SOTF - Special Operators Transition Foundation

Wishing you all a happy Thanksgiving filled with good food and great company!

Exciting Transition News: Congratulations, Martin W Weeks III! The SOTF Team is proud to celebrate Marty Weeks' successful transition into a Flight Officer role with United Airlines. Marty exemplifies leadership, resilience, and excellence, honed through a distinguished 25-year career in the United States Air Force, retiring at the rank of Colonel. A brief highlight of Marty's impressive career and accomplishments: ?? Leadership Excellence: Marty concluded his Air Force service as Deputy Director of Force Capability Analysis at the Department of the Air Force Office of Studies & Analysis. He also held pivotal leadership roles, including: ???? Vice Commander, 353rd Special Operations Wing (Okinawa, Japan) ???? Deputy Commander, 352rd Special Operations Group (RAF Mildenhall, UK) ???? Commander, 67th Special Operations Squadron (RAF Mildenhall, UK) ?? Driving Impact: Marty brings a unique ability to streamline systems, foster high-performing teams, and develop people to their full potential. With a solutions-focused mindset and operational empathy, he consistently creates innovative strategies that drive mission success and inspire organic growth. ?? Academic Achievements: Marty holds two Masters of Science Degrees in: ???? Defense Analysis, Special Operations & Irregular Warfare from the Naval Postgraduate School ???? Aviation Human Factors from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University As he begins this new chapter with United Airlines, Marty's career trajectory continues to inspire excellence and purpose. We’re honored to have been part of his transition journey and wish him nothing but success in the skies ahead! #SpecialOperations #MilitaryTransition #LeadershipExcellence #VeteranSuccess #AviationLeadership

When you think of #LifeatVisa, what comes to mind? Probably credit cards, finance degrees, and lots of calculating, right? Well, there’s so much more. Last week, our Fellows exploring life in Texas had the opportunity to visit Visa’s impressive Austin campus—a glimpse into the inner workings of this global payments technology leader. During the visit, our Fellows: ? Got a taste of Visa’s incredible campus life and culture—from an in-house gym and restaurant-quality food to inviting outdoor spaces, it’s a workplace designed for both performance and well-being. ? Explored diverse functional roles—discovering how their unique skills can transfer seamlessly into areas like consulting, analytics, customer service, global security, safety, and beyond. There’s truly something for everyone. ? Sharpened their interview skills—thanks to practice sessions with seasoned professionals, helping them refine their approach and build confidence. And what better way to wrap up a day on campus than sharing pizza and a drink with new friends (or future colleagues)? BLUF: The connection is clear: transitioning from the high-performing, globally oriented culture of special operations to Visa feels like a natural fit. Thank you to Brian Greata, MBA, and the Visa team (Jason Shaw, Trisha K., Raul Leyva, Penny Jurss, James Baird, Peggy Dixon, Javier Madrigal, and Joe Kennedy) for opening your doors and showing our Fellows what’s possible. Here’s to building bridges between service and success! ????

Tell us you're surrounded by Special Operator veterans without telling us you're surrounded by Special Operator veterans: "Sir, you left your hearing aids on the table!" There’s nothing like a Friday in the Florida Panhandle, stunning sunset in the background, and Patriots gathered to hear a hero's story. We kicked off our Destin is Grateful event with an exclusive "ladies-only" shooting course, where participants trained with custom pistols provided by Unique-ARs. Coached by our Special Operators in the program, these women learned to handle their new gear safely and confidently. As the evening unfolded, more guests arrived ready to hear Medal of Honor recipient Earl Plumlee share his experiences. Earl’s stories brought to life the courage and commitment our military requires, leaving no dry eyes in the room. Plumlee's heroism and selflessness reflect the valor and character of our Nation's top 1% who said, "Send me." We dried our eyes and wrapped up the event with RET MG David Morris, who spoke powerfully on transition and the impact of SOTF’s mission to support our veterans who are undoubtedly deserving. Thank you to the businesses, Patriots, and all who came out to support the SOTF mission. through this incredibly inspiring event. We’re honored to serve alongside you. As always, the impact of our mission is driven purely by the people who pour themselves into the SOTF community. To each and every individual, we can't thank you enough for locking arms with us. We can only serve because of you. #Veterans #SOTF #SpecialOperators #LeadershipMadeInAmerica

Last week, we had the honor of hosting our Special Operators from the Florida Panhandle for an impactful Transition Workshop in Destin, FL. We kicked off the day with a breakfast hosted by the Crestview Chamber Of Commerce, where Sandra W. introduced our Fellows to the dynamic business community right in their backyard. This invaluable exposure connects our transitioning service members with local leaders and industry opportunities. Following breakfast, our Fellows had their professional portraits taken by the talented Suzi Carroll. Suzi generously donates her time each year to ensure our Fellows have standout images for their new career paths. A sincere thank you to Suzi for her commitment to helping our Fellows make a strong first impression. Our final stop was Planned Systems International in Niceville, FL, where we shared a great meal from Pounders Hawaiian Grill. Energized and ready to learn, our Fellows then engaged in small group sessions led by an impressive lineup of mentors: Christopher Wurst from Apex Service Partners, Teague Laguens from GE Aerospace, Nathan Scopac from Collins Aerospace, and Brian Liesveld from DEFENSEWERX. These industry leaders offered personalized insights, advice, and mentorship on transitioning into new careers and navigating their respective fields. This memorable day in the Panhandle captures the core mission of the SOTF: to bring together business professionals, connectors, and patriots who are committed to supporting the success of our Fellows as they take on their next objectives. It’s the people who make the difference. #TransitioningMilitary #SpecialOperators #SOTF #MilitaryToCivilian #SOTF #LeadershipMadeInAmerica

We're excited to announce that Jacob W. Croxdale has successfully transitioned into a General Manager role with Apex Service Partners! Jake is a seasoned Special Operations leader who recently completed service from the United States Army as a Staff Sergeant after 8 years of selfless service. Read a little about Jake: ???? Jake served in the esteemed 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, U.S. Army. During his tenure, he served in every position from Rifleman to Squad Leader where he conducted 6 deployments across the Middle East. ???? Jake delivers genuine influence as a General Manager through his care for people and ability to develop those around him to succeed as a group. ???? Jake holds an MBA from Columbia Business School. ???? Jake dedicates his time mentoring transitioning members of the 75th Ranger Regiment and assisting veterans from all services with their educational goals. "The SOTF Team gave me insight into who I am and how I can make an impact outside of the military. They introduced me to groups of extremely high-quality people who truly cared about my success in both personal and professional life." Send congratulations to Jake in the comments below!

The best way to say thank you to the men and women veterans who said "Send me," is to live every day to the best of your ability. Maximize the freedoms provided to you. Enjoy the safety of this nation. Be a good neighbor. Exercise your ability to vote and determine our nation's future. Serve your community. Be an American citizen worthy of the sacrifice.

?? We're thrilled to welcome everyone to our "Emerald Coast is Grateful" event tomorrow, supporting our nation's Special Operations Leaders as they transition to making the Panhandle their home! ? Our Militray's top-tier Special Operators will be joining us—see the comments for more on these extraordinary guests. ?? A few tickets are still available, so grab yours through this link- https://lnkd.in/gqr7g6wM! Don’t miss this chance to honor and support these heroes. ?? Special thanks to our major sponsors who have made this event possible: SETCO SERVICES LLC, United Fidelity Bank Emerald Coast, R3 Strategic Support Group, Inc., Lawrence Victoria Insurance, Unique-ARs, Stronghold SOF Solutions, Florida Power & Light, Step One Automotive Group, Merrill Lynch, Beachworx, DEFENSEWERX, Assurance Security Solutions, Rodos Realty Advisors ?? A huge shoutout to our food and beverage sponsors: Clemenza's at Uptown Station, Jackacuda’s Seafood & Sushi, Cafe Nola Defuniak, Cantina Laredo, Parties Unlimited LLC, ?? Supporting Sponsors & Media Partners—thank you! Ecco Motors, VIP Destin Magazine, Rock 92.1, Highway 98 Country, 1021 THE WAVE, Florida Man Radio Network, The 30A Company We're beyond grateful to stand together for this incredible cause. See you there!

?? Event Update! ?? The event has been postponed to a tentative date of February 6, 2025. Stay tuned for more details, and thank you for your understanding and continued support!

Brotherly Love - something our Operators in the program have truly lived out during their time serving our great Nation. As they wrap up their time in service and look to enter civilian sectors, we're bringing a few talented Operators to the City of Brotherly Love - Philadelphia, PA! If you want to return the Brotherly Love to our Operators, join us at this specatular event on November 20th! ? RSVP at the link in the event, and be sure to bring a friend!