📍A decorated U.S. Air Force general with decades of combat leadership was taken down—not for failure, but for defying a system that turned against him. In this episode, Brig. Gen. Chris Sage explains how battlefield judgment, morale, and mission success were later punished by bureaucracy and politics. This is not just one man’s story—it exposes a precedent that affects who is allowed to lead in the U.S. military. The stakes are simple and severe: when systems override commanders after the fact, speed, trust, and readiness collapse. What’s at risk is the future of leadership in war.

Next Steps:
🏫 Get coaching by David Rutherford: https://www.froglogicinstitute.com/
📕 Get David's novel, The Poet Warrior: https://www.ballastbooks.com/ballast-bookstore/the-poet-warrior
📰 Sign up for David's weekly newsletter for free coaching tips, updates, and more: https://davidrutherfordletter.substack.com/

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

01:36 - The Resume That Makes This Impossible to Ignore
12:38 - Commanding in War While COVID Took Over
22:07 - When the System Turned on Its Own Commander
33:36 - Investigated From the Pentagon, Punished by Bureaucracy

44:46 - What’s Still Broken — And Who Can Fix It

📍A decorated U.S. Air Force general with decades of combat leadership was taken down&mdash;not for failure, but for defying a system that turned against him. In this episode, Brig. Gen. Chris Sage explains how battlefield judgment, morale, and mission success were later punished by bureaucracy and politics. This is not just one man&rsquo;s story&mdash;it exposes a precedent that affects who is allowed to lead in the U.S. military. The stakes are simple and severe: when systems override commanders after the fact, speed, trust, and readiness collapse. What&rsquo;s at risk is the future of leadership in war.
Next Steps:
<ul>
<li>🏫 Get coaching by David Rutherford: <a href="https://www.froglogicinstitute.com/">https://www.froglogicinstitute.com/</a></li>
<li>📕 Get David's novel, The Poet Warrior: <a href="https://www.ballastbooks.com/ballast-bookstore/the-poet-warrior">https://www.ballastbooks.com/ballast-bookstore/the-poet-warrior</a></li>
<li>📰 Sign up for David's weekly newsletter for free coaching tips, updates, and more: <a href="https://davidrutherfordletter.substack.com/">https://davidrutherfordletter.substack.com/</a></li>
</ul>
Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
01:36 - The Resume That Makes This Impossible to Ignore 12:38 - Commanding in War While COVID Took Over 22:07 - When the System Turned on Its Own Commander 33:36 - Investigated From the Pentagon, Punished by Bureaucracy
44:46 - What&rsquo;s Still Broken &mdash; And Who Can Fix It

The David Rutherford Show represents the highest form of the emerging new media landscape. As a former Navy SEAL, CIA contractor, and world championship performance coach, David has been exploring the human condition for the past 30 years in his epic quest to understand how individuals and teams can defeat the negative insurgency. In his new show David will give experienced analysis to most pressing topics of our time. His mission is to consolidate the battlefield of information and provide unique context to most important issues of the day. Don’t miss this exciting show and allow David to be your flash bang of truth. 

The David Rutherford Show represents the highest form of the emerging new media landscape. As a former Navy SEAL, CIA contractor, and world championship performance coach, David has been exploring the human condition for the past 30 years in his epic quest to understand how individuals and teams can defeat the negative insurgency. In his new show David will give experienced analysis to most pressing topics of our time. His mission is to consolidate the battlefield of information and provide unique context to most important issues of the day. Don&rsquo;t miss this exciting show and allow David to be your flash bang of truth.&nbsp;

The David Rutherford Show

David Rutherford Show: This U.S. General Was Taken Down by the System He Served | Brig. Gen. Chris Sage

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/ca6da0b2-b31d-4daa-8fe2-b3d30186b181/transcript