By Joe Yamour, VP, Public Sector Sales, Paragon Micro
At Paragon Micro, we often talk about mission success, accountability, and teamwork, but they are most vividly embodied by those who live them out under extraordinary circumstances. Capt. (Ret.) Flo Groberg, Master Sgt. (Ret.) Earl Plumlee, and 1st Lt. (Ret.) Brian Thacker—Medal of Honor recipients—recently shared reflections in response to questions from LTG (Ret.) Guy C. Swan III during the panel discussion at the Association of the U.S. Army’s 2025 Annual Meeting and Exposition.
Their experiences remind us that success is never the result of individual effort alone. It is forged through preparation, trust in your team, and the willingness to rise to the moment when it matters most. Below is a condensed overview of their reflections, highlighting the lessons in leadership, humility, and unwavering team commitment that continue to guide those who serve our nation.
Capt. Flo Groberg: “It’s About the Team”
Retired Capt. Flo Groberg began by revisiting the events of Aug. 8, 2012, when, as he led a security detachment in Afghanistan, he tackled a suicide bomber away from a formation, an act that kept the blast away from fellow soldiers.
Asked what drove that instinctive decision, Groberg credited his Army training and the discipline of his team. “It wasn’t about thinking through consequences,” he said. “It was the many hours, the months, the training we did over and over that made us professionals.”
He emphasized that his actions reflected collective readiness, not individual heroism. “Every one of my soldiers did exactly what they were supposed to do,” he said. “You can be perfect and still suffer losses. I wear this medal, but it represents the men who didn’t come home.”
Groberg also spoke about the responsibility that comes with recognition. “At first, I felt uncomfortable being singled out for eight seconds of action when others didn’t return,” he said. “But I realized this platform allows me to honor them, to represent service members and the civilians who support them.”
On resilience, he shared a message forged through recovery and reflection: “Setbacks don’t define you—how you get back up does. My purpose is to live in a way that honors those who didn’t make it home.”
Master Sgt. Earl Plumlee: “You’re Never Really a Leader Until You Have to Lead Your Friends”
Retired Special Forces Master Sgt. Earl Plumlee’s reflections focused on leadership and humility. On Aug. 28, 2013, when insurgents breached a base perimeter in Ghazni, Afghanistan, Plumlee ran toward the blast, engaging multiple attackers under heavy fire and helping wounded soldiers reach safety—all while injured himself.
He was awarded the Medal of Honor in 2021, but his perspective remains grounded in the lessons of early leadership. “You’re never really a leader until you have to lead your friends,” Plumlee said. “I wanted to be the ‘cool’ squad leader, and day one showed me why there’s no such thing. You have to choose between being everybody’s friend or being a real leader.”
As his responsibilities grew, so did the expectations. “After the medal, people watched everything—how I wore the uniform, where I parked,” he said. “The best thing I could do was stay humble and ask, ‘Teach me what you do.’ That made me a better leader.”
His advice to young leaders: “Establish trust. If you take ownership when things go wrong, your team will give you the truth—and their full effort.”
1st Lt. Brian Thacker: “Professions Pay Your Soul”
Former 1st Lt. Brian Thacker, awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Vietnam, reflected on leadership forged in crisis. During an enemy assault on his fire base in 1971, Thacker directed artillery and airstrikes, organized a withdrawal, and stayed behind to cover his men—calling fire on his own position before evading capture for eight days while wounded.
Growing up in a military family, Thacker said his sense of leadership developed gradually. “I didn’t know if I had leadership qualities until small roles gave me the chance to lead,” he said. “The Army refined whatever was there.”
After leaving active service, he continued his commitment to public service through work with the Department of Veterans Affairs, focusing on improving systems and simplifying directives. “You have to earn trust and teach people that things can be different,” he said. “Leadership means listening, taking feedback, and fixing mistakes together.”
Thacker closed with a reflection on purpose. “Jobs pay you money; professions pay your soul,” he said. “The real reward is the people you serve with—the unity of purpose and the honor that comes from doing the job well.”
Supporting the Mission: Paragon Micro and the U.S. Army
The leadership, courage, and commitment demonstrated by Capt. (Ret.) Flo Groberg, Master Sgt. (Ret.) Earl Plumlee, and 1st Lt. (Ret.) Brian Thacker remind us that mission success depends on preparation, trust, and teamwork. As an organization that the Army selected for its ITES-4H contract, Paragon Micro brings the same dedication to supporting mission-critical objectives—delivering technology solutions that enable soldiers and teams to perform at their best.
If you’re looking for a trusted partner to help achieve mission objectives with speed, reliability, and accountability, contact our team to explore partnership opportunities. Together, we can support operational success and deliver results.