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!
Lately, I`ve noticed a theme in many of my conversations with CEOs and business leaders.
"We can`t find enough leaders."
It`s a real challenge, but I`m not convinced it`s because there`s a shortage of talent. I think we`re often defining leadership too narrowly.
For years, we`ve measured leadership by titles, years of management experience, or the size of someone`s team. Those are useful indicators, but they don`t always tell us how someone will perform when the pressure is on.
The leaders who make the biggest impact are usually the ones who can make sound decisions with incomplete information, adapt when circumstances change, earn trust quickly, and keep their teams focused through uncertainty.
Those are the skills organizations need now more than ever.
It`s also one of the reasons Special Operations veterans often transition so effectively into business leadership. Their experience has been built in environments where change is constant, accountability is expected, and waiting for perfect information isn`t an option. They learn to assess risk, communicate clearly, empower their teams, and execute when the stakes are high.
Industry knowledge can be taught. Strong leadership habits are much harder to develop.
As organizations continue searching for exceptional leaders, it may be time to ask a different question.
Instead of asking, "Who has done this exact job before?" ask, "Who has consistently demonstrated the ability to lead when the outcome wasn`t guaranteed?"
That simple shift can open the door to remarkable talent that might otherwise be overlooked.
Broaden your definition of leadership experience. Exceptional leaders are often found outside traditional career paths, and organizations that recognize this reality gain a significant competitive advantage.
What`s one quality your best leader had that couldn`t be captured on a resume?
Kerry Black
Director Of Corporate Engagement
Phase III Coach
This Saturday marks National Hire a Veteran Day, an important opportunity to recognize the value veterans bring to the civilian workforce and the organizations that hire them.
Special operations veterans bring extraordinary skills such as resilience, decision-making, teamwork, and extensive leadership experience that have a powerful impact on civilian careers.
We’re proud to help translate that experience into opportunities where their talents can continue to make a difference.
#HireAVeteran #VeteranLeadership #MissionContinues
“Retirement didn’t end my connection to SOTF—it strengthened it. This community helped me navigate one of the biggest transitions of my life with confidence and purpose. That’s why I choose to give back whenever I can, whether it’s raising funds, mentoring, or sharing my story with those preparing to take the same leap. We all stand on the shoulders of those who came before us. Giving back is simply my way of carrying that forward.”
Nick Sorin continues to lead by example, joining SOTF at the Denver event series to share his transition journey and connect with Fellows as they prepare for their own next chapter.
Thank you, Nick, for your continued commitment to serving the SOTF community and inspiring the next generation of Fellows.
#AlumniInAction #SOTF #VeteranTransition #Leadership #Mentorship
The SOTF Team is excited to announce that Chad Lewis has successfully transitioned into a Program Analyst role with Special Operations Command North.
Chad is a seasoned Special Forces leader who recently retired from the @USArmy as a Lieutenant Colonel after 21 years of selfless service.
Some of Chad`s accomplishments include:
🇺🇸 Chad served for 21 years in the Airborne Infantry and Special Forces, including combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, deployments to over 15 countries worldwide, a training tour at the Special Warfare Center and School, and, most recently, a joint tour at Special Operations Command North.
🇺🇸 Chad delivers elegant precision to drive tailored solutions and maximize value in training and operations.
🇺🇸 Chad holds a Master of Military Art and Science in Operational Art and a Project Management Professional certification.
🇺🇸 Chad dedicates his time to mentoring men in his community and helping his wife operate a learner-driven elementary school.
“The SOTF Team gave me a vision for my professional future and the tools to make it a reality. I`m grateful for their benevolence, dedication, and tailored support."
To learn more about Chad`s incredible leadership journey, connect with him on LinkedIn.
#TransitionTuesday #SOTF #specialoperators #usarmy #SOFOperators #sof
Join SOTF in Nashville on August 17th for the 2026 Reboot: Freedom & Fairways, one of America`s most patriotic tournaments dedicated to honoring our nation’s Special Operators and supporting their next mission beyond service.
Click the link below or copy and paste it into your browser to learn more.
https://sotf.org/nashville/
One of the best pieces of advice I`ve ever learned is surprisingly simple: shrug. That doesn`t mean you stop caring or lower your standards. It means recognizing that not every setback deserves your peace of mind.
In Special Forces, I learned that when things truly mattered, when lives were on the line, clarity came from focusing on what I could control and letting go of everything else. If it wasn`t life or death, it wasn`t worth carrying around all day.
Our Fellows have solved impossible problems in the world`s toughest environments. Don`t let a difficult meeting, a missed opportunity, or a stressful day steal the perspective you`ve earned. Shrug, reset, and move forward. Then take a moment to ask what you`d do differently next time. The emotion leaves; the lesson stays.
Keep your focus on what you can control, invest your energy where it makes a difference, and remember that the strongest habits are often the simplest ones.
Gareth Gorman
Director of Programs
SOTF Alum
Retired Green Beret
Transitioning from military service is about more than finding your next job; it`s about discovering your purpose for the next chapter.
At SOTF, we`re honored to help members of the SOF community build confidence, identify their strengths, and prepare for meaningful careers beyond service.
#SOF #VeteranTransition #Leadership #SpecialOperations #SOTF
Strong partnerships create stronger outcomes.
At SOTF, we`re proud to collaborate with organizations like the COMMIT Foundation that are dedicated to supporting service members and veterans as they navigate life`s next chapter.
Each organization brings unique expertise, perspectives, and resources to the table. By working together, we can expand opportunities, strengthen support systems, and create a greater impact for the Fellows we serve.
As the saying goes, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." We believe that meaningful collaboration is how we go farther—and help more veterans thrive.
Thank you to the @thecommitfoundation and JC Glick for being a valued partner in this mission.
#SupportOurVeterans #VeteranTransition #NonprofitPartnership #Collaboration #COMMITFoundation #SOTF
