#23 - Lieutenant Dan Asper, USMC - Leadership, Awareness & Service

Built Not Born

Today’s guest is Lieutenant Dan Asper, USMC.

Lt Dan Asper, a native of Upper Dublin, PA, is a first Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps, stationed at Camp Lejeune North Carolina. Lt Asper is a motor transport platoon commander and leads a platoon of 35 Marine tactical vehicle operators.

Lt. Asper is a graduate of Texas A&M University where he earned a degree in Political Science. Lt Asper also attended Montgomery College Community College for 2 years prior to transferring to Texas A&M.

In our conversation, Lt Asper describes how spending 2 years at home working, coaching for a competitive swim team and focusing on his grades at MCCC was one of the most transformative periods of his life. I ask Lt Asper how he would compare his local community college to a famous school like Texas A&M. I think his answer may surprise you.

We also discuss what it is like to lead 35 Marines and what the day in the life of a US Marine platoon commander requires.

Lt Asper tells us how his childhood conversations with his grandfather, who was a surface warfare officer in the US Navy in the 1950’s led to him to serving in the Marine Corp.

We also get into the value of surrounding yourself with like-minded people, like Lt Asper did when he entered the ROTC program at Texas A&M and the value of leaving the little bubble of your hometown to get a new and fresh perspective on the world.

We also get into his personal definition of leadership, what historical leader he looks up to and how a leader must synthesize information into timely and actionable items so their team can move forward and accomplish their mission.

We also touch on why no matter if you are in the Marine Corp or work a corporate job there is nothing more powerful establishing great relationships and why being a good person, with high character will take you further than any complex strategy or competitive mindset will in the military and in life.

So…

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We have a bunch of cool interviews, like this one, to come.

Enjoy my conversation on with Marine first Lieutenant Dan Asper, motor transport platoon commander stationed in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

And remember… “Life is built, not born…”

Mentioned In this Episode:

IG: Lt. Dan Asper

Book: Mornings on Horseback (by David McCullough)

Book: The Last Stand of Fox Company (by Tom Drury)