On this episode of 1050 Bascom, we were excited to talk with Lieutenant Colonel Scott Gross, Commander of the Air Force ROTC at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Lt. Col. Gross brings nearly two decades of distinguished service in the United States Air Force, with experience spanning leadership, intelligence, foreign area expertise, and program management. His career has taken him across the world as he did strategic and operational planning in Jordan for Special Operations and Intel operations in Iraq. He also led program management work in Boston and Ohio. As the leader of the Air Force ROTC here at UW-Madison, Lt. Col. Gross plays a critical role in shaping the next generation of military and civic leaders. In this interview, we talked with him about his experiences in the Air Force, the lessons he’s learned about leadership and service, and why he believes it’s essential for students, regardless of their career aspirations, to think about ways they can contribute to public service.