In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, senior journalist Robert Dougherty is joined by Trevor Fortner, a former US Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal specialist, Blackwater PMC contractor and current EverydaySpy consultant.

Fortner has formerly served as a US Navy EOD master training specialist and operated alongside Tier 1 units, including SEAL Team Six and Delta Force.

He previously led Blackwater's ambassador protection detail, served as a tactical commander for the US ambassador's diplomatic security service protection detail in Iraq, trained personnel with the United Arab Emirates Presidential Guard and Iraqi counter-terrorism units.

He now works as a principal engineer and test architect at Raytheon Missiles & Defense.

• During the podcast, the pair discuss the modern battlefield and future warfare topics, including:
• An insight into the world of Navy EOD and the unique demands of elite special operations training.
• The intelligence, preparation and leadership required for high-risk capture missions, such as the recent US actions in Venezuela.
• Public misconceptions surrounding private military contractors and how the industry has evolved since Iraq and Afghanistan.
• The military strategy shift towards network-centric warfare, artificial intelligence-enabled decision making and industrial resilience.
• The US military's renewed focus on standards, accountability and the resurgence of "warrior culture".

The pair close out the discussion with a rapid-fire round of questions relating to Fortner's military training experience.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team

Defence Connect undertook the above podcast with cooperation from online digital learning platform EverydaySpy. For more information about EverydaySpy, visit the following links.

Find your Spy Superpower: https://yt.everydayspy.com/4aXS3qi
Explore Spy School: https://everydayspy.com/
Listen to the podcast: https://youtube.com/@EverydaySpyPodcast
Learn from a CIA Spy: https://youtube.com/@Andrew-Bustamante