Creating a Print on Demand Apparel Business for Schools, Sports, and the Military with David Baska, USAFA ’13
Feb 20, 2025
“There are 27 or 28 million people in the United States who have served our country. It would be awesome to give them a product that memorializes their time in service and their particular time at the unit that they served in.” – David Baska, USAFA ’13
David Baska is a dynamic leader with expertise in operations, finance, and strategic planning. As Chief Operating Officer at Swift Brands, he spearheads the company’s mission to revolutionize military-branded apparel and the broader apparel industry through innovative technology and U.S.-based on-demand manufacturing. A former officer in the U.S. Air Force, David served in space and military operations, earning honors such as the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and later contributed as a program manager in the U.S. Space Force. An academy graduate and former collegiate baseball player, he brings a strong foundation in leadership and teamwork to his professional endeavors. David’s passion for innovation and dedication to excellence continue to drive meaningful advancements across industries, leaving a lasting impact. In this episode of the SABM podcast, Scott chats with David about:
The Vision for Swift Brands: Revolutionizing apparel with a vertically integrated tech and e-commerce platform.
Innovative Solutions: Addressing supply chain issues with U.S.-based on-demand manufacturing for youth sports, schools, and military sectors.
David’s Journey: From academy grad and baseball player to leader of Swift Brands and MadeinVSA.com.
Simplifying Customization: Empowering schools, military units, and affinity groups to create and manage custom apparel lines effortlessly.
Challenges and Future Goals: Tackling industry obstacles and aiming for impactful milestones in 2025.
Ways to Collaborate: Opportunities to partner with Swift Brands and connect with David for support.
Timestamps:
00:25 Overview of Swift Brands
03:23 Understanding VSA and Its Market
09:46 Military Market and Vision
18:06 Future Goals and Challenges
Connect with David Baska:
If you found value in today’s episode, don’t keep it to yourself—share it with a colleague or friend who could benefit. And if you’re a Service Academy graduate ready to elevate your business, we’d love for you to join our community and get started today. Make sure you never miss an episode—subscribe now and help support the show:
Leave us a 5-star review!
A special thank you to David Baska for joining me this week. Until next time! -Scott Mackes, USNA ’01