#331: Band of Brothers Legacy: A Journey from D-Day to Today with Chase Millsap, Brett Lea, and Alex Sabga-Brady

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This week on the SABM Podcast, we’re joined by Chase Millsap (USNA ’05), Brett Lea, and Alex Sabga-Brady, the producers behind D-Day to Today: The Band of Brothers Legacy, a forthcoming documentary exploring the lasting impact of the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers on modern-day service members and military culture.

Chase Millsap is a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, former Marine infantry officer, and Army National Guard Special Forces veteran. After over a decade of service, Chase transitioned into storytelling and documentary filmmaking. He helped launch We Are The Mighty and has spent more than 15 years producing authentic military content in Hollywood. This project brings together his dual passions: military service and meaningful storytelling.

Brett Lea is a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel with 22 years of service. A former West Point history instructor and military public affairs officer, Brett led multiple staff rides in Normandy and served as the Army’s official liaison to Hollywood. His personal reverence for Dick Winters and Easy Company fuels his commitment to preserving the legacy of WWII heroes and inspiring today’s soldiers.

Alex Sabga-Brady portrayed Corporal Frank Mellet in the original Band of Brothers series and has spent the last two decades as a creative director, production designer, and brand strategist. While originally cast as background support due to his prior cadet training, Alex’s dedication and performance earned him a named role. Today, he remains closely connected with his fellow castmates and is deeply committed to honoring Easy Company’s legacy.

Together, they’re bringing this story full circle through reenactments, interviews, and original footage—connecting the heroes of WWII with today’s soldiers of the 101st Airborne and reigniting conversations about courage, leadership, and service.

Show Notes:

In this episode of the SABM podcast, Scott chats with Chase, Brett, and Alex about:

• The Band of Brothers Legacy Project: How a group of veterans and cast members are preserving the legacy of Easy Company
• From Training to Jump: Reenacting WWII parachute jumps in Normandy with the original cast
• Impact on Today’s Military: Why Band of Brothers still resonates with the 101st Airborne
• Military-Civilian Storytelling: Blending authenticity, history, and cinematic power
• Bringing It Home: The team’s goal to premiere the documentary in Normandy in 2026

Timestamps:

• 01:10 Chase’s background and transition into storytelling
• 04:10 The jump that inspired the documentary
• 07:22 Alex’s perspective on portraying history and maintaining legacy
• 14:40 Brett’s journey from West Point to the Army’s Hollywood liaison
• 19:00 Why Band of Brothers still matters
• 24:16 Production progress and what’s left to do
• 31:45 How the 101st Airborne is carrying the legacy forward
• 36:50 The unexpected power of rediscovered footage and interviews
• 43:00 The impact of Band of Brothers on leadership across generations
• 49:13 How to support and get involved

Connect with Chase:

• LinkedIn
• Website

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A special thank you to Chase, Alex, and Brett for joining me this week. Until next time!

-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01