Milprenuer Podcast

In this episode of the Milpreneur Podcast, Ryan sits down with David Fivecoat, a retired Army Colonel and the founder of The Fivecoat Consulting Group (TFCG). David shares his incredible journey from West Point and leading troops in the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions to navigating the civilian corporate world. He opens up about the harsh reality of launching his own consulting firm in March 202...

Matthew DePrimo went from a high-speed active duty Army officer to being medically retired at 28, facing a sudden loss of identity and mission. Instead of slowing down, he channeled his drive into education and entrepreneurship, founding Career Bridge—a specialized STEM recruiting firm. In a display of massive action, Matthew and his team successfully placed over 1,200 candidates in a single year,...

In this episode of the Milpreneur Podcast, Ryan Van Ornum sits down with Dr. Mark Michels, the Chief Operating Officer of Global Integrity Alliance. Mark shares his incredible 31-year journey in the U.S. Army, rising from a Private E-1 to retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. He discusses his unique path from Air Defense Artillery to becoming a Counter-WMD expert and eventually the Academic Provost at...

In this episode of the Milpreneur Podcast, host Ryan Van Ornum sits down with Dida Clifton, a USAF veteran and the founder of The Office Squad. Dida shares her incredible journey from working in an F-15 fighter squadron to building a comprehensive back-office support system for small businesses. By leveraging her military background, she has created a unique "Squadron" model that brings...

In this episode of the Milpreneur Podcast, host Ryan Van Ornum sits down with Marah Lago, a powerhouse entrepreneur and co-founder of Military Creator Con. Marah shares her incredible journey from the high-pressure world of corporate management consulting to navigating the utter collapse of her first business, eventually rising to build a vertically integrated jewelry empire. This conversation exp...

In this episode of the Milpreneur Podcast, host Ryan Van Ornum sits down with Stacey Allen, an Army veteran and the Founder and CEO of Valor Health. After a distinguished career as a medic in Desert Storm and over 16 years in health administration with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Stacey pivoted to entrepreneurship with a mission to serve his brothers and sisters in arms. This conversation explo...

Suit up, Milpreneurs, Stacey Allen is stepping into the studio with a story that hits hard and inspires even harder. From military service to CEO of Valor Health, he’s turning experience into impact and breaking barriers for veterans everywhere. If you’re ready for purpose, leadership, and game-changing insight, this is the episode you don’t want to miss. 🎧 Episode drops this week! Catch past epi...

In this episode of the Milpreneur Podcast, host Ryan Van Ornum sits down with Randy Gilbert, a retired Air Force First Sergeant and the co-founder of KnovaQuest. After a distinguished 21-year military career ranging from Security Forces to operating sensors, Randy faced the challenge many veterans encounter: finding a renewed sense of purpose outside the uniform. This conversation explores his tra...

In this episode of the Milpreneur Podcast, host Ryan Van Ornum sits down with Tia Christopher, a U.S. Navy veteran turned tech leader and founder of The Orange Peel Collaborative. Tia shares her incredible journey from serving as an Arabic linguist to navigating the high-stakes world of AI and machine learning operations, ultimately finding her footing as a formidable entrepreneur in the tech spac...

In this high-octane episode of the Milpreneur Podcast, host Ryan Van Horn sits down with Josh White, a US Marine Corps veteran who successfully transitioned from the battlefield to the race track. Josh shares his incredible journey of resilience, detailing how he navigated the competitive "dog-eat-dog" world of professional racing to return to the NASCAR Truck Series. This conversation e...

From the battlefield to the fast lane, Josh White isn’t just chasing speed, he’s building momentum, breaking barriers, and proving what grit really looks like. 🇺🇸 In this upcoming episode of the Milpreneur Podcast, we dive into the mind of the Marine-turned-professional-racer who turned discipline into horsepower and passion into purpose. Get ready for stories that hit hard, lessons that fuel grow...

In this episode of Scaling Up Success, host Ryan Van Ornum sits down with his longtime friend and Air Force pilot, CJ Cartagena. With nearly two decades of service, CJ shares his compelling journey from piloting the T-6A trainer and the HC-130J Combat King II for search and rescue, to his current role flying the massive C-17 Globemaster III. CJ opens up about the rigorous demands of military aviat...

From flying T-6 trainers to commanding C-17s, CJ Cartagena has conquered some of the Air Force’s toughest missions. ✈️ In this week’s episode of Milpreneur Podcast, “Air Force Lessons for Life & Leadership with CJ Cartagena,” he shares his journey from daring combat search-and-rescue missions to mentoring the next generation of pilots. 🎧 Stay on standby: Episode drops this week. Check past ep...

In this inspiring episode of the Milpreneur Podcast, host Ryan Van Ornum sits down with Shannon Huffman Polson, one of the first women to fly the Apache attack helicopter and the founder of The Grit Institute. Shannon shares her incredible journey from the cockpit of a combat helicopter to the corporate boardroom, eventually becoming a successful veteran entrepreneur. This conversation explores ho...

Our next guest, Shannon Huffman Polson, isn’t just a trailblazer, she’s a force of nature. As one of the first women to pilot the Apache helicopter and the founder of The Grit Institute, she brings powerful lessons on courage, leadership, and navigating adversity with strength. If you’re ready for an episode filled with grit, wisdom, and serious inspiration… this one’s for you. #MilprenuerPodcast...

In this powerful episode of the Milpreneur Podcast, host Ryan Van Ornum sits down with Matt Madison, a Navy veteran who served as a bomb builder on the USS Enterprise during two tours in the Persian Gulf. Matt opens up about his profound struggle with transition trauma, isolation, and PTSD, sharing how he turned a personal battle for survival into a lifeline for his fellow service members. They ta...

This week on the Milprenuer Podcast, we sit down with Matt Mattison — Navy veteran, former bomb builder aboard the USS Enterprise, and founder of the Veterans Breakthrough Network. Matt opens up about his journey from military service to mental health advocacy, how gaming and online platforms became lifelines, and how he’s turning personal struggles into a mission to help others. #MattMattison #Mi...

In this episode of the Milpreneur Podcast, host Ryan Van Ornum sits down with Kevin Sullivan, a retired Army Aviation officer and the founder of Military Connect. They discuss Kevin's transition from the cockpit to the boardroom, exploring how he utilized military discipline and structure to navigate the often chaotic world of entrepreneurship. This conversation highlights the power of veteran...

On this episode of the Milprenuer Podcast, Kevin Sullivan shares how he’s helping veterans and service members navigate business, finance, and post-service opportunities. From military strategy to building impactful businesses, Kevin breaks down the mindset, systems, and leadership skills that lead to mission success, both in uniform and in entrepreneurship.

In this episode of the Milpreneur Podcast, host Ryan Van Ornum sits down with Lindsey Chrismon, a powerhouse veteran entrepreneur with a resume that reads like fiction. From being the First Captain at West Point and the first female AH-6 Little Bird pilot in the 160th SOAR to graduating from Harvard Business School, Lindsey is now tackling her biggest challenge yet: the tech startup world. She is...

This week on the Milprenuer Podcast, we chat with Lindsey Chrismon — Co-Founder of Oply, Harvard Business School alum, former Special Operations Helicopter Pilot , and Veteran Fellow at Stanford’s Hoover Institution. Lindsey opens up about how she turned discipline, strategy, and creativity from the military into building content and communities that actually connect with people. Episode drops tom...

In this episode of Scaling Up Success, host Ryan Van Ornum sits down with David Cain, the visionary behind Heroes Home Advantage. This nationwide network is dedicated to giving back to those who serve—including veterans, active duty military, and first responders—by providing substantial savings during the real estate process. David shares how his unique system connects heroes with realtors and le...

In this powerful episode of the Milpreneur Podcast, host Ryan Van Ornum sits down with Dustin Dobbyn, a United States Marine Corps veteran and former Law Enforcement Officer turned entrepreneur. Dustin shares his incredible journey from deploying to Sangin, Afghanistan with the 3/7 Marines and serving on high-risk SWAT teams, to founding Tac On One, a premier private security and consulting firm....

🔥 From the frontlines to the boardroom! 🔥 This week on the Milpreneur Podcast, we sit down with Dustin Dobbyn, Marine Corps veteran, founder of TACON1, and co-founder of Project Child Rescue. 🇺🇸 Dobby shares his journey from boot camp to battlefield, and how the discipline, leadership, and brotherhood of the Marines shaped the mission-driven security firm he runs today. ⚡ Real battles. Real les...

In this episode of the Milpreneur Podcast, host Ryan Van Ornum sits down with Martin Engster, a Marine Corps veteran and the driving force behind Centerline. Martin shares his unique journey from growing up in Germany to serving in the USMC, and how he is now leading a third-generation business in the high-stakes world of CNC spindle repair and manufacturing. This conversation explores the interse...