Throughout my journey, I’ve embraced the idea that the most influential leaders inspire others by fostering a culture of excellence, continuous learning, and adaptability. I believe in the power of humble confidence, recognizing that every interaction is an opportunity for learning and growth.
I’ve learned firsthand that authentic leadership is about empowering those around you. It’s about cultivating highperforming teams that thrive on trust and accountability while navigating the complexities of today’s world. My mission is to guide individuals and organizations in pursuing excellence, helping them adapt and evolve in an everchanging landscape. Through this lens, I strive to inspire a shared commitment to success and a relentless pursuit of improvement.
My military career was forged in high-stakes environments where the margin for error is razor-thin, and exceptional performance was paramount. As a Recon Marine and retired Navy SEAL officer in the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), I was immersed in a culture of excellence and resilience, witnessing the strength of unified, agile, adaptable teams tackling seemingly insurmountable challenges.
This experience taught me that true Leadership transcends traditional notions of authority. It’s rooted in empathy and accountability—key pillars that foster an environment where individuals feel valued and inspired to contribute their best. These cultural elements are essential for cultivating high-performing teams capable of navigating complex and volatile situations.
As I transitioned into the business world, I recognized that the lessons learned in military operations were invaluable for any leader and critical to the success of my start-ups. Evolved Leadership focuses on building cultures driven by connection, trust, and a shared commitment to excellence. By embracing these principles, leaders can guide their teams to achieve extraordinary outcomes, no matter their challenges , creating a transformative impact in today’s fast-paced environment.
My transition from the military to the private sector has been challenging and filled with numerous failures, necessitating continual evolution. Nevertheless, I am grateful to have become a three-time Amazon best-selling author, successful business leader, and recognized authority on leadership and organizational culture.
As a 2023 and 2024 Global Gurus Top 30 Leadership Speaker and a 2024 Gotham Artists Trending Leadership Speaker, I share insights from my breadth of experience in multiple domains. After 20 years of military service, I earned my MBA from the University of Texas McCombs Business School. I was honored as a 2017 Poets & Quants “National MBA to Watch.” Leveraging the Evolved Leadership model, I founded the Vetted Foundation, a transformative transition program for veterans, and Talent War Group, a premier leadership development and executive search firm. Talent War Group, which focuses on building sustainable leadership programs and placing top talent in companies, was acquired in October 2024, marking my first successful exit.
My bestselling book, The Talent War: How Special Operations and Great Organizations Win on Talent, provides actionable insights from the special operations assessment and selection process for business hiring. In 2022, I published The Everyday Warrior: A No-Hack, Practical Approach to Life, which serves as a framework for self-leadership and high performance. Most recently, I co-authored Scarlett’s Big Shot: Turning Setbacks into Success as part of the Left of Bang children’s series, instilling valuable leadership lessons for young readers.
I also lead the Sports Illustrated Everyday Warrior Nation franchise, formerly Men’s Journal’s largest initiative, which explores the human performance behind purpose-driven living and the relentless pursuit of excellence. The series has featured notable guests, including business leaders Bernie Marcus, Bob Parsons, and John Paul DeJoria; Grammy Award-winning artists Sammy Hagar and Brent Smith; actors Terry Crews, Anthony Michael Hall, and Dave Bautista; and athletes Dan Marino, Shaun White, Kelly Slater, and Drew Brees, as well as several New York Times bestselling authors.
Dedicated to supporting military families, I am an ambassador for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation and the Folds of Honor Foundation, providing educational and financial assistance to families of fallen or disabled service members.
In 2021, I founded Legacy Expeditions, an extreme expedition dedicated to honoring America’s fallen service members. Our motto, “We Dare…So Their Stories Never Die,” drives us to lead record -setting expeditions that keep their legacies alive. Our inaugural expedition to Mt. Everest involved skydiving into the world’s highest drop zones in 2021. In January 2023, we set four world records during the Triple 7 Expedition by skydiving into all seven continents in under seven days —a feat previously deemed impossible. At Legacy Expeditions, we embrace the concept of shared adversity. When teams confront deliberate challenges together, they cultivate trust and vulnerability, creating a strong sense of belonging. While our expeditions are high – risk, our aim is not to seek danger but to pursue challenges that push our mental and physical limits, fostering growth.
This approach mirrors the special operations planning model, emphasizing meticulous planning, logistical coordination, and robust risk mitigation. For business leaders, this principle highlights the power of teamwork in overcoming obstacles and underscores the importance of creating a culture where shared challenges lead to collective resilience and innovation. By applying these lessons, leaders can transform their organizations into high -performing teams capable of navigating adversity.
The ‘Left of Bang’ Children’s Series is a youth education and development series aimed at helping parents, carer givers, and teachers introduce, discuss, and instill valuable lessons on leadership principles and traits, characteristics, and attributes that will be invaluable throughout our children’s lives. ‘Left of Bang’ refers to the critical period before a significant event, symbolizing the early stages of a child’s development, creating resilient and reliant entities before they ignite into amazing leaders and professionals.
Guided discussions and exercises for parents, teachers, and children are provided at the end of each book to help foster meaningful conversations, aiding in understanding and retention. A glossary is also included to support learning and growth, making the series an essential tool for nurturing future leaders during their formative years.
