Veteran Entrepreneurs

Redeployable CEO and co-founder Ben Reid proposes that the current system for job searches is broken. This can create an even greater challenge for military personnel who are seeking to make the transition to the private sector. Redeployable was created to help address that issue. They first established the company in the United Kingdom and recently brought it “across the pond” to the United States. A recent survey showed that between twenty-seven and forty-four percent of Veterans stated that the [...]

John Paul DeJoria served in our United States Navy. He had several jobs following his military service, including working as a janitor and selling encyclopedias door to door. After being fired for opposing his employer’s policy of testing their products on animals, DeJoria found himself homeless, living out of his car and recycling bottles to feed his son. He took out a $700 loan to start his own company, and he is now a multi-billionaire. Some of his companies include [...]

Emma Przybyslawski was so good at her job she began to receive hate mail from the ISIS terrorist organization. She has now started a company that aims to make our Special Forces even more efficient and lethal. Emma had a hiccup in her Air Force career. She took time off from the Air Force Academy because she wasn’t sure if that is the path she wanted to follow. Quickly realizing her mistake, she returned to the Academy and was selected as [...]

Guidon Leadership founder James R. Lyda had a 30 year career in the U.S. Air Force. He served as Wing Command Chief twice. During those three decades he had the opportunity to advise and interact with some of our military’s senior leadership – while also taking care of and mentoring younger airmen.  During his last position before retirement, he was responsible for 55,000 personnel – that would be a good size town or a major corporation. Guidon Leadership is a [...]

Horse Soldier bourbon was created by Scott Neil and a couple of friends to honor the men who rode horseback into combat in Afghanistan. Scott was a member of one of the seven Special Forces teams inserted into Afghanistan following the 9/11 attacks. Scott admits he didn’t spend much time on horseback. He was part of a “Commander’s In-Extremis” force with a special mission to penetrate even further behind enemy lines to kill and capture Al-Qaeda leaders in order to [...]

Quang Pham’s father loaded up his family in the middle of the night and took them to the airbase. Little did Quang know this would be a one-way trip. It was April of 1975, and the Republic of South Vietnam would cease to exist within the month. His father, a pilot in the South Vietnam Air Force, would stay behind. Quang would not see him for 17 years. Although they had family in France, Quang’s mother specifically chose to stay [...]

Tax attorney Hubert Johnson is a Navy Veteran and founder of Guardian Tax Law. On this episode of American Warrior Radio, Hubert shares tax tips for Veteran entrepreneurs. While serving in the Navy, he injured his spine, resulting in a medical discharge. He was feeling sorry for himself until he reported to the VA pain clinic at the age of 19. Witnessing the situation that the older Veterans were in, he says at that moment “I was going to be [...]

Nick Padlo was a sophomore at West Point when the 9/11 attacks occurred. He would go on to serve two tours of duty in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Armed with an MBA from Stanford University, Padlo made a good transition to the civilian sector, taking a job with a successful business. It seemed he had the world at his feet. But all was not well in his life. He experienced a divorce and along the way he started drinking [...]

Custom Jacks was founded by Veterans Andy Lynam and Scottie Stephens. Andy served in the US Coast Guard for four years and Scottie served five years with the US Marine Corps. Custom Jacks produces stunning works of art that feature the American Flag and can be customized with a logo or other image. What makes their works unique is they are cut to present a three dimensional product that makes the flag appear to be fluttering in the breeze. The [...]

Militaryfares.com President Scott Lara was working at the Kmart camera department when his supervisor asked him what he wanted to do with his life. Scott replied that he had no idea. His supervisor said “Well, join the Navy and see the world!” Scott DID enlist, serving from 1979 to 1988 as a radar man. Scott never traveled much as a young man but the Navy took him to Spain, Italy and France and would infect him with the travel bug. [...]