In this episode of TheMilVet Podcast, host Beau Higgins sits down with Scott Mackes, US Naval Academy graduate, US Navy veteran, entrepreneur, investor, founding member of 10X Vets, and founder of the Service Academy Business Mastermind Group (SABM). Scott shares his journey from playing baseball at the Naval Academy and serving as a Surface Warfare Officer to navigating a challenging military transition and ultimately building multiple businesses.

Scott discusses how the CliftonStrengths assessment helped him better understand how he was wired, launch his first business, and discover his passion for bringing entrepreneurs together to succeed. He also shares the stories behind SABM, 10X Vets, and Academy Fund, and explains why surrounding yourself with the right people has been one of the most important lessons of his career.

Listeners will gain insight into:

• Navigating the transition from military service to entrepreneurship
• Discovering your strengths and finding the right career fit
• Turning side hustles into full-time businesses
• Leveraging networking and LinkedIn to create opportunities
• Knowing when to bet on yourself
• Building communities around shared goals and values
• Surrounding yourself with the right people

🎧 Subscribe to TheMilVet Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube for more conversations helping veterans succeed in business, leadership, entrepreneurship, and life after service.

#TheMilVet #TheMilVetPodcast #NavyVeteran #NavalAcademy #Veterans #MilitaryTransition #Entrepreneurship #VeteranEntrepreneurs #Leadership #CareerTransition #Networking

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Here's how you can find us to continue the conversation:

Tweet us at @brendan_aronson
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Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter at https://www.themilvet.org/resources-for-veterans
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In this episode of TheMilVet Podcast, host Beau Higgins sits down with Nick Miller, Founder & CEO of Pellucid Network and US Army Veteran, to discuss his journey from growing up in a military family and commissioning through ROTC at Lehigh University to leading technology and marketplace initiatives at In-Q-Tel and AWS.

Nick shares how his experience in the Army shaped his approach to leadership, technology, and problem-solving, including his time at Arlington National Cemetery, where he helped lead a digital transformation effort and launched one of the Department of War’s first iPhone apps.

The conversation explores Nick’s transition from military service into the private sector, his six-plus years at AWS, and how he helped grow the public sector AWS Marketplace business from less than $15 million annually to nearly $4 billion. Nick also discusses why he left AWS to launch Pellucid Network, his vision for the future of enterprise marketplaces, and his mission to make it easier for innovative technology companies to sell into government and other highly regulated industries.

Listeners will gain insight into:

• Transitioning from the military into technology and business
• Translating military leadership principles into the private sector
• The importance of “showing up,” delivering on commitments, and communicating
• Starting necessary movement and continuously “improving the foxhole”
• Building a career through networking, mentorship, and exploration
• Finding the right culture and career fit after military service
• Navigating a high-performance culture at AWS
• Building and scaling technology businesses
• Making the leap from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship
• Helping veterans and paying mentorship forward
  
  

🎧 Subscribe to TheMilVet Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube for more conversations helping veterans succeed in business, leadership, entrepreneurship, and life after service.

#TheMilVet #TheMilVetPodcast #ArmyVeteran #Veterans #MilitaryTransition #Technology #AWS #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #CareerTransition #Startups #VeteranEntrepreneurs

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Here's how you can find us to continue the conversation:

Tweet us at @brendan_aronson
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Check out our video content on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@themilitaryvet

In this episode of TheMilVet Podcast, host Beau Higgins sits down with Michael J. Padilla-Pagan Payano, Managing Partner and CEO of Al Thuraya Investments and a United States military veteran, to discuss his unconventional journey from military service to entrepreneurship and investment across the Middle East and Africa.

Michael shares his journey from growing up as a military brat and serving as an Air Force Combat Controller to transitioning into the Army and Special Forces, and ultimately leaving the military to build businesses and relationships across some of the world's most complex markets.

The conversation explores Michael's transition out of the military, including the challenges of leaving behind rank, responsibility, and a clearly defined mission. He discusses how failure, adaptability, problem-solving, and the ability to keep moving forward became foundational skills as he built businesses from the ground up.

Michael also shares lessons from operating across the Middle East and Africa, where relationships, reputation, cultural awareness, and simply showing up can be critical to getting things done. He explains why he believes “relationships are my net worth” and how his military background continues to influence the way he approaches entrepreneurship, leadership, investing, and building teams.

Listeners will gain insight into:
• Transitioning from the military into entrepreneurship and investment
• Translating military leadership and problem-solving skills into business
• Learning from failure and continuing to push forward
• Building relationships and reputation in international markets
• Understanding cultural differences when doing business overseas
• The importance of being present and showing up
• Hiring for critical thinking, character, and adaptability
• Building businesses in complex and uncertain environments
• Identifying opportunities through relationships and networks
• Applying military lessons to entrepreneurship and investing

🎧 Subscribe to TheMilVet Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube for more conversations helping veterans succeed in business, leadership, entrepreneurship, and life after service.

#TheMilVet #TheMilVetPodcast #Veterans #MilitaryTransition #Entrepreneurship #VeteranEntrepreneur #Leadership #PrivateEquity #VentureCapital #SpecialOperations #InternationalBusiness #MiddleEast #Africa

Thanks for listening!

Here's how you can find us to continue the conversation:

Tweet us at @brendan_aronson
Follow us on Instagram at @themilitaryvet
Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter at https://www.themilvet.org/resources-for-veterans
Check out our video content on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@themilitaryvet

In this episode of TheMilVet Podcast, host Beau Higgins sits down with Ethan Taranta, a former U.S. Marine Corps Infantry and Reconnaissance Officer and Managing Director of Portfolio Operations at Nexus Capital Management, to discuss his journey from the Naval Academy and multiple combat deployments in Iraq to senior roles in finance, operations, and private equity.

Ethan shares the leadership lessons he learned in the Marine Corps, including being “brilliant in the basics,” taking ownership, adapting quickly, and understanding the mission, and how those principles translated into the business world.

The conversation explores his transition from military service, building finance and business skills (including an MBA from Columbia Business School), and how he drives value creation and operational improvements across portfolio companies.

Listeners will gain insight into:
• Transitioning from the military into business
• Translating military leadership into the private sector
• Building finance, sales, and business skills
• Breaking into private equity
• The power of networking and mentorship
• Finding the right career fit
• Taking ownership and betting on yourself

🎧 Subscribe to TheMilVet Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube for more conversations helping veterans succeed in business, leadership, entrepreneurship, and life after service.

#TheMilVet #TheMilVetPodcast #MarineVeteran #Veterans #MilitaryTransition #PrivateEquity #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #CareerTransition #Recon

Thanks for listening!

Here's how you can find us to continue the conversation:

Tweet us at @brendan_aronson
Follow us on Instagram at @themilitaryvet
Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter at https://www.themilvet.org/resources-for-veterans
Check out our video content on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@themilitaryvet

In this episode of TheMilVet Podcast, host Beau Higgins sits down with Logan Leslie, CEO of Main Street Auto and US Army Special Forces Veteran, to discuss his journey from Cavalry Scout and Green Beret to Harvard graduate and business owner.

Logan shares how September 11th inspired him to serve, the leadership and entrepreneurial lessons he learned in Special Operations, and his transition from active duty to Harvard, where he earned both an MBA and JD.

The conversation explores Logan’s entrepreneurial journey, including his early attempts to build a holding company and the lessons he learned from failure before finding his path in the automotive repair industry. He discusses why focus, execution, resilience, and operating experience matter, and why veterans need to be willing to bet on themselves.

Listeners will gain insight into:
• Transitioning from military service to entrepreneurship
• Leadership lessons from Special Operations
• Pursuing elite higher education as a veteran
• The entrepreneurial mindset veterans bring to business
• Learning from failure and adapting along the way
• Building and scaling an operating business
• Finding the right business and career fit
• Taking risks and betting on yourself

🎧 Subscribe to TheMilVet Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube for more conversations helping veterans succeed in entrepreneurship, executive leadership, business, and life after service.

#TheMilVet #TheMilVetPodcast #Veterans #ArmyVeteran #SpecialForces #GreenBerets #MilitaryTransition #VeteranTransition #Entrepreneurship #VeteranEntrepreneur #Leadership #PrivateEquity #BusinessOwnership #Harvard #CareerTransition

Thanks for listening!

Here's how you can find us to continue the conversation:

Tweet us at @brendan_aronson
Follow us on Instagram at @themilitaryvet
Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter at https://www.themilvet.org/resources-for-veterans
Check out our video content on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@themilitaryvet

In this episode of TheMilVet Podcast, host Beau Higgins sits down with Andrew Dimitruk, CEO and Co-Founder of Ironflow AI and US Marine Corps veteran, to discuss his journey from Marine Corps Cobra pilot to McKinsey consultant, defense technology executive at Shield AI, and AI entrepreneur.

Andrew shares how September 11th inspired him to serve, the leadership lessons he learned in the Marine Corps, and how his military experience shaped his approach to building teams, solving problems, and leading through uncertainty.

The conversation explores Andrew's transition from the Marine Corps to business school and McKinsey, his decision to join Shield AI during the early days of defense tech, and his progression into the company's COO role. He also explains the operational challenges he encountered while scaling a defense technology company, particularly the limitations of traditional ERP systems and how those experiences led him to co-found Ironflow AI.

Andrew discusses Ironflow's mission to build an AI-native ERP for discrete manufacturing, with an initial focus on strengthening the defense industrial base. He also shares advice for veterans considering startups, AI, and entrepreneurship, including why veterans should get comfortable with risk, embrace chaos, build great teams, and look for opportunities that create greater optionality.

Listeners will gain insight into:

• Andrew's journey from the Marine Corps to AI entrepreneurship
• Leadership lessons from military service
• His experience as a Marine Corps Cobra pilot
• Transitioning from military service to McKinsey and the private sector
• Building and scaling Shield AI
• The evolution of AI and defense technology
• Why traditional ERP systems are a major challenge for manufacturers
• The founding and mission of Ironflow AI
• AI's potential to transform manufacturing and the defense industrial base
• Why veterans can thrive in startup environments
• Taking calculated risks and betting on yourself
• Building world-class teams and leading through uncertainty

🎧 Subscribe to TheMilVet Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube for more conversations helping veterans succeed in entrepreneurship, executive leadership, business, and life after service.

#TheMilVet #TheMilVetPodcast #Veterans #MarineCorps #MarineVeteran #MilitaryTransition #VeteranTransition #Entrepreneurship #VeteranEntrepreneur #Leadership #MilitaryLeadership #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #DefenseTech #DefenseIndustry #NationalSecurity #Manufacturing #ERP #IronflowAI #ShieldAI #Startup #Founder #VeteranCareers #CareerTransition #Innovation #Technology

Thanks for listening!

Here's how you can find us to continue the conversation:

Tweet us at @brendan_aronson
Follow us on Instagram at @themilitaryvet
Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter at https://www.themilvet.org/resources-for-veterans
Check out our video content on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@themilitaryvet

In this episode of TheMilVet Podcast, host Beau Higgins sits down with Brian Stann, President & CEO of Hunt Military Communities, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran, UFC fighter, nonprofit leader, and private equity-backed executive, to discuss his unconventional journey from the Naval Academy and combat deployments to the UFC, Hire Heroes USA, private equity, and executive leadership.

Brian shares how 9/11 shaped his decision to serve in the Marine Corps, the leadership lessons he learned through combat, and why the Marine Corps became the foundation of his approach to leadership, accountability, and decision-making.

The conversation explores Brian's transition from the military into business, professional MMA, and nonprofit leadership. He discusses how mixed martial arts helped him process life after combat, his journey to the UFC, and how he helped build Hire Heroes USA into a leading organization helping veterans find employment.

Brian also shares how a chance connection with Cerberus Capital Management opened the door to private equity and eventually led him to an executive role at FirstKey Homes and, ultimately, the CEO position at Hunt Military Communities.

Listeners will gain insight into:

• Brian's journey from the Naval Academy to the Marine Corps and combat in Iraq
• The leadership lessons he carried from the Marine Corps into business
• His transition from military service to the UFC and nonprofit leadership
• Building Hire Heroes USA around measurable outcomes and accountability
• Why veterans need to communicate the value they can create for an organization
• The importance of understanding your strengths and weaknesses
• How military delegation and ownership translate into corporate leadership
• Brian's transition into private equity and executive leadership
• Learning finance and business by tackling real-world problems
• Why veterans should ask questions instead of being intimidated by unfamiliar business language
• The importance of humility, curiosity, grit, and self-belief
• Why betting on yourself can open doors to an unconventional second career

Brian's message to veterans is simple: know yourself, keep learning, surround yourself with people who complement your weaknesses, and have the confidence to bet on yourself.

Whether you're a veteran preparing for transition, interested in private equity or entrepreneurship, or looking to grow as a leader, this episode offers practical lessons on resilience, leadership, career transition, and building your next chapter after service.

🎧 Subscribe to TheMilVet Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube for more conversations helping veterans succeed in private equity, entrepreneurship, executive leadership, business, and life after service.

#TheMilVet #TheMilVetPodcast #Veterans #USMC #MarineVeteran #MilitaryTransition #VeteranTransition #Entrepreneurship #PrivateEquity #Leadership #UFC #MMA #HireHeroesUSA #ExecutiveLeadership #VeteranCareers #Resilience #SelfBelief #VeteranSuccess

Thanks for listening!

Here's how you can find us to continue the conversation:

Tweet us at @brendan_aronson
Follow us on Instagram at @themilitaryvet
Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter at https://www.themilvet.org/resources-for-veterans
Check out our video content on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@themilitaryvet

In this episode of TheMilVet Podcast, host Beau Higgins sits down with Kevin Capozzoli, Co-Founder & CEO of Critical Materials Group and US Army veteran, to discuss his 25-year military career, his transition into entrepreneurship, and how the leadership and decision-making skills he developed in the Army continue to shape the way he builds businesses.

Kevin shares how his father's Vietnam service influenced his decision to serve and reflects on the lessons he learned from a career in the infantry, including leadership, responsibility, failure, decision-making, and learning from both great and difficult leaders.

The conversation explores Kevin's transition from the Army to the business world, including his decision to pursue graduate education at the University of Texas and ultimately build a company rather than simply look for his next job. He explains how military planning principles, including red-teaming and stress-testing ideas, became valuable tools for evaluating business opportunities and navigating uncertainty.

Listeners will gain insight into:

• Kevin's journey from Florida State University to a 25-year Army career
• The leadership lessons learned through military service
• Why failure and responsibility accelerate professional growth
• The difference between managing, leading, and commanding
• Kevin's decision to leave the military and pursue entrepreneurship
• Why veterans should consider whether they want to "get a job" or "make a job"
• How military decision-making principles translate into business
• Why entrepreneurs should never fall in love with their ideas
• Using red-teaming to stress-test business opportunities
• How Kevin identified critical vulnerabilities in the U.S. munitions industrial base
• The founding and mission of Critical Materials Group
• Building a company focused on critical energetic materials and national security
• Navigating government acquisition and the defense industrial base
• The importance of understanding who actually buys your product
• How to handle investor rejection and constructive feedback
• Why self-awareness and humility are critical to entrepreneurship
• The importance of health, family, and financial preparation during transition
• Why betting on yourself requires preparation as well as courage

Kevin also shares practical advice for veterans preparing for their next chapter, emphasizing the importance of defining what you truly want to accomplish, building financial runway, taking care of your health and family, and being willing to embrace uncertainty.

Whether you're a veteran preparing for transition, an aspiring entrepreneur, a business leader, or interested in national security and the defense industrial base, this episode offers practical lessons on leadership, resilience, decision-making, entrepreneurship, and betting on yourself.

🎧 Subscribe to TheMilVet Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube for more conversations helping veterans succeed in private equity, entrepreneurship, executive leadership, business, and life after service.

#TheMilVet #TheMilVetPodcast #Veterans #USArmy #ArmyVeteran #MilitaryTransition #VeteranTransition #Entrepreneurship #VeteranEntrepreneur #Leadership #MilitaryLeadership #DefenseIndustry #DefenseIndustrialBase #NationalSecurity #CriticalMaterials #Founder #Resilience #CareerTransition #VeteranCareers #DecisionMaking #RiskManagement #PrivateEquity #VeteranSuccess

Thanks for listening!

Here's how you can find us to continue the conversation:

Tweet us at @brendan_aronson
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Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter at https://www.themilvet.org/resources-for-veterans
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