SOTF - Special Operators Transition Foundation

Another #SOTFSuccess! The SOTF Team is excited to announce Nathan Drewry has successfully transitioned into a Strategy and Business Ventures role with Bank of America Business. Nate is a seasoned Special Operations leader who recently completed service in the United States Army as a Captain after ten years of selfless service. Nate spent the latter half of his time in the military as a Green Beret, serving in the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) - US Army and then later as a Special Operations trainer at the Army’s National Training Center. Before commissioning, Nate graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and recently completed his MBA from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. Nate delivers magnetic drive as a strategic consultant for the finance industry to measurably improve quality and efficiency. He helps the client team solve complex problems through strategic analysis and intellectual engagement. Nate empowers teammates to excel in their signature areas, inspiring their maximum performance and value. Nate said, “SOTF was the catalyst that helped me feel confident in my transition out of the military. Their structured approach began with helping me understand who I was and what the military had taught me over the last decade. I then used this newfound understanding to craft a unique value proposition for the business world. SOTF opened networking doors, taught me how to tell my story in a relatable way, and equipped me with the tools I need to be successful in my post-military life.” Congratulations, Nate, on a successful beginning of the next chapter!

Congratulations to SOTF Fellow Justin Alford, who has successfully transitioned into a Consultant role with Moffitt Consulting! Justin is a seasoned Special Operations leader who recently retired from the United States Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel after 20 years of selfless service. A snapshot of some of Justin’s accomplishments includes: 🇺🇸 Justin retires as the Director of the 58th Special Operations Wing Human Performance and Leadership Center at Kirtland AFB, NM. During his tenure, he amassed over 4,000 flight hours and 14 deployments. 🇺🇸 Justin delivers respected results by being humble and approachable, building trusted personal and strategic relationships while designing credible solutions for winning client outcomes. 🇺🇸 Justin holds an MBA from Trident University International, Project Management Institute PMP Certification, Lean Six Sigma Institute Green Belt, and is a graduate of the US Air Force Weapons School. 🇺🇸 Justin spends most of his time with his wife and two kids—mostly fishing, golfing, and coaching or watching sports. When not spending time with his family, it’s likely because he’s in the gym “gettin’ yoked.” 🇺🇸 “For anybody who asks me for advice as they prepare to leave the service, I first tell them to apply for SOTF. There’s so much advice to pass, but by offering that one piece of advice, I know that if I forget to tell them something important, SOTF will have them covered. The coaching, mentorship, networking, and support I received from the fantastic SOTF team and other fellows and alumni during my 1.5 years before retirement is the ONLY reason my transition out of the military went so smoothly.” - Justin To connect with Justin and congratulate him on his new role, find him on LinkedIn!

No transition is the same. Sure, there are similarities, but transition requires an individualized approach. It's our honor, and duty, to provide that. 📑 For the Operator: apply for a Fellowship today at www.sotf.org/apply 🇺🇸 For the patriotic citizen: support our program in a way that matches your talents at www.sotf.org/get-involved

Congratulations Harrison Rooney, a SOTF Fellow, on his successful transition into a civilian career as a Management Associate for McMaster-Carr! Harrison completed his service as a Captain in the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, U.S. Army. Here are some of Harrison's accomplishments: 🇺🇸 As an Arabic speaker, he had the opportunity to work and travel all over the Middle East. His last assignment was as the Chief of Operations for a Joint Special Operations targeting team. 🇺🇸 Harrison takes complex, ambiguous initiatives and uses team building, project management, and leadership to turn them into value for any organization. 🇺🇸 Harrison has a B.S. from West Point - The U.S. Military Academy, a Project Management Professional Certification, and a Private Pilot’s License. He’s currently pursuing his MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management 🇺🇸 Harrison has volunteered at Meals on Wheels America, animal shelters, and residential/beach. He’s dedicated to making a better community. Harrison is currently collaborating with a non-profit to help craft public policies that benefit underprivileged communities. 🇺🇸 “The SOTF team pushes past teaching special operations veterans about industries, functional areas, or networking. They provide you a value-based framework that helps guide your decisions. The advice I would give all veterans in searching for a new career is to not compromise on your values. When I interviewed with McMaster-Carr, every leader, from the Senior Manager to the Vice President, clearly articulated the same values about their organization. SOTF was pivotal to this understanding of finding mutual values with a new company.” - Harrison Rooney To meet Harrison, connect with him on LinkedIn!

Huge congratulations to a SOTF Fellow (soon-to-be alum), Kyle Hogan, on this incredible position with Port Corpus Christi! Kyle enters this next chapter of his career with ample experience and success, ready to do great things at the port. Kyle and his next role at the Port is a great example of the top-notch roles our talented Fellows take on post-service. Congratulations, Kyle and family on a successful transition!

Congratulations, Dustin DuBose, on a successful transition! A native of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Dustin is married to Susanna DuBose and the father of two wonderful boys. Dustin was commissioned in the Army in 2014 out of the The University of Southern Mississippi as an Infantryman deploying to Afghanistan in 2017 as a Platoon Leader. In 2019, Dustin was assessed and selected to join the Civil Affairs Branch. He was assigned to the 83rd Civil Affairs Battalion, where he deployed to Europe during the onset of the War in Ukraine. “I came to SOTF around 6 months out from my transition date and am very grateful for their assistance. They were very flexible in accommodating my tight timeline and worked with me to ensure I was set up for success. SOTF truly cared about my next steps in life and coached me to find a role in which I would be fulfilled. I appreciated the structure of the program and took a lot from the coaching the team gave me in helping me understand my strengths and how my experience and training relate to different positions and industries. The job search is difficult and stressful, and I was grateful to have SOTF in my corner along the way.” With the help of SOTF, Dustin accepted a position with Amazon in Seattle, WA, as an Area Manager. In his new role, Dustin will manage a team to increase efficiency and improve processes within Amazon fulfillment centers.  Congratulations, Dustin and family, on successfully entering the next chapter!

We're proud to be one of the many resources available to the Special Operations community entering civilian life. 🇺🇸 If you're SOF, apply for a Fellowship here: www.sotf.org/apply 👥 If you're a civilian patriot, mentor or support our program here: www.sotf.org/get-involved

The SOTF Team is excited to announce Aaron Johnson has successfully transitioned into a Product Management role with Ripple Effect Studios, a game development studio within the Electronic Arts (EA) portfolio. Aaron is a seasoned Special Operations leader who recently retired from the United States Army as a Master Sergeant after 20 years of selfless service. A snapshot of some of Aaron’s accomplishments includes: 🇺🇸 Aaron retired as a US Army Senior Operations Sergeant from the 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) - US Army. He served in various roles during his tenure, including as a Special Forces Small Unit Tactics instructor within the Special Forces Qualification Course. 🇺🇸 Aaron provides value via his relentless drive, which serves as a catalyst to promote team cohesion, improve planning processes, execute projects, and provide innovative solutions to complex problems. 🇺🇸 Aaron holds a Master of Science in Interactive Technology 🇺🇸 Aaron dedicates his time to mentoring service members serving his community and making up lost time with his wife and daughter over the years. 🇺🇸 “The SOTF Team provided me unparalleled guidance, support, motivation, and networking opportunities, ultimately leading me to my next successful career. I appreciate the individualized approach to my unique situation.” - Aaron Johnson To meet Aaron, connect with him on LinkedIn!