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!
The SOTF Team is excited to announce that Felix Rivera-Franco has successfully transitioned into a Technical Intelligence Analyst role with Atreides.
Felix is a seasoned Special Operations leader who recently completed his service in the @USArmy as a Sergeant First Class after 11 years of selfless service.
A Snapshot of Felix’s Accomplishments includes:
🇺🇸 Felix served 11 years in the U.S. Army Special Operations as a Psychological Operations operator with the 4th Psychological Operations Group. During his tenure, he served as a PSYOP Sergeant, Senior PSYOP Sergeant, and Doctrine Developer.
🇺🇸 Felix can transform ambiguity into actionable insights through strategic foresight, advanced analytics, and stakeholder engagement, enabling organizations to anticipate emerging risks, identify opportunities, and make informed decisions in complex operational, regulatory, and strategic environments.
🇺🇸 Felix holds a Master’s in Strategic Security Studies and is currently a PhD candidate in Homeland Security, demonstrating a continued commitment to advancing strategic thought leadership, research, and innovation in complex security environments.
🇺🇸 Felix dedicates his time to classic car restoration, reading books on ancient civilizations, and spending time outdoors with his beloved wife and son.
“As a Special Operations veteran navigating the transition from military service to the private sector, I found the SOTF program to be an invaluable resource. The team provided personalized mentorship, professional development guidance, and access to a powerful network of industry leaders and professionals. Their support helped me effectively communicate the value of my military experience, expand my professional network, and successfully secure my next career opportunity. SOTF’s commitment to each participant’s unique goals and circumstances sets the program apart, and I highly recommend it to any service member preparing for the next chapter of their professional journey.”
To learn more about Felix’s incredible leadership journey, connect with him on LinkedIn.
#TransitionTuesday #SOTF #usarmy #SOFOperators #sof #specialoperators
Earlier this month, SOTF held our first workshop in Virginia Beach! 👏
We were grateful to be hosted by Kellam Home Services and to have our panelists join us to share their time, knowledge, and professional experiences with our transitioning special operators.
We’re proud to expand our reach in Virginia Beach and continue serving more of the Naval Special Warfare community. Here’s to the first of many!
@kellam_home_services
@apexservicepartners
@anduril
Input Technology Services
@oracle
@carringtonmortgage
@prevailance.inc
Northern Gulf Services
Leona Phillippen with Consulting Services
During my 21 years in Special Operations, I learned that pressure doesn’t necessarily create leadership; it reveals it. When the stakes are high, people look to their leaders for more than answers. They look for composure, clarity, and confidence. Some of the most effective leaders I served alongside weren’t the loudest people in the room. They were the ones who could absorb the pressure, separate emotion from the problem, make a decision with the information available, and keep the team focused on what mattered most.
Most leaders in the civilian world will never face those same circumstances, but the principle still applies. A missed target, a difficult personnel decision, an organizational change, or an unexpected crisis can create plenty of pressure. Your team will take cues from how you respond. Slow the situation down, identify what you can control, communicate clearly, and make the best decision you can with the information you have. You may not be able to control the pressure, but you can control what your team experiences from you when it arrives.
Gareth Gorman
Director of Programs
SOTF Alum
Retired Green Beret
New York City, you showed up. 🇺🇸
Last week, SOTF gathered at the @NewYorkAC for an evening centered on connection, transition, and bringing the SOTF mission to a growing community of patriots in NYC.
Our Director of Alumni, Zach Venning, hosted a fireside chat led by SOTF CEO Josh Johnson alongside SOTF Fellows and alumni, giving our Operators the opportunity to share their unique transition stories and offer an inside look at what it means to take on the next mission after military service.
The goal of the evening was simple: build meaningful relationships, expand the networks available to our Fellows, and establish a stronger SOTF footprint in New York City.
We were grateful to welcome an incredible group of business leaders and supporters representing organizations including @Blackstone, @Morgan.Stanley, Distributed Spectrum, @TurnerConstructioncompany, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, and many more.
For a kickoff event, the energy in the room made one thing clear: this is only the beginning. We’re excited to continue building this community and growing what we hope will become a tentpole SOTF event in New York City.
Thank you to every Fellow, alumnus, supporter, and patriot who helped make the evening possible.
#LeadershipMadeInAmerica #SpecialOperations #Veterans #MilitaryTransition #NYC #Networking #SOTF
The SOTF Team is excited to announce that Vinny Bartram has successfully transitioned into a General Manager role with Apex Service Partners.
Vinny is a seasoned Special Operations leader who recently completed 10 years of service in the United States Army, departing as a Captain.
A snapshot of some of Vinny’s accomplishments includes:
🇺🇸 Vinny brings strategic experience in planning, logistics, operations, and organizational leadership. He has demonstrated executive leadership, strategic analysis, and talent management across diverse, high-stakes environments. He has also led multinational teams and coordinated complex missions across the Middle East, Europe, and the Balkans, demonstrating operational excellence and cross-cultural leadership.
🇺🇸 Throughout his military career, Vinny served as a Platoon Leader, Executive Officer, Operations Officer, and Company Commander, with assignments in the 10th Mountain Division, 101st Airborne Division, and 75th Ranger Regiment.
🇺🇸 Vinny holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from the United States Military Academy and a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from National University.
Vinny dedicates his free time to his beautiful wife, Giovanna, and their two incredible children, Lila and Leo, who fulfill and motivate him immensely.
Reflecting on his experience with SOTF, Vinny shared:
“The SOTF Team operates the way its community does: relentlessly, without fail, at the cutting edge, and willing to sacrifice to ensure that every last one of us is able to fight on to our objective. I am eternally grateful and indebted to the experience and commitment of every member of the SOTF Team who invested in me, created opportunities and networks, and provided mentorship I will carry with me wherever I go. This Team embodies the reason we all served, the reason it was difficult to step away, and the motivation to bring that fire to our next objective.”
#TransitionTuesday #SOTF #specialoperators #usarmy #SOFOperators #sof
SOTF Regatta Fundraiser | October 7
Join the Special Operators Transition Foundation for a day on the water and an evening of camaraderie as we come together to support the next chapter of our Special Operations veterans.
📅 October 7, 2026
📍 Florida Panhandle
⛵ Fundraising Regatta + Dinner
Race alongside an incredible community, cheer from the marina, enjoy great food and drinks, and take in the action as crews compete across the emerald waters of Choctawhatchee Bay.
It’s more than a regatta; it’s a chance to connect, compete, and support the next chapter of America’s finest leaders.
All proceeds benefit SOTF and its mission to help Special Operations veterans successfully transition into their next chapter.
Learn more or purchase your tickets at sotf.org/destin
Come for the sailing. Stay for the mission. 🇺🇸
Twenty-five years later, we remember.
We remember the lives lost and the families forever changed. We honor the first responders who ran toward danger, the veterans who answered the call, and the many who continue to serve our nation and communities today.
Their courage came at a cost. Their sacrifice became part of our history. Their legacy lives on in all who choose to serve.
Today, we remember. We honor. We will never forget.
Another successful SOTF workshop in Washington, DC! 🇺🇸
We’re grateful for another opportunity to connect with and support our transitioning operators. A big thank you to our incredible hosts at MetroStar and to the panelists for joining us last week and for sharing your time, insights, and industry expertise.
Here’s to another impactful workshop! 👏
@metrostarsystems
@onebrief.app
ZenPoint Solutions
@eliassengroup
@tangramflex
Ascensus Advisors
@anduril
@apexservicepartners
@spiritamerica
Elastic
@visa
