
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.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
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.
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.
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.

