Mr. Vic Minella, Former Under Secretary of the Navy - From Enlisted Sailor to the Pentagon's Second-Highest Civilian

Feb 16, 2026 · 1h 23m

About this episode

Former Under Secretary of the Navy Vic Minella shares his remarkable 38-year journey from enlisted sailor in rural Mississippi to the Department of the Navy's second-highest civilian position. We discuss how 9/11 rewired his approach to leadership and personal responsibility just three months into his naval intelligence career, what it was like managing dual Pentagon roles during a presidential transition, and the moment he found out about his promotion while sick in bed. Vic offers hard-earned lessons on self-care, delegation, staying in your lane, and why showing up every day with energy and a willingness to contribute is the real recipe for advancement. He closes with a powerful message: take the oath seriously, don't be afraid to make that first step, and find a way to contribute no matter what your job is. As always, thank you to the supporters on Supercast who help keep Moments in Leadership ad-free and sustainable. GUEST BIO LINKS Vic Minella on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-minella/ FOLLOW, SUBSCRIBE, AND SUPPORT Join the Moments in Leadership Supercast community https://mil.supercast.com/ Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/moments-in-leadership/id1547856712 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1hQl53NzCiJwlWS9xQZFw9 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@MomentsinLeadership Official Website https://www.momentsinleadership.com