Called to serve. Proven to perform.
The Challenge
How do our SOF service members translate their skills into a value proposition that resonates with private-sector hiring managers? We help connect SOF veterans and private enterprises to see the value of collaboration and what each offers the other.
Challenge Accepted
The Opportunity
Companies are looking for candidates who are results-oriented and know how to win. SOF veterans are looking for their next successful career – not just a job. The leadership and management skills they honed in the military are critically important in the business world.
Opportunity Knocks, We’ve Answered.
The Solution
After completing a SOTF Fellowship, our Fellows are ready, willing, and able to help sustain and scale any business or organization. Special Operations veterans add tremendous value to any team they’re on; smart companies recognize this. As a result, they’ll want to hire more of these extraordinary individuals who go through SOTF.
We’ve Got the Solution
Why SOTF?
Since 2013, SOTF has transitioned over 1,000 Special Operators into over 450 of our Nation’s highest-performing companies across American communities.
Our Program
Our program is focused on service members who have been through an assessment and selection process for the units of the Special Operations Command or operational personnel from select intelligence agencies.
Application
Verification of Service
SOTF Review Board Nomination
Fellowship conferred
Assessment
Psychometric Testing
Behavioral Testing
Profile & Value Proposition
Exploration
Executive Coaching
Resume Tailoring
Regional Workshops
Networking Events
Execution
Connections
Interview Preparation
Comparative Analysis
Offer Negotiation
Integration
First 100 Day Support
Alumni Network Induction
Latest Reviews
This program has been crucial in my transition from military life after 25 years on active duty. I was feeling a bit lost on how to proceed once I made up my mind to retire, and SOTF has provided me with the framework to guide me through this transition. The workshop I attended is a perfect example of a first-rate event that aggregates and presents valuable tools and insights to add to our toolkit as we navigate the waters of transitioning to our next chapter.
If you are a military member looking to re-invent, transition, change careers, super-charge your network, confront your fears, understand your own value, and capitalize on opportunities, there are none better than the passionate members of the Special Operators Transition Foundation. Thanks for the personal help when I needed it most.
Transition out of the Air Force Special Operations community was bittersweet, exciting, and scary all at the same time! After nearly 25 years of pouring my heart and soul into a military profession I loved, it was great to have the SOTF team and program behind me as I figured out how to navigate a path forward into the civilian sector. SOTF provided a reliable, safe, and attuned teammate to work through and succeed in the transition challenge. SOTF mentors provided me with a valuable “sounding board” to talk transition tactics and strategy. It was great knowing they had my back!
Trained. Tested. Trusted.
SOTF Fellows know they have received the most curated transition experience possible. Hiring Partners know they have a curated leader who can deliver unparalleled, ethical, and innovative results.
The ultimate winning proposition!
Today, in recognition of PTSD Awareness Day, we honor the invisible battles so many veterans continue to face long after their service ends, especially as they transition out of the military and into civilian life.
For many, that shift is not just a change of job, but a change of identity, rhythm, and purpose, and it can surface invisible wounds like PTSD that are often carried quietly long after the uniform comes off.
At our core, we believe healing is not a solo journey. It is built through community, understanding, and renewed purpose. When veterans are connected to meaningful work, supportive relationships, and a mission beyond themselves, it can become a powerful anchor in the transition to civilian life.
We exist to walk alongside those who have served, helping them reconnect with purpose and ensuring they are never navigating the weight of PTSD alone.
🪖 “The hardest battles are not always behind us. Sometimes they are the ones we learn to carry forward with support, purpose, and people who refuse to let us walk alone.”
If you are struggling, or if someone you know is, you are not alone. Support is available, and your story is not finished.
Take action: Support veteran transition programs in your community. Your involvement can help provide the resources, connections, and purpose that change lives.
👉 Learn more, donate, or get involved with a veteran nonprofit near you today.
For those who want to step forward and support this mission, stand shoulder to shoulder with us here: https://sotf.org/donate/
#Veterans #PTSDAwareness #MilitaryTransition #PurposeDriven #SupportOurTroops #YouAreNotAlone
As we get closer to the nation`s 250th anniversary, I`ve reflected on what our nation means. Having served for over 30 years in our armed forces, I have had many roles: defender, representative, ambassador, advocate, mentor, and advisor. Each role had unique challenges and rewards, but each was rooted in the same foundational concept: the world is a better place with America in it.
Pride and patriotism are two qualities I love most about Americans. With the U.S. hosting the FIFA World Cup, we are getting an external evaluation of how the world views our pride and patriotism. A recent social media post noted that Americans will rally behind anything, regardless of the activity, as long as there is an American in the competition. Soccer is not America`s sport, but every town hosting a game has proven we have pride in our nation.
In 1999, I was deployed to Bosnia for Operation Joint Guard and Joint Endeavor. The commanding general played Lee Greenwood`s “Proud to Be an American” after reveille. I can still remember every word. The combination of the mission and reminder made an impression that has lasted 25 years.
As we approach the 4th of July, I challenge you to reflect on why you are proud to be an American. I encourage you to find ways to show that pride and inspire others to strengthen their patriotism. As with any nation, America has areas for improvement, but we do get a lot of things right. Taking pride in our successes will inspire us to improve our weaknesses.
During Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, Special Operations Forces conducted Village Stability Operations. The idea was to stabilize a region one village at a time, and the results were immediate and lasting. When we focused on a local community, they prospered, their economies grew, and they influenced others to follow suit. This can and should be replicated in our own communities. Focus on what you can accomplish and improve what you can. Other members of your community will take notice and join in. Together, we can inspire and unify.
I’m grateful to have served our nation because our nation is a reflection of every American.
Josh Johnson
SOTF CEO
SOTF Alum
Retired Green Beret
🎉 DOUBLE ENTRIES ARE HERE! 🎉
From now through July 5th, every donation to the Tix For Good Disney Sweepstakes earns DOUBLE ENTRIES for your chance to win an unforgettable Disney family vacation!
🏰 Celebrate your favorite transition nonprofit while unlocking your chance to experience the magic of Disney.
Now is the perfect time to share this with your friends, family, and supporters. Every donation gives you twice the chances to win while helping us continue making an impact.
✨ How it works:
🎟️ Donate through your nonprofit’s unique Disney Sweepstakes link by copying and pasting the URL into your browser: https://tixforgood.org/product/the-magic-of-giving?npo=10321
—or—
🌐 Go to http://tixforgood.org and select Special Operators Transition Foundation as your organization of choice
🎟️ Receive DOUBLE ENTRIES through July 5
🇺🇸 Support a mission that changes lives while entering to win
Double the entries. Double the excitement. Double the impact.
#TixForGood #DisneySweepstakes #DoubleEntries #GiveBack #SupportVeterans #WinDisney
Proud to highlight JR Butler doing meaningful work in the veteran transition space through Shift Group.
“Part of becoming excellent is practicing something every day.”
That mindset is reflected in how they build pathways for athletes and veterans rooted in discipline, preparation, and long-term success beyond service.
Like Shift Group, we share a commitment to helping veterans translate their experience into careers where they can continue to grow, contribute, and excel.
Last year, 8,600+ coaching hours were invested in SOTF Fellows.
We invest in our Fellows so they can continue serving others long after their military careers end. Now, we need you to invest in that mission.
Support the SOTF Endowment Campaign and help secure the future for the heroes still to come.
To learn more, contact Keith Pritchard at Keith@sotf.org
The SOTF Team is excited to announce Noel Dunn has successfully transitioned into a role as Chief Medical Officer with Nomad Solutions Group, a non-profit providing medical training to those working in resource-limited environments.
Noel is a seasoned Special Operations physician and leader who recently retired from the @USArmy as a Lieutenant Colonel after 25 years of selfless service.
A snapshot of some of Noel’s accomplishments includes:
🇺🇸 Noel served as a unit physician with the 75th Ranger Regiment and 1st Special Forces Group after beginning his career as an Infantry and Special Forces leader.
🇺🇸 Noel combines clinical expertise, entrepreneurial initiative, and operational leadership through his role managing a medical practice alongside his wife. He is skilled at using limited resources creatively to solve complex healthcare problems and build practical, sustainable systems. He also brings experience working with NGOs to expand access, build partnerships, and support mission-driven healthcare initiatives.
🇺🇸 Noel holds a Medical Degree from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. He is a board-certified Family Medicine physician and has additional training in wilderness and tropical medicine.
🇺🇸 In his free time, Noel enjoys fishing and skiing across the western US and coaches youth wrestling and baseball.
`The SOTF program offered a new perspective as I transitioned out of uniform. The individualized and flexible approach helped me better understand my strengths, refine my goals, and connect with opportunities that aligned with my background and future aspirations. I am grateful for the mentorship, networking, and encouragement SOTF provided, and I highly recommend the program to anyone leaving military service."
To learn more about Noel`s incredible leadership journey, connect with him on LinkedIn.
#TransitionTuesday #usarmy #sof #SOFOperators #specialoperators #SOTF
SOTF Nashville Benefit Weekend
SOTF invites you to join us in Nashville this August for a Benefit Gala + Concert and Charity Golf Tournament, bringing together supporters, business leaders, and Special Operations veterans.
📍 Where: Nashville, TN
📅 When: August 16–17
📢 Who: SOTF community, partners, and supporters
⛳ What: A benefit gala + live concert followed by a golf tournament
🇺🇸 Why: To support SOTF’s mission of helping Special Operations veterans transition into successful civilian careers and strengthening communities through their leadership
Join us for a weekend of impact, connection, and purpose.
🔗 Learn more / get involved: https://sotf.org/nashville/
Last week, SOTF was in Denver for our networking event series. One morning, Josh, Keith, and I decided to start the day with a little team PT: the Manitou Incline. 2,800 railroad tie steps, 2,000+ ft of elevation gain, and an average grade of 41-45%. The Incline was on my list of "hard things I`ll do this year."
The climb was not for the faint of heart (literally). Going from 600-ft elevation to Colorado`s 6,600-ft elevation and tackling a climb like that will subdue anyone. But the challenge was all mental. I got in my own head and wanted to stop. Catch my breath. It`s humbling to look up from your pity party and see people older than you cruising by with the ease of mall-walking.
The value of proximity to people who refuse to quit can`t be understated. Josh and Keith refused to let me stop. Not because they carried me (it came close at one point). They didn`t. But they reminded me I`m capable of doing hard things. That having the opportunity to hike this is a privilege many don`t have. They reminded me of something bigger: my purpose behind the climb.
For me, the Incline wasn`t really about a hike or the views; it was about being someone who chooses to do hard things, who keeps moving when discomfort, doubt, and self-limiting thoughts start creeping in. When I reached the top, the accomplishment was mine. Nobody could take those steps for me.
The people we spend the most time with shape our standards. Our character. What we believe is possible. One of the best parts of the people I surround myself with is that they refuse to let me settle for less than my best.
When your purpose is clear, and your goals require growth, who you surround yourself with matters. Find people who won`t let you stay comfortable. People who remind you of your potential when you`ve forgotten it; who challenge you to do the hard things. Whether it`s a brutal workout or the pursuit of a meaningful goal, success ultimately comes from within. But the right people help bring out the best version of you along the way.
Find your people. Chase your purpose. Do hard things.
P.S.: The 3-mile run back down is worth EVERY step up!
Sarah Vanderleest
SOTF Director of Operations
