Voices of Veterans Texas General Land Office

“There is strength in community.” - Jason Kelley Army Ranger Veteran and IBM’s General Manager of Global Strategic Partners, Jason Kelley, joined Next Gen Warrior for an in-depth conversation on military life & post-transition growth. Born into a military family, Jason earned his commission at West Point, serving in the Army Rangers for more than a decade before transitioning to the private sector. Jason discussed the importance of team building in business, his current work at IBM, and the idea of the “New Collar” worker.

Rick Narpaul, Air Force Veteran, and Laura Narpaul joined Next Gen Warrior to discuss how their business Mach1 Services got started. Rick Narpaul served in the Air Force Security Forces and then served as a law enforcement officer, but his passion for entrepreneurship never went away. He moved to San Antonio and met his now-wife Laura, who has extensive experience in marketing and advertising. Together they dreamt up the idea of Mach1 Services, put their ideas on paper, and built the company from scratch.  They provided some great insight on what they look for when hiring, why structure/discipline is key to building a business and chasing your dreams.

After 36 years of military service in the United States Army, Major General (Ret.) David Glaser is now the Chief Strategy Officer at Sam Houston State. David discusses the opportunities the Army opened up for him, critical lessons in team building and leadership from Iraq, and the impact technology is having on students as they enter a rapidly changing workforce.

John Register is an Army Veteran, Paralympic Silver Medalist, public speaker, and author. He joined Next Gen Warrior and shared with us how Desert Storm impacted his perspective on life, how he overcame the limits he placed on himself after having his leg amputated, and how to set attainable goals to strive for long-term success.

Check out our interview with United States Army Veteran Scotty Alpaugh. He works in the finance industry and recently became a published author. Scotty discussed how being injured in Iraq, battling cancer (twice), and enduring COVID impacted how he views life. A lighthearted, optimistic, and in-the-moment perspective is his prescription for an over-stimulated life. You’ll love his story of enduring life’s hurdles with patience, grace, and a little humor.

Antoinette Balta identified a problem while providing social services for Veterans who had fallen through the cracks, and she started building a legal group to serve them. As the co-founder and Executive Director of Veterans Legal Institute, Antoinette has provided pro-bono services for Veterans in need. She joined Next Gen Warrior to discuss building a non-profit, enduring rejection, how she stays sharp on a daily basis and offers words of wisdom to Veterans interested in pursuing a legal career.
We discussed taking care of yourself before taking care of others, and how her faith and fitness played a critical role in maintaining mental health during difficult moments.