.png)
At the Coalface
At the Coalface is a series of conversations hosted by Philippe Rose.
Philippe's guests share stories about their life beyond the headlines of international affairs. They look for lessons learned about making an impact in the world as practitioners in diplomacy, international organisations, NGOs, journalism and the private sector.
Many of Philippe's guests are connected by their common experience of taking time away from work to attend graduate school at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy of Tufts University.
At the Coalface
Rob Palmer - From the Battlefield to the Beltway, on Leadership and Influence
In this episode, I sit down with Rob Palmer, corporate government relations executive and retired U.S. Air Force Reserve public affairs officer, for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, influence, and the art of translating complexity across the worlds of politics, the military, and industry.
Rob’s career spans trade association lobbying, military public affairs, NATO operations, and today the defence industrial base. Introduced to me by Rob Palm, his path offers a compelling parallel: not leadership from the cockpit or the field, but from the arenas where narrative, perception, and policy shape outcomes.
We explore how upbringing and serendipity shaped his trajectory, what he learned negotiating across grey zones with politicians seeking clarity rather than detail, and how his Air Force Reserve service, including deployments to Bosnia and the Gulf, honed his ability to bridge perspectives.
Recorded on 22 October 2025.
Connect with Rob on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/robertppalmer.
Instagram: @at.the.coalface
And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.
Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!
