Military Veterans Serving on Corporate Boards: Unlocking Unique Value

Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of working with many impressive corporate executives from extensive military backgrounds and who are now eager to bring their skills to the boardroom. What I’ve consistently noticed is that veterans possess a distinctive set of strengths that can be incredibly valuable in corporate board roles.

According to The Conference Board, the percentage of board members with military experience in the S&P500 has maintained around 3-4% every year since 2018.

Drawing on years of experience and insights, along with conversations with some inspiring military veterans, I’ve compiled a list of the top skills veterans bring to the boardroom table. I spoke to the following:?Retired US Navy Captain Supply Corps Officer, Will A. Clarke , Retired Lieutenant Colonel Wendi O. Brown , Retired Public Affairs Officer of the US Navy Brian Badura , US Navy Desert Storm Veteran Steve Hampson and Former US Navy Recruiter Steve Moore .

If you’re a military veteran exploring corporate board positions, this list can help you better understand your differentiating skills and how they align with board responsibilities. And if you're organizing a board or looking to fill key roles, military veterans bring a lot to the boardroom - strategic mindset, global insights, ability to adapt in high stakes situations, etc. - making them ideal additions to broaden perspectives and drive profitable growth.?

1. Strategic Mindset

Veterans are trained to think strategically and make critical decisions, often in high-pressure, ambiguous situations. The ability to assess risks, prioritize key issues, and develop long-term strategies directly translates to the boardroom, where members must navigate complex business challenges. This mission-focused decision-making approach is particularly valuable during times of crisis or transformation when a steady, strategic hand is crucial.? Will A. Clarke had a highly accomplished Naval?career?and agrees that board members who have served in the military intuitively bring strategic mindset skills. Will?held key leadership positions in supply chain and procurement at large major companies like Best Buy and Atlas?Airlines and subsequently?served on multiple boards that?manufacture products and vehicles.

"Board directors and executives may not realize how much emphasis the military puts on training people in the art of strategy, especially senior officers. For example, I once attended a five-week course at the Naval War College focused solely on the art of strategic planning and operations. Throughout my military career, I developed strategies and trained with other government agencies at the federal, state and local level for a wide range of situations. When you combine that training rigor with real-world strategy development for scenarios like crisis response or global conflicts, it becomes second nature to the veterans considering board roles." Brian Badura

2. Commitment to Mission and Integrity

The military instills a deep sense of duty, ethics, and integrity in its personnel. Veterans are wired to prioritize the mission above all else and to act with unwavering accountability, especially when the stakes are high. This strong foundation in purpose-driven leadership can help boards uphold ethical oversight and maintain a long-term vision, ensuring organizations operate in a sustainable and principled way. Steve Moore , Former US Navy Recruiter, works in human capital, and has experience as an executive and board recruiter. He commented: “military personnel value integrity and ethics which can make them especially effective in the boardroom of corporations.”

3. Crisis Management

One of the hallmarks of military leaders is their ability to manage complex projects, supply chains, and large teams, all while under intense pressure. This experience equips veterans with the adaptability and resilience needed in board roles. In industries facing constant disruption and risk, these qualities are crucial as board members guide organizations through change and uncertainty with confidence. Wendi O. Brown commented that her experience in cybersecurity and the US Army equips her to handle any corporate crisis. “We have a natural ability to lead during a crisis”.

Brian Badura explained: "Crisis preparation and management is one area where I feel veterans excel, mainly because they have been in situations that most people can't imagine in a corporate setting. Yes, it can be incredibly stressful when lives are on the line and circumstances change quickly, but veterans can have a keen ability to stay focused and level-headed, which are crucial when companies face unexpected scenarios and reputational risk. You don't always realize how much those experiences influence you in the moment, but I once had a colleague in a corporate role tell someone that I might be the most unflappable employee ever, thanks in large part to the amount of crisis management I had done in the military."

4. Diverse and Global Perspective

Many veterans have served abroad in diverse, international environments?working alongside multinational counterparts on a daily basis. This experience offers them a broader perspective and the ability to navigate cultural differences, which can significantly enhance board-level discussions. A global outlook is invaluable for companies looking to expand into new markets or develop inclusive, forward-thinking strategies. Will A. Clarke mentioned “selfless leadership” and “cultural intelligence” as 2 major skills that military veterans bring to the boardroom. Wendi O. Brown lived in the Middle East, Africa and Europe and has built skills to be able to communicate and understand different cultures – translating well into the boardroom with firms that are looking to expand globally or who are headquartered abroad.

5. Focus on Collaboration

Collaboration is at the heart of military service. Veterans are skilled at working toward a common goal, listening to diverse viewpoints, and uniting people to achieve shared objectives. “Most veteran board candidates also bring knowledge of cross-functional and matrixed organizations because of the amount interagency coordination they have done throughout their careers” according to Brian Badura .?This collaborative spirit is essential in the boardroom, where members must work cohesively to drive company success and ensure alignment with organizational goals.

Steve Hampson , a Desert Storm Veteran with almost 30 years in Management Consulting adds “The US military is the ultimate melting pot, welcoming Americans from all walks of life and providing a structure which allow teams to gel quickly to meet its mission.”

6. Operational Risk Management & Continuous Improvement

Will A. Clarke spent many years in?end-to-end?Supply Chain in the US Navy and also across a range of major corporations. He suggests that the skills around process improvement, organizational efficiency and understanding regulatory requirements are?endemic to military experience. Will: “In the boardroom, this translates into the ability to identify enterprise and operational risk and help employ mitigation strategies”. As a board director, and advisor on major projects, technology products and innovation, he focuses on the?growth, managing risk and sound decision making to help businesses in value creation.

To all the military veterans who are considering corporate board positions: these are just some of the differentiators you may bring. And to those who need these types of skills on their own board, consider a military veteran as your next board member.

What other skills or experiences do you believe set you apart? I’d love to hear your thoughts...

Final Words

I want to express my gratitude to Will Clarke, Wendy Brown, Brian Badura, Steve Hampson and Steve Moore for sharing their insights with me for this article. They continue to lead by example, demonstrating the powerful impact that veterans can have in leadership positions and corporate boardrooms.

At The Boardroom Company, my mission is to inspire corporate leaders to explore the rewarding path of board service. This Veteran’s Day, I am especially honoring the incredible men and women who have served our nation. Their leadership, resilience, and dedication continue to inspire us—not only in our communities but also within the boardrooms of corporations where their skills make a profound impact.