The MILCOM Founders Podcast

Rod Loges

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Championing and celebrating veteran founders through weekly conversations. Each episode features military entrepreneurs sharing their journey from service to success, uncovering real strategies for business growth, capital raising, and applying military leadership in the private sector.

MAR 3

Joshua Himan | Business Valuation Advisors Inc.

MILCOM Founders Podcast - Episode 36: Josh Himan, Marine Veteran Helping Business Owners Know What Their Companies Are Worth Show Notes Join host Rod Loges and guest Joshua Himan as he shares his journey from Northern Virginia athlete to Marine Corps machine gunner to founding two businesses that help people regain independence and understand the true value of what they've built. In this episode: Josh's path from growing up in an athletic family near Quantico to enlisting in the Marine Corps at the height of the Iraq War after a chance encounter with a Marine Corps GeneralHis decision to go infantry and become a 0331 Machine Gunner because he wanted to be "all in"Deploying to Afghanistan as part of Operation Strike of the Sword, the largest Marine offensive since the Battle of Fallujah, and being one of the first units on the ground for the surgeThe IED strike on September 29, 2009 that left him paralyzed from the chest down during the last month of deploymentHow a Marine Colonel's hospital visit changed his entire outlook: "You can still do business. These are not going to be taken away from you."Co-founding the Driving Rehabilitation Center of Excellence (DRCE) with Tammy Phipps, who had helped 400 combat-injured service members get back to driving at Walter ReedWhy he became obsessed with business valuation after trying to acquire small businesses and realizing nobody could properly explain the numbersBuilding Business Valuation Advisors into a firm that values 100+ private companies per yearKey takeaways: Get an independent, unbiased valuation of your business. Brokers and others who are incentivized differently may not give you the full picture.Formatting your financial statements properly is about as close to a free lunch as you'll get. It's low-hanging fruit that can add enormous value to your company.Each business is unique. Two owners in the same industry with the same revenue can have very different valuations based on owner involvement, operations, and risk.The most precious thing is time. When evaluating any business opportunity, weigh the economics against how much of your time it will take.Good trees produce good fruit. The businesses rooted in the right purpose, where the client comes first, are the ones that succeed long-term.Integrity is the pillar. In small business, trust and integrity are everything.Guest: Joshua Himan, MSF, MSAE, CVA, CBA, CMEA, FMVA, CTA, ASBC, PGE - Founder and Principal of Business Valuation Advisors, Inc., U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Business Website: valuationadvisor.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuahiman/Joshua Himan is a Business Valuation Expert, Transaction Advisor, and Chief Financial Officer with over 15 years of experience advising private lower-middle market business owners, private equity firms, and acquisition entrepreneurs. He specializes in business valuation, transaction advisory, financial modeling, and value creation strategy. Josh earned his B.B.A. in Finance from Radford University (Dean's List), followed by a Master of Science in Finance from George Washington University and a Master of Science in Applied Economics from Johns Hopkins University. He also holds advanced certificates in Real Estate Finance & Investments (NYU) and Forecasting in Organizations (Johns Hopkins). After beginning his career in business, Josh felt called to serve his country and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in January 2008. He trained at Parris Island and completed Infantry School as a 0331 Machine Gunner. In May 2009, he deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Strike of the Sword — the largest Marine offensive since the Battle of Fallujah and the largest airlift of Marines since the Vietnam War. His unit was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation during Operation Enduring Freedom. On September 29, 2009, the Humvee Josh was riding in struck an improvised explosive device (IED), resulting in multiple spinal cord injuries that left him paralyzed from the chest down. For his service and sacrifice, he was awarded the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Afghan Campaign Medal, and Presidential Unit Citation. Prior to founding Business Valuation Advisors Inc., Josh was the Co-Founder and Chief Financial Officer of Driving Rehabilitation Center of Excellence (DRCE), a specialized healthcare organization focused on restoring mobility and independence for individuals with medical and neurological challenges. Today, DRCE has helped thousands of people with disabilities return to driving and get their independence back. Today, Josh is the Founder and Principal of Business Valuation Advisors, Inc., a boutique valuation and transaction advisory firm serving lower middle-market business owners, private equity groups, attorneys, and institutional clients nationwide. Through BVA, he provides certified business valuations, quality of earnings analysis, transaction advisory, and strategic value enhancement consulting across a broad range of industries. Looking ahead: Josh is building software tools powered by AI to bring his valuation expertise to a broader market, training analysts around the world, and continuing to grow BVA as a firm that helps business owners understand what their companies are truly worth. The MILCOM Founders Podcast champions and celebrates military community business owners. Each episode brings practical insights and lessons learned from successful veteran entrepreneurs. Sponsored by One Degree Financial www.onedegreefinancial.com Want to support veteran entrepreneurs? Learn about the Dick Loges Veteran Entrepreneur Scholarship Fund at https://www.milcomfounders.com/

50 min
FEB 17

Hillary Boyce | BAFO Services, LLC

MILCOM Founders Podcast – Episode 35: Hillary Boyce, Army Veteran and Military Spouse Building a Government Contracting Powerhouse Join host Rod Loges and guest Hillary Boyce as she shares her journey from small-town North Carolina to leading BAFO Services, a firm helping over 150 clients win government contracts. In this episode: Hillary's path from Taylorsville, North Carolina (population: tiny) to joining Navy ROTC in high school and enlisting in the Army National Guard before her senior yearHow she went to basic training at Fort Leonard Wood before 12th grade and bought her first car with her military paycheckHer transition from National Guard engineer to active duty with the 3rd Infantry Division, where she worked directly with senior officers as an E-4The story of starting her first company after a few glasses of wine, with no business plan and no investorsHow she grew to 85 employees in two years while Ubering on nights and weekends because she couldn't pay herselfSelling her first company and launching BAFO Services, which now employs 50+ staff serving 150+ clientsWhy she takes her Army gear to every Army-Navy game (where her Navy husband has to sit on the Army side)Key takeaways: Write your plan in pencil, not permanent marker. You never know who you'll meet in an elevator tomorrow.The cost of money is real. Before you're two years into business with tax returns to show, SBA won't talk to you. Plan for that.Take care of your staff first. A leader isn't a leader if they're not mentoring and giving back.No hero behavior. Nobody should be a single point of failure on your team.Stay flexible. Don't pigeonhole yourself or your company when you don't know what revenue stream might walk through the door.Guest: Hillary Boyce, Founder and CEO of BAFO Services, U.S. Army Veteran, Military Spouse LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hillary-boyce-14537814/Business Website: https://bafoservices.com/Mrs. Hillary Boyce is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of BAFO Services, LLC, bringing more than 20 years of proven expertise in the procurement, execution, and management of U.S. government contracts. Her career includes owning and acquiring her own successful small government contracting business, through which she earned numerous federal service-related awards. She also holds a Master in Business Development certification from MBDi. A proud U.S. Army veteran, Mrs. Boyce served as an Engineer in the Army National Guard before transitioning to active duty with the 3rd Infantry Division. She is also a dedicated military spouse, supporting her husband, an active-duty Naval Officer. Her academic background includes Business Administration studies at the University of Maryland (Europe and Asia Divisions), a Certification in Acquisition and Procurement from Tidewater Community College (TCC), and legal studies at Regent University. Mrs. Boyce spent many years providing essential services and support to wounded soldiers, survivors, and military families through her roles within the U.S. Army Casualty and Mortuary Affairs Operations and the U.S. Army Physical Disability Agency. Her work focused on operational management and oversight of mission-critical tasks directly impacting service members and their families. In addition to her work supporting the military community, Mrs. Boyce is deeply committed to global humanitarian service. She engages in yearly mission work in Kenya, contributing her time and leadership to support underserved communities, expand educational and economic opportunities, and help strengthen local support networks. Her experiences abroad continue to inspire her passion for service and community empowerment. Deeply committed to community and professional service, she volunteers locally and serves on several boards, including the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) Hampton Roads chapter and Women in Defense (WID). She is also a business coach for The Honor Foundation (THF), supporting transitioning Navy SEALs and U.S. Special Operations personnel, and serves on the AFCEA International Small Business Committee. Mrs. Boyce has been widely recognized for her leadership, business acumen, and service. Her awards include: Virginia Small Business Veteran of the Year, Virginia SBDC (2025)100 Successful Women in Business Award, Global Trade Chamber (2025)Veteran & Military Spouse Owned Small Business of the Year, Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce (2025)AFCEA International Leadership Award (2025)Military Spouse Awards – Heroes at Home Finalist, militarynews.com (2025)AFCEA International Medal of Merit (2023)AFCEA International Small Business Person of the Year (2021)AFCEA Women's Appreciation Award (2021)Distinguished Service Awards Finalist, Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce (2019)AFCEA Top 40 Under 40 – National (2019)Top 40 Under 40 of Hampton Roads, Inside Business (2017)Additionally, she received the Emerging Star Award (2016) and Stellar Award (2017) from the U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce, recognizing her as an exceptional federal supplier demonstrating outstanding growth and leadership in the contracting community. Mrs. Boyce is deeply passionate about empowering small businesses and is committed to helping them achieve sustainable growth and success within the U.S. government contracting industry. The MILCOM Founders Podcast champions and celebrates military community business owners. Each episode brings practical insights and lessons learned from successful veteran entrepreneurs. Sponsored by One Degree Financial www.onedegreefinancial.com Want to support veteran entrepreneurs? Learn about the Dick Loges Veteran Entrepreneur Scholarship Fund at https://www.milcomfounders.com/

40 min
FEB 3

Kamar D. Perkins | ProTech Consulting Group

MILCOM Founders Podcast - Episode 34: Kamar Perkins, Army Veteran Building Businesses That Create Jobs and Serve Veterans Join host Rod Loges and guest Kamar Perkins as he shares his journey from being a ward of state to Army veteran to founding multiple businesses focused on creating jobs and making community impact. In this episode: Kamar's path from ward of state in Prince George's County, Maryland to Army paratrooper with the 3rd Special Forces GroupHow his mother's tragic death when he was five shaped his mission to help others overcome addictionThe story of getting recruited by the Army after the Air Force told him he was "too fat"Building ProTech Consulting Group, a service-disabled veteran-owned IT firm delivering AI and software solutions to federal agenciesOpening Divine Medical, a treatment center that will provide free addiction services to North Carolina veteransWhy he spent a year responding to 20 RFPs per month without winning anything, and what changedKey takeaways: Your network is your net worth. Client acquisition is about cultivating relationships, not just responding to RFPs.If you're still in uniform, use that access to meet the people you'll need to know as a business owner. It's much harder to get those meetings once you're out.Two brains are better than one. There's nothing wrong with saying "I don't know" and figuring it out together.Work should support your life. Your work should not be your life.The NCO corps is the backbone of the military. That operational efficiency translates directly to running a successful business.Guest: Kamar D. Perkins, Founder and President of ProTech Consulting Group, Army Veteran, Author LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamardperkins/Business Website: https://protechconsultinggroup.com/Kamar D. Perkins is a retired U.S. Army veteran, entrepreneur, and author who brings military-grade discipline and strategy into modern business and technology. He is the Founder and President of Protech Consulting Group, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned and HUBZone-certified firm delivering secure IT, cloud, and technology solutions to government and industry partners. A former paratrooper with the 3rd Special Forces Group and later a Logistics Officer in the North Carolina Army National Guard, Kamar earned multiple competitive distinctions during his service, including recognition as the U.S. Army’s Best Warrior. His military background continues to shape his leadership style, decision-making, and mission-driven approach. In addition to technology consulting, Kamar has held leadership roles in healthcare management and is a strong advocate for mental health, mentorship, and veteran transition. His work centers on helping veterans and founders translate discipline, resilience, and lived experience into sustainable success. Looking ahead: Kamar is opening Divine Medical in Durham, North Carolina, which will provide free addiction treatment to military veterans. His five-year goal: create 1,000 jobs per year through impactful work that boosts local economies and provides sustainable wages. The MILCOM Founders Podcast champions and celebrates military community business owners. Each episode brings practical insights and lessons learned from successful veteran entrepreneurs. Sponsored by One Degree Financial www.onedegreefinancial.com Want to support veteran entrepreneurs? Learn about the Dick Loges Veteran Entrepreneur Scholarship Fund at https://www.milcomfounders.com/

43 min
JAN 20

Kristen Ferullo | Partners in Purpose

MILCOM Founders Podcast - Episode 33: Building a One-Stop Resource Hub for Military Families with Kristen Ferullo Join host Rod Loges and guest Kristen Ferullo as she shares her journey from special educator to military school liaison to founding Partners In Purpose, an organization dedicated to curating accurate, timely resources for military and veteran families. In this episode: Kristen's nearly 12 years as a military school liaison helping families navigate K-12 education across movesThe origin story of Partners In Purpose and its scholarship database with over 1,000 opportunitiesWhy military families move 6-9 times during their children's educational careers and how that creates unique challengesThe growing importance of trade schools and CTE programs as alternatives to traditional collegeHow early leadership training shaped Kristen's purpose-driven approach to serving othersKey takeaways: Old, outdated information at the top of Google searches creates real problems for military families trying to plan moves and educationPurpose-driven work requires partners who share that purpose. You don't get there alone.Every day you have a positive impact on one family is a success. Figure out the business part later.Listening to respond versus listening to understand is a critical difference in communicationKnowing your "why" is the foundation of everything you doGuest: Kristen Ferullo, Co-Founder of Partners In Purpose, Military School Liaison (nearly 12 years) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-ferullo/Business Website: https://partners-in-purpose.com/Kristen Ferullo is the Co-Founder of Partners In Purpose, an organization focused on curating accurate and timely resources for military and veteran families. As a Military School Liaison in a geographically dispersed area for nearly 12 years Kristen has become acutely aware and deeply passionate in serving the needs of the military community. Kristen brings years of valuable diversified experience to her organizational leadership style. As a former Special Educator, a Navy Fleet & Family virtual Leadership Professional, 2025 Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Leadership Community Team Lead, and Technical High School Advisory Committee Chair, and student mentor, Kristen has shown her ability to work with any audience. In her personal time, Kristen is an educational programming and opportunity advisor, mentor and event volunteer for multiple non-profit organizations. Kristen most enjoys hiking, yoga, travel and spending time with her dog and three amazing, grown(ish) children. Looking ahead: Kristen aims to build Partners In Purpose into a one-stop shop for military and veteran families, simplifying access to trusted resources for education, spouse employment, and family support. She also hopes to offer leadership coaching and communication training, drawing on her 20+ years working with student leadership programs. The MILCOM Founders Podcast champions and celebrates military community business owners. Each episode brings practical insights and lessons learned from successful veteran entrepreneurs. Sponsored by One Degree Financial www.onedegreefinancial.com Want to support veteran entrepreneurs? Learn about the Dick Loges Veteran Entrepreneur Scholarship Fund at https://www.milcomfounders.com/

43 min
JAN 6

Jon Meadows | High-End Headshots

MILCOM Founders Podcast – Episode 32: From Campaign Trail to Headshot Excellence with Jon Meadows Join host Rod Loges and guest Jon Meadows as he shares his journey from political communications to founding High-End Headshots, a premium photography business specializing in professional headshots. Jon discusses how getting fired became the catalyst for building a thriving business that serves executives, professionals, and veterans across the DC area. In this episode: Jon's transition from political campaigns to full-time photography entrepreneurHow a $20/month online mentorship transformed his career trajectoryGetting fired with a 9-month-old at home and launching a business the same dayBuilding a premium pricing strategy that values quality over volumeThe importance of hyper-focus and single-mentor learning systemsGiving back through annual $50,000 headshot giveaways for veteransKey takeaways: Specialization creates competitive advantage – Jon focused exclusively on headshots rather than general photographyPricing psychology matters – aspiring to be "the best and most expensive" creates client respect and work-life balanceFaith and stewardship drive business decisions, not just profitFollowing one proven system beats collecting advice from multiple sourcesProfessional headshots create human connection and trust before you ever meet someoneBeing a "net exporter" means using your gifts to produce more than you need so you can give to othersGuest: Jon Meadows, Founder of High-End Headshots, Former Political Communications Professional LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/highend/ Business Website: https://highendheadshots.com/ Jon Meadows runs High-End Headshots, a premium photography business in the Washington DC area with over eight years of experience. Known for his facial expression coaching approach, he's earned the reputation as "the last hope for the non-photogenic" and helps clients "wow themselves" with professional imagery that creates trust and human connection. Jon's path to entrepreneurship began on political campaigns, where he worked long hours in communications roles. After his mom noticed his compositional eye from study abroad photos, he picked up photography as a side pursuit. When he was unexpectedly fired from a nonprofit job in 2018 with a 9-month-old daughter at home, Jon went full-time with his photography business that same day. He found mentorship through the world's best headshot photographer for just $20/month and built a thriving business based on premium pricing, hyper-focus, and exceptional client experience. Beyond his business success, Jon is a husband to Katie for 10 years, father to four kids under nine (two boys and two girls, "which was the master plan"), and an avid racket sports player who's recently gotten into pickleball tournaments. He's also a man of deep faith who views his business as stewardship – using his gifts to be a "net exporter" who can give generously to his church, school, family, and community. Looking ahead: Jon continues to refine High-End Headshots while maintaining the work-life balance that allows him to be present for his young family. Each year, he gives away approximately $50,000 worth of headshots to veterans and those transitioning out of military service, turning his craft into a way to serve those who served. The MILCOM Founders Podcast champions and celebrates military community business owners. Each episode brings practical insights and lessons learned from successful veteran entrepreneurs and those who serve the military community. Sponsored by One Degree Financial www.onedegreefinancial.com Want to support veteran entrepreneurs? Learn about the Dick Loges Veteran Entrepreneur Scholarship Fund at https://www.milcomfounders.com/

42 min
12/23/2025

Richard Beaupre | ChemArt

MILCOM Founders Podcast – Episode 31: A Christmas Tribute to Richard "Dick" Beaupre, Founder of ChemArt On this special Christmas episode of the MILCOM Founders Podcast, we honor the legacy of Richard "Dick" Beaupre, U.S. Navy veteran and founder of ChemArt, one of America's most successful ornament manufacturing companies. Host Rod Loges speaks with Hamilton Davison, current CEO of ChemArt, and David Marquis, former President, as they share Dick's remarkable journey from Navy service to building a company that has created White House Christmas ornaments for over four decades. In this episode: Dick's military service in the U.S. Navy (1956-1958) and how he used GI Bill benefits to fund his chemistry educationHis path from research labs to securing patents in photochemical etching techniquesLaunching ChemArt in 1976 from a former ice cream factory with his wife Barbara and just four employeesBuilding the White House Historical Association ornament program, which began in 1981Dick's commitment to giving back through URI scholarships for non-traditional studentsHow his technical skills and business vision proved that American manufacturing could thrive through innovation and quality craftsmanshipKey takeaways: Veteran entrepreneurship combines technical expertise with business visionGI Bill education benefits can transform military service into entrepreneurial successBuilding a family business requires commitment to both employees and communityInnovation in manufacturing comes from applying specialized technical knowledge to market needsCreating scholarship opportunities helps future generations face the same challenges you once overcameWebsite: https://chemart.com/ Guests: Hamilton Davison, Chief Executive Officer of ChemArt Company and Beacon Design Hamilton Davison is Chief Executive Officer of ChemArt Company and Beacon Design in Lincoln, Rhode Island. An entrepreneur who has started or scaled over a dozen businesses, including conceptualizing and designing a novel retail card & gift store that was ultimately franchised to over 150 locations, Davison also has a deep background in manufacturing, consumer goods marketing and design-led product development. His experience is a good fit for Beacon Design by ChemArt, combining efficient onshore production, rapid market response and excellent customer service. Davison has run a nonprofit organization and served on a variety of nonprofit boards over his career. He has served on a variety of corporate boards for both publicly traded and private companies. He also has deep direct-to-consumer experience working with direct marketing, e-commerce and catalog marketers. He holds a Master of Science from the University of Texas and an undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University. David Marquis, Former President and Co-Owner of ChemArt Company David Marquis is the former President and Co-Owner of the ChemArt Company, a Manufacturer of Custom Designs primarily focused on serving Philanthropic and Non-Profit Entities. He is a graduate of Bryant University and received his Master's Degree in Business from the University of Rhode Island. Dave has a passion for U.S. History, which has shaped his company's drive to help organizations raise funds by telling stories that are unique to their mission or cause. Honoring: Richard "Dick" Beaupre, Founder of ChemArt (1956-2018) Richard "Dick" Beaupre was a U.S. Navy veteran (1956-1958) who transformed his passion for chemistry into one of America's most successful ornament manufacturing companies. After completing his military service, he enrolled at the University of Rhode Island in 1958, using GI Bill benefits to fund his education while working two part-time jobs and raising a young family. Following his 1962 graduation with a chemistry degree, Dick spent years in research labs developing innovative processes. He secured patents for photochemical etching techniques that would later become the backbone of his own venture. In 1976, he and his wife Barbara launched ChemArt from a former ice cream factory with just four employees. The company grew steadily, finding its niche in precision-etched metal ornaments using the same process created to produce precision components in its ChemTecUSA division for industries like aerospace, military, and medical. The company started manufacturing the White House Historical Association ornaments including presidential keepsakes and anniversary ornaments since the program began in 1981. Today, this collection represents one of the largest ornament programs in the country. Dick's contributions to URI were equally significant. In 2006, the university awarded him an honorary doctorate. A decade later, they named their new chemistry facility after him: the Richard E. Beaupre Center for Chemical and Forensic Sciences. He created scholarship funds specifically for non-traditional students (parents returning to school, people balancing work and education, anyone facing the same challenges he once did). When Dick passed away in March 2018, he was laid to rest with full military honors. While the public record shows he served honorably in the Navy from 1956-1958, the specifics of that service (his rating, his duties, where he was stationed, how those experiences shaped his business philosophy) aren't documented. Those details remain with the people who knew him: his three sons, his colleagues at ChemArt, the employees who describe the company as "family" because of the man Dick was. His story illustrates what veteran entrepreneurship looks like when technical skills meet business vision. From Navy service to university chemistry labs to factory floors, Dick proved that American manufacturing could thrive through innovation, quality craftsmanship, and commitment to both employees and community. The MILCOM Founders Podcast champions and celebrates military community business owners. Each episode brings practical insights and lessons learned from successful veteran entrepreneurs. Sponsored by One Degree Financial www.onedegreefinancial.com Want to support veteran entrepreneurs? Learn about the Dick Loges Veteran Entrepreneur Scholarship Fund at https://www.milcomfounders.com/

49 min
12/09/2025

Randy Mullen, Jr | SightLine Ventures + SightLine Capital

MILCOM Founders Podcast – Episode 30: Randy Mullen, Founder of Sightline Ventures and Sightline Capital Show Notes Join host Rod Loges as he sits down with Randy Mullen, Jr., founder of Sightline Ventures and Sightline Capital, dual platforms supporting high-impact dual-use startups in the defense innovation ecosystem. Randy leads a tech-enabled team helping founders win DOD contracts and scale mission-critical capabilities for national security. In this episode: How a college student working part-time discovered military service during the 2008 financial crisisWhy Randy chose the Air Force over other branches and the role his mother's intuition playedThe three core values that guide Sightline: integrity, excellence, and faith-based leadershipHow 12 years in Air Force acquisitions taught Randy what defense contracting really needsThe "sightline" metaphor: aligning front and rear sights to hit the target with your business strategyA real example of how Sightline helped a manufacturing company keep B-2 bombers flying during Operation Midnight HammerKey takeaways: Faith-based leadership and business values are not separate things when you run the companyThe best mentors live their values rather than just talk about themQuality of clients matters far more than quantity, especially for long-term partnershipTechnological supremacy, not military size, will determine national security in future conflictsA founder's spouse must be informed and bought in from day one, not surprised laterStarting a company is one of the hardest things you can do, and it's not the right path for everyoneGuest: Randy Mullen, Founder, Sightline Ventures and Sightline Capital LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randy-mullen-jr-44bb4757/Website: https://sightline.tech/Randy Mullen is the founder of Sightline Ventures and Sightline Capital, a dual platform supporting high-impact dual-use startups in the defense innovation ecosystem. At Sightline Ventures, Randy leads a tech-enabled team helping founders win DOD contracts across IML, digital engineering, med tech, cyber, quantum, and advanced manufacturing. His team provides business development, capture, and proposal management services to accelerate growth through non-dilutive funding. At Sightline Capital, he invests directly in portfolio companies building for the front lines of national security as they scale into defense and commercial markets. Randy also serves as a contracting officer in the US Air Force Reserve. With over 15 years of experience in defense contracting as an active duty officer, he led research and development at the National Reconnaissance Office for signals intelligence platforms and served as lead contracting officer for a multibillion-dollar satellite radar portfolio with deployments across Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Kuwait, Kosovo, and Jordan. Looking ahead: Sightline continues expanding its portfolio of defense tech companies while building out its capital arm, with strategic focus on robotics, AI, and cybersecurity as critical capabilities for national security. The MilCom Founders Podcast champions and celebrates military community business founders. Each episode brings practical insights from successful veteran entrepreneurs. Sponsored by One Degree Financial www.onedegreefinancial.com Want to support veteran entrepreneurs? Learn about the Dick Loges Veteran Entrepreneur Scholarship Fund at milcomfounders.com

1h 1m
11/25/2025

Jesse Levin | Defense Entrepreneurs Forum + Tactivate

MILCOM Founders Podcast – Episode 29: Jesse Levin, Executive Director of the Defense Entrepreneurs Forum and Founder of Tactivate Show Notes: Join host Rod Loges as he sits down with Jesse Levin, Executive Director of the Defense Entrepreneurs Forum and founder of Tactivate, an initiative working to build networks of SOF veterans, economic stability specialists, and humanitarian experts to conduct last-mile operations in crisis and conflict environments worldwide. In this episode: Jesse's journey from Connecticut and the Tom Brown Tracker School to founding ventures in Panama, Haiti, and UkraineHow humanitarian assistance and disaster response bring together unlikely allies in contested environmentsWhy pairing special operations forces veterans with entrepreneurs creates uniquely effective hybrid capabilitiesThe lesson that civilian society, not just transitioning veterans, bears responsibility for veteran success in the private sectorHow the Defense Entrepreneurs Forum functions as an informal network and strategic weapon system for national defenseWhy vulnerability and asking for help is an act of courage, not weaknessKey takeaways: Mission-driven work paired with financial sustainability is possible, but uncommon and worth pursuingInformal networks and person-to-person relationships are just as critical to national security as technology and hardwareTrust your gut when assessing people and situations, especially when transitioning to civilian lifeCivil society's entrepreneurial power is America's greatest strategic asset and remains largely untappedDeep, authentic relationships are worth far more than large networks built on transactional interactionsGray zone conflict and malign influence require broader civil society involvement, not just government and defense systemsGuest: Jesse Levin, Executive Director, Defense Entrepreneurs Forum Website: https://www.def.org/Tactivate: https://www.tactivate.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesse-levin/Jesse Levin is currently serving as the Executive Director of the Defense Entrepreneurs Forum and recently finished volunteering as a member of the Resistance Team under the IWI SOF in Competition Project. He is the founder of Tactivate, an initiative that has spent the past fifteen years cultivating informal networks of SOF veterans, economic stability and humanitarian specialists to conduct last mile contested logistics, recovery, stability and capacity building efforts in support of governments and local populaces in crisis and conflict environments worldwide. Jesse holds a BS from Babson College, is a CSIS AILA Fellow and a member of the Explorers Club. Looking ahead: The Defense Entrepreneurs Forum continues building connections across the veteran entrepreneurial, innovation, and national security communities, while Tactivate remains positioned to deploy specialized teams for humanitarian, recovery, and stability operations globally. The MILCOM Founders Podcast champions and celebrates military community business owners. Each episode brings practical insights from successful veteran entrepreneurs. Sponsored by One Degree Financial www.onedegreefinancial.com Want to support veteran entrepreneurs? Learn about the Dick Loges Veteran Entrepreneur Scholarship Fund at www.milcomfounders.com

42 min

Championing and celebrating veteran founders through weekly conversations. Each episode features military entrepreneurs sharing their journey from service to success, uncovering real strategies for business growth, capital raising, and applying military leadership in the private sector.

Creator

Rod Loges
Years Active

2024 - 2026
Episodes

36
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© 2024 One Degree Financial
Show Website

The MILCOM Founders Podcast