Bobby Payne
Director of Corporate Engagement
About Me
Bobby Payne serves as the Director of Development and Corporate Engagement for the Special Operators Transition Foundation (SOTF). He assumed this role in November 2021 after retiring from the military. Bobby hails from Seattle, WA, and served 21 years in the Air Force. He enlisted in 2000, starting as a firefighter paramedic. His first assignment was in Minot, North Dakota. During his tour, he spent ten days at ground zero on a rescue and recovery team after the Twin Towers fell on Sept 11th. He served at nine locations across the world, where he held multiple roles in the Fire Department and served on teams responsible for search and rescue after aircraft crashes. He deployed multiple times for combat deployments to locations in the Middle East. He served as a combat medic during his deployments and led Rapid Air Mobility squads. As a Senior Non-Commissioned Officer, he led the Air Force Special Operations Honor Guard team for two years. During his tenure, his team laid to rest 1377 fallen heroes. Bobby closed out his military career, training elite Coast Guard Chiefs and international students on leadership principles.
His hobbies include playing the drums, rock climbing, camping, and scuba diving. Bobby lives in Navarre Beach on the Florida Panhandle with his family.