Brigadier General (Ret.) Mike Oster is a highly decorated senior military leader, strategic advisor, and business executive with more than 36 years of command experience leading large-scale operations, complex organizations, and mission-critical initiatives in demanding operational environments.

He previously served in key leadership roles, including Battalion Commander during deployment to Afghanistan, Brigade Commander, Deputy Commanding General for Mobilization at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and Assistant Adjutant General for the South Dakota Army National Guard.

His service earned some of the U.S. military’s highest honors, including the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, and Bronze Star Medal.

BG Oster is widely recognized for translating complex challenges into clear, actionable leadership frameworks that strengthen organizational performance, resilience, and execution. His philosophy—centered on accountability, mindset, and disciplined excellence—has been applied across government, defense, healthcare, finance, agriculture, infrastructure, and private enterprise.

Beyond his military service, he is a successful entrepreneur, founder of Oster Consulting, bestselling author of It Starts With Attitude, and former elected City Commissioner. He continues to serve on national defense and community boards, with expertise spanning strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, change management, and leadership development.

Within the Critical Minerals Initiative, BG Oster provides senior advisory support across government, defense, and strategic stakeholder engagement. He helps align the initiative with U.S. national security, critical supply chain, and industrial resilience priorities while supporting engagement with federal and state stakeholders and strengthening its positioning for public-sector partnerships in critical minerals development.

His combined experience across military leadership, government service, and private enterprise provides the initiative with trusted credibility at the intersection of national security, economic development, and industrial capability.