe importance of grit and resilience built through real-world adversityWhy sensor orchestration is becoming a critical capability in modern defense systemsHow Stanford, Google X, and C3 AI shaped a founder’s mindsetLessons in enterprise sales, product-market fit, and government procurementWhy conviction is essential when building a company before the market fully existsThe role of culture fit in career transitions from military to civilian lifeHow to think about “selling” as a core professional and leadership skillWhat it takes to leave a stable career and commit fully to a startupThomas also shares candid advice for aspiring founders, especially veterans, emphasizing the importance of conviction, preparation, and understanding the increasing competitiveness of the defense tech landscape.Whether you're a veteran exploring entrepreneurship, a technologist interested in defense innovation, or someone navigating a major career transition, this episode delivers grounded insights on building, betting on yourself, and staying committed when the path forward is uncertain.🔗 Learn more about TheMilVet → themilvet.org🎧 Subscribe for more conversations with veterans building in venture capital, private equity, and founder-led companies.#Veterans #MilitaryTransition #AirForce #Startup #DefenseTech #ArtificialIntelligence #Entrepreneurship #Founders #Leadership #TheMilVetPodcast Thanks for listening! Here's how you can find us to continue the conversation:Tweet us at @brendan_aronsonFollow us on Instagram at @themilitaryvetSubscribe to our Weekly Newsletter at https://www.themilvet.org/resources-for-veteransCheck out our video content on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@themilitaryvet
