Special Operators Transition Foundation

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Special Operators Transition Foundation

Special Operators Transition Foundation, formally Your Grateful Nation is a veteran-run public charity helping U.S.

Since 2013, the Special Operators Transition Foundation™ (SOTF) has provided the most tailored veterans transition program for top-tier Special Operations leaders in order to strengthen America’s best businesses and communities with elite veteran talent. special forces transition from military to civilian life and corporate America.

05/29/2026

Field-Tested Talent Pipelines: What SOTF Teaches Business Leaders

In business, speed, alignment, and measurable impact are requirements, not luxuries. The Special Operators Transition Foundation (SOTF) offers a practical, human-centered model for building talent pipelines that deliver results and lasting relationships.

Personalization over one-size-fits-all:
SOTF recognizes that every fellow brings different experiences, skills, and goals. Rather than applying a fixed curriculum, the program tailors each journey to maximize strengths, address gaps, and accelerate progress where it matters most.

Timelines that respect readiness:
Instead of forcing rigid schedules, SOTF aligns timelines with each fellow’s hiring window and readiness. This reduces bottlenecks, minimizes wasted effort, and improves transition outcomes.

Training that matches need:
The philosophy is simple: provide the level of training each fellow needs to advance. Ready candidates move forward, while others receive additional development. This outcome-focused approach avoids both overtraining and under-preparation.

Goal-driven placement:
SOTF prioritizes where fellows want to be, not where they currently live. By aligning target locations and industries with market demand, the program creates stronger long-term career matches.

In-person connections that matter:
Intentional face-to-face networking in target markets helps fellows build trusted relationships, reduce ramp time, and accelerate collaboration with employers and partners.

Expanding opportunity through strategic events:
Events like SOF Week create direct exposure to the Defense Sector, key decision-makers, and high-value conversations that can lead to partnerships and long-term careers.

What This Means for Business Leaders:
🇺🇸Access to mission-ready, resilient talent trained to adapt and lead
🇺🇸Faster onboarding-to-impact through tailored training and placement
🇺🇸Stronger corporate reputation through meaningful veteran support
🇺🇸Diverse perspectives from individuals experienced in high-stakes environments

If you would like to find out more about hiring a SOTF Fellow, please visit: https://hubs.ly/Q04jnpmj0

Gareth Gorman
Director of Programs
SOTF Alum
Retired Green Beret

05/28/2026

The SOTF team is thrilled to announce Zach Venning as our newest Director of Alumni!

Please join us in giving Zach a warm welcome as he steps into this role with excitement, dedication, and a passion for strengthening connections within the SOTF alumni community. We’re excited for the impact he will make as we continue building meaningful relationships with our SOTF Alums.

Learn more about our new Director below.

Zach Venning is a U.S. Army Special Operations veteran who spent nearly a decade serving as a Psychological Operations specialist supporting counterterrorism efforts across Southeast Asia. As he transitioned from the military, Zach connected with the Special Operators Transition Foundation (SOTF), where mentorship and community helped him chart a clear path into the private sector—support he continues to value and pay forward.

Zach began his post-military career at Morgan Stanley as a Financial Advisor recruiter before joining Closed Loop Partners as a venture capital associate investor. There, he deployed capital into early-stage companies at the intersection of sustainability and innovation, strengthening his ability to evaluate opportunity, assess risk, and think like a business builder.

Drawn to working directly with families, Zach returned to Morgan Stanley to join a private wealth team as an Investment Consultant, advising high-net-worth families on wealth creation and preservation. His impact in that role led leadership to expand his mandate as a Business Development Manager across Greater New York City. Today, Zach partners with over 800 high-performing Financial Advisors across Manhattan to drive market growth and help deliver institutional-caliber solutions to clients.

Zach holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Post University, an MBA in Advanced Corporate Finance from NC State University, and a Master of Science in Sustainability Management from Columbia University. Based in Westchester, New York, he lives with his fiancée, Gabrielle, and his son, Valentino. He remains committed to supporting fellow veterans and mentoring those in transition, and outside of work, he enjoys the outdoors, motorcycling, sailing, and winter sports with his family.

Welcome to the team, Zach! We’re so excited to have you here and look forward to the many ways you’ll help support and grow the SOTF alumni community. We’re excited for all that’s ahead as we continue strengthening connections together.

05/27/2026

Connect over coffee and conversation with Special Operations veterans while supporting a mission that matters, and you may just meet your next exceptional hire.

Join us this June for a networking breakfast featuring Colorado-based SOTF alumni and current Fellows transitioning from military service into the workforce. Connect with proven leaders who bring resilience, adaptability, and mission-driven performance to every team.

More than breakfast is waiting at the table:
-Breakfast & Networking
-Meet Special Operations Talent
-Connect with Your Next Great Teammate
-Support Veterans Transitioning to Civilian Careers

Be part of a mission strengthening both business and community.
Register here:https://hubs.ly/Q04j0q9K0

05/26/2026

The SOTF team is excited to announce that Jake Blue has successfully transitioned into a Solutions Architect role with Halcyon Days Consulting.

Jake is a seasoned Special Operations leader who recently completed service in the U.S. Army as a Senior Noncommissioned Officer after 20 years of selfless service.

A snapshot of some of Jake’s accomplishments includes:

🇺🇸 Jake served in multiple high-impact operational roles across the Special Operations community, with nearly six years deployed overseas supporting mission-critical objectives in complex environments.

🇺🇸 He led small, highly specialized teams responsible for integrating technology, communications, and mission ex*****on in austere conditions.

🇺🇸 Jake played a key role in bridging operational requirements with technical solutions, enabling enhanced situational awareness and decision-making at the tactical and operational levels. He brings a unique ability to translate complex technical and operational challenges into scalable, real-world solutions, ensuring alignment between strategic intent and ex*****on across teams and stakeholders.

🇺🇸 He holds a bachelor's in Information Technology Management and is currently pursuing his master's degree in Business and Technology Management. He is also actively advancing his expertise in cybersecurity and cloud architecture, currently pursuing the ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC), while continuing to build hands-on experience across RF systems, data infrastructure, and enterprise solutions.

🇺🇸 Outside of work, Jake is deeply committed to supporting the transition community, mentoring fellow veterans, and building tools and systems that empower teams to operate more effectively. He also values time with his family and is focused on setting a strong example for his children in this next chapter of service.

“The SOTF Team provided me unparalleled guidance and networking opportunities, ultimately leading me to my next successful career. I appreciate the individualized approach to my unique situation and encourage everyone transitioning out of uniform to leverage the incredible support that SOTF provides.”

To learn more about Jake’s incredible leadership journey, connect with him on LinkedIn.

05/25/2026

“May we never forget freedom isn't free.”

This Memorial Day, we pause to honor the men and women who gave their lives in service to our nation. Their sacrifice was not for recognition or reward, but for the people beside them, the families back home, and the freedoms we often take for granted.

May we never forget those who gave everything so that others may live.

05/22/2026

Are you bringing value? To who?

After a career in Special Operations, a career in which I felt I served a greater purpose than self, I had real concerns that I would never feel that same sense of pride and purpose again. I was leaving an organization of committed individuals dedicated to a mission that mattered. It felt like I was leaving part of who I was behind, leaving my tribe and something I took great pride in.

While this is common among veterans, the same feelings are common among students entering the workforce, people changing careers, and families moving. In most cases, you have to forge your identity into something new.

The forging process does not change the fundamental element; it refines and reshapes it for a new environment. Steel in one shape remains steel in another.

This week, SOTF participated in SOF Week 2026, bringing together the defense industry and Special Operations Forces to work toward a common goal: the defense of our nation.

The highlight for me was a fireside chat hosted by SOTF and Commit Foundation. My friend, JC Glick, and I spoke with some of America’s most tested leaders as they prepare to transition into their next chapters. A few key points stood out:

Transition needs to be transformation. You are taking everything you have learned, the skills you have mastered, and the experiences that shaped you, and becoming a better version of yourself.

Find a way to keep serving. Leaving the military does not diminish that; it only changes the environment in which you serve.

Find your identity. Find your purpose. Your transformation is an opportunity to define who you want to be, not just what you have been.

We all cherish our time in Special Operations, but that time shaped us; it did not define us. We have an obligation to take what we have done and use it to build who we can be. The next step is to find our new purpose and attack it with the same intensity with which we served.

Josh Johnson
SOTF CEO
SOTF Alum
Retired Green Beret

05/21/2026

The SOTF team is excited to introduce our newest Denver Task Force member, Davis Driver. Davis is a former U.S. Air Force Pararescueman (PJ) with over a decade of experience in special operations, where he led and executed complex personnel recovery missions in austere, resource-constrained environments. As part of one of the military’s most elite rescue forces, he was responsible for mission planning, team leadership, and the management of critical equipment and training programs supporting global operations. A two-time combat veteran, Davis brings a deep foundation in leadership, accountability, and performance under pressure—principles that continue to shape his professional and personal pursuits.

Following his military service, Davis transitioned into the defense and aerospace industry, where he currently serves as a Principal Program Manager at Parsons Corporation, supporting national security space programs. In this role, he leads cross-functional teams to deliver mission-critical capabilities, driving ex*****on across cost, schedule, and technical performance in high-stakes settings. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA, combining technical depth with strategic and operational leadership.

Davis is committed to supporting the Special Operations Transition Foundation's mission because of the direct impact it had on his own transition from military service. As a SOTF participant, he benefited firsthand from the organization’s mentorship, network, and support, and is motivated to remain engaged with the SOF community, surround himself with high-performing individuals, and give back by helping others successfully navigate their next chapter.

Welcome to the SOTF Task Force, Davis! We’re thrilled you’re here and grateful for your support.

05/19/2026

The SOTF Team is excited to announce Ash Conaty has successfully transitioned into a Director of Field Operations role with Spirit of America Worldwide and has been accepted into EMBA program at Georgetown University’s McDonnough School of Business.

Ash is a seasoned Special Operations leader who recently retired from the U.S. Army as First Sergeant after 20 years of selfless service.

A snapshot of Ash’s accomplishments includes:

🇺🇸 Ash retired as a Senior Enlisted Advisor on the Commanding General’s Action Group out of the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School. He completed tours at the Joint Special Operations Medical Training Center, 91st Civil Affairs Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, 2nd Marine Division, including leadership and senior advisor positions at every level from team to division.

🇺🇸 During his tenure, he served as a CAG Advisor, Company First Sergeant, Senior Instructor, Battalion Senior Medic, Team Sergeant, Civil Affairs Medical Sergeant, Communications Sergeant, and rifleman.

🇺🇸 Ash holds a Master of Arts in History from Indiana University and a Master of International Policy and Practice from the George Washington University. He has studied, taught, and led teams across the globe.

🇺🇲 Ash is passionate about connecting bright minds with quality higher education. He spends countless hours mentoring enlisted men and women throughout their undergraduate and graduate journeys.

“The SOTF team did more than advertised. They helped me build a compelling narrative and image that told the story of my career and aspirations in ways I could not have imagined. More importantly, SOTF helped me find purpose and matched it to a bright future. To anyone moving on from a Special Operations career—reach out to SOTF. You’ll be grateful you did.”

To learn more about Ash’s incredible leadership journey, connect with him on LinkedIn.

05/18/2026

Tee up for a patriotic weekend supporting our nation’s heroes 🇺🇸

⛳ August 15 - 17 in Nashville

⛳Network with purpose alongside business leaders and transitioning Special Operators

⛳ Drive connections that strengthen the Tennessee workforce

⛳Meet elite leaders who are ready to make an impact beyond the uniform

⛳ Don’t miss your shot to be part of this premier event hosted by the Special Operators Transition Foundation

Swing into the details and register here: https://hubs.ly/Q04h1vSv0

05/15/2026

Transitioning from one chapter of life to another can be one of the most challenging, exciting, and uncertain experiences we face. Hanging up my Air Force flight suit for the final time was harder than I expected. I missed the mission, the camaraderie, and the sense of purpose that came from serving alongside an incredible team every day. But one of the biggest lessons I learned is this: when one chapter closes, another begins.

Here are a few lessons about transition that I’ve learned along the way:

Reflect on Your Accomplishments: Take stock of your experiences, challenges, and lessons learned. Don’t underestimate the value of what you’ve already done or the skills you bring into the next chapter.

Don’t Be Afraid to Pivot: Sometimes we take the “safe” path because it feels familiar or because it’s what others expect from us. Growth often starts when we’re willing to step outside our comfort zone.

Define What Matters Most: Success may look different in your next chapter. Take the time to think about your priorities, your goals, and the kind of life you want to build moving forward.

Find Your People: Transition is hard to navigate alone. Seek out mentors, teammates, and communities that will challenge you, support you, and remind you that you still belong.

Keep Learning: Not every transition goes according to plan. Be patient with yourself. Stay humble, adaptable, and open to learning through both successes and setbacks.

The mission may change, but you can still find passion, purpose, and fulfillment in what comes next.

Address

1643B Savannah Highway #421
Charleston, SC
29407

Telephone

+18508555940

Website

http://www.sotf.org/

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