The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe

476: Michael Cadenazzi—The Department of War is Hiring

26 snips
Mar 24, 2026
Michael Cadenazzi, Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial-Based Policy and former Navy officer and entrepreneur, discusses rebuilding America’s defense industrial base. He covers the skilled-trades shortage, training programs and ways to make trade work appealing. Conversation also tackles automation and factory modernization, securing rare-earth supply chains, and scaling production for national resilience.
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INSIGHT

Sustain Demand To Unlock Defense Production

  • The Defense Industrial Base needs sustained long-term purchases to unlock production capacity.
  • Michael Cadenazzi explained past lack of urgency and new acquisition strategy to buy at scale so suppliers feel confident to expand.
INSIGHT

Scale Of The Skilled Trades Shortage

  • The industrial workforce shortfall is massive: ~400,000 open jobs now and potentially 4 million needed over 10 years.
  • Cadenazzi cites retirements, aging workforce, and downstream supply-chain roles like ball bearings and gaskets that complicate hiring.
ANECDOTE

Blue Forge Plea And The Eighth Grade Quip

  • Blue Forge Alliance told Cadenazzi they needed 400,000 skilled tradespeople over eight years, with 100,000 urgently.
  • His quip: the welders they want are 'in the eighth grade', highlighting pipeline timing urgency.
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