LtCol (Col Sel) Cameron McCoy, Marine veteran, historian, and author of Contested Valor, shares leadership lessons from his service, academic career, and research into race and representation in the Marine Corps.

In this episode of Moments in Leadership, host David B. Armstrong sits down with LtCol Cameron McCoy, a Marine veteran, historian, and author of Contested Valor: African American Marines in the Age of Power, Protest, and Tokenism. LtCol McCoy’s journey spans combat deployments, leadership in academia, and a distinguished research career focused on the untold stories of African American Marines.

Dave and Cameron first met during a Reserve ITX event and reconnected after Dave read Contested Valor. Their conversation blends personal experience with historical analysis, offering listeners a candid look at leadership in the face of complex issues—including race, representation, and institutional change.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• How military service shaped LtCol McCoy’s leadership philosophy

• Leadership lessons from addressing race and representation in the Marine Corps

• The challenges of researching and telling underrecognized histories

• The parallels between leading in combat and leading in academia

• Why adaptability, empathy, and historical perspective matter for leaders today

Whether you’re a student of history, a leader in uniform, or someone committed to equity and inclusion, this episode offers practical wisdom and thought-provoking perspectives.

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