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!
DALLAS, LET`S MAKE IT COUNT!
We`re closing out 2026 with a few final opportunities to connect, and Dallas is one you won`t want to miss!
Haven`t attended an SOTF event this year? Now`s your chance.
Join us for an evening of cocktails, meaningful conversations, and connections between America`s elite military Special Operators and the business leaders and supporters who believe in their potential beyond the uniform.
📍 Katy Trail Ice House | Dallas, TX
📅 November 4 | 6–9 PM
Great people. Powerful connections. A mission worth showing up for.
🔗 Save your spot: sotf.org/dallas
#SOTF #PatriotismAndPurpose #Dallas #VeteranTransition
The SOTF Team is excited to announce that Noel Glass has successfully transitioned into a Senior Project Engineer role with @CluneGC.
Noel is a seasoned Special Operations leader who recently retired from the @USArmy as a Chief Warrant Officer Three (CW3) after 20+ years of selfless service.
A snapshot of some of Noel`s accomplishments includes:
🇺🇸 Noel began his military career in the Infantry before spending a decade in the 75th Ranger Regiment and the Special Operations community. Throughout his career, he served in leadership positions across the Ranger Regiment, Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), and the broader Intelligence Community.
🇺🇸 During his final assignment as a Senior Project Officer with the Defense Intelligence Agency in Washington, D.C., Noel led high-visibility projects, synchronized efforts across joint and interagency partners, and managed complex initiatives supporting national security objectives. Over the course of his career, he completed nine deployments while leading teams in some of the world`s most demanding operational environments.
🇺🇸 Outside of work, Noel enjoys spending time with his wife, their five children, and three grandsons. He is passionate about mentoring veterans, developing future leaders, serving his community, and helping transitioning service members find purpose and opportunity beyond military service.
"The Special Operators Transition Foundation had a profound impact on my transition. They did far more than help me prepare for interviews or build a résumé. As Rangers, we often talk about being quiet professionals. We stay hungry, remain humble, and take care of people. That is exactly how SOTF operates. They serve without seeking recognition, and they continue supporting veterans long after the transition is complete. SOTF changed the trajectory of my transition, and I will always be grateful."
To learn more about Noel`s leadership journey, connect with him on LinkedIn.
#TransitionTuesday #SOTF #specialoperators #usarmy #SOFOperators #sof
Over the past week, I`ve been fortunate to witness SOTF bring people together in Chicago, Destin, and Rye, New York. Three very different communities, three completely different events, one common thread: the power of people who simply show up. Not everyone walked through the door knowing exactly what our SOTF Fellows needed. Some didn`t know how they could help, what they could offer, or if they had anything of value to contribute, but they showed up anyway.
They listened. They asked questions. They made connections. And perhaps most importantly, they raised their hands and said, "Ask me."
There`s something incredibly powerful about that simple gesture. It doesn`t require a title, a checkbook, an impressive network, or a perfectly formulated plan to help. It just requires a willingness to be present and an openness to serve. The message our Fellows receive from folks simply showing up speaks volumes.
We often underestimate the value we bring to others. A conversation, an introduction, a fresh perspective, or even a few words of encouragement can change the trajectory of someone`s next chapter. That`s something I see time and again at SOTF. The most meaningful connections don`t always begin with someone knowing how to help; they begin with simple willingness.
So, show up. Just as you are.
You don`t have to have all the answers. You don`t have to know exactly where you fit. You just have to be willing to raise your hand and say, "Ask me." Come and find us at a SOTF event, and let`s see how you can help our Fellows in a meaningful way.
Sarah Vanderleest
Director of Operations
Today, on DAF Day, we recognize the donors who choose to support the SOTF mission through their Donor-Advised Funds.
A DAF gives individuals and families the ability to recommend grants to organizations that reflect their values and philanthropic priorities.
For SOTF, that support helps provide best-in-class training, education, and business connectivity to Special Operators as they transition into their next careers.
If supporting Special Operators through their transition aligns with your giving priorities, consider recommending a grant to SOTF through your DAF.
🇺🇸 Give through your DAF and learn more by copying this link into your browser: sotf.org/donate
To those who already support SOTF in this way, thank you for your trust in our mission and for choosing to stand behind the men and women we serve. Your support helps us continue providing the resources, relationships, and opportunities that make a meaningful difference in their transition.
The Emerald Coast brought our Fellows together for another successful workshop, this time, in Destin!
Our Fellows came together for a day of candid conversations, practical guidance, and direct access to business leaders who shared their experience and perspective as our Operators prepare for life beyond military service.
A special thank you to our hosts at the @doolittle_institute for opening their doors and providing a space where our Fellows and panelists could gather, learn, ask questions, and build meaningful connections. These in-person opportunities are an important part of helping our Fellows better understand the civilian landscape and prepare for what comes next.
We are also incredibly grateful to NGS for supporting the workshop and Fueling our Fellows by providing breakfast and lunch for our Fellows, staff, and panelists. Their generosity helps offset the costs of bringing these workshops to our community and allows us to focus our resources where they matter most: supporting our transitioning Special Operators.
And a special thank you to SOTF alumnus Torrey Peterson for representing NGS and continuing to give back to the community that supported his own transition. Seeing our alumni return to invest their time, experience, and relationships in the Fellows coming behind them is what makes the SOTF network so special.
Thank you to everyone who helped make Destin another meaningful day for our Fellows. 🇺🇸
Black Powder Search
@businesssergeant
@topflitehomeloans
@apexservicespartners
F3EA, Inc.
@andurilindustries
Northern Gulf Services
Shark Team
@plannedsystems
Awayday Vacation Rentals
@mtsiofficial
@ge_aerospace
The SOTF Team is excited to announce that Silas Ostaff has successfully transitioned into a Project Management role with @SAICinc.
Silas is a seasoned Special Operations leader who recently retired from the @USArmy as a Sergeant Major after 28 years of selfless service.
A snapshot of some of Silas` accomplishments includes:
🇺🇸 Silas retired as a US Army Senior Enlisted Advisor, Sergeant Major, out of the 10th Special Forces Group. During his 24-year tenure in 10th SFG (A), he served as a Battalion Operations Sergeant Major, Company Sergeant Major, First Sergeant, Sniper Master Trainer, Team Sergeant, Communications Sergeant, and Sniper Instructor at the JFK Special Warfare Center and Schools.
🇺🇸 Silas delivers decisive execution as an operational executive candidate for the industrial defense industry to drive profitable improvements in products, processes, and client experience. Silas excels at swiftly understanding key drivers of opportunity and solutions, taking confident action with clarity of purpose, and translating strategy into results without hesitation.
🇺🇸 As a leader, Silas’ mission is to lead autonomous teams with a relational approach, clear direction, and generative guidance that motivates the team to realize their potential at scale.
🇺🇸 In his free time, Silas enjoys competitive shooting, pursuing additional education and technical certifications, and cabin weekends in the mountains with his wife.
“The SOTF program enabled the first critical steps in reinventing my value proposition to the Defense Industry, where I can continue to serve National objectives with key industry partners. Reflection and introspective awareness are decisive in personal growth, and the SOTF personnel, as well as Melba and Edwards Holiday with the Atlantic Leadership Group, guided my exploration through the transition process. I am grateful for the time and resources the SOTF program provided to enable my success.”
To learn more about Silas` incredible leadership journey, connect with him on LinkedIn.
#TransitionTuesday #SOTF #usarmy #SOFOperators #sof #specialoperators
10 Fellowships funded. One incredible day in Chicago. 🇺🇸
Last week, the SOTF community came together in Chicago for the Midwest Sporting Clays Classic, hosted by SOTF Board Member Lenny Dacanay—and what an impact this group made.
Lenny has an extraordinary ability to bring great people together around a meaningful mission. Thanks to his leadership, generosity, and world-class networking, the event raised enough to fully fund 10 SOTF Fellowships, helping 10 Special Operations veterans take the next step toward meaningful civilian careers.
We were also honored to welcome Al Mack, decorated U.S. Army Chinook helicopter pilot and author of Chinooks in the Dark. Al shared stories from his remarkable career and gave our guests a glimpse into the leadership, courage, and experiences behind his new book.
A tremendous thank you to the companies and Patriots who showed up in support of SOTF, including:
@WellsFargo
@NorthernTrustCompany
@DarleyDefense
Miniat
@Lockton_usa
Prairie Capital
Bannockburn Global Forex
@CDW_corp
ML Realty
@UBS
@PorterPipe
Payroc
Scales
Nsource
@FlyingFoodGroup
USI
…and many more.
Lenny, thank you for opening your network to SOTF, championing our Fellows, and rallying the Midwest around our mission. Ten Fellows will have access to SOTF’s individualized transition support because of what this community accomplished together.
That’s professional patriotism in action. 🇺🇸
#SOTF #LeadershipMadeInAmerica #SpecialOperations #Veterans #MilitaryTransition #ProfessionalPatriotism #Chicago #Midwest
After many years in the corporate world, I’ve learned that most organizations are not short on strategy.
We have plans, technology, talented people, and ambitious goals. But even the best strategy means very little without leaders who can turn it into execution.
As organizations invest in AI, technology, transformation, and growth, I believe we should also be asking whether we have the leaders who can establish priorities, align teams, make decisions without perfect information, adapt when circumstances change, and ultimately deliver results.
It’s also worth considering how we identify those leaders.
Industry experience and functional expertise matter, but they don’t always tell us how someone will lead when the plan stops working.
That’s something I’ve come to appreciate about the Special Operations leaders we work with at SOTF. They have spent years operating in complex environments where they are expected to understand the objective, establish priorities, empower others, adapt quickly, and execute.
The terminology may differ in the corporate world, but the leadership capabilities remain remarkably relevant.
As organizations think about the next 12 to 18 months, perhaps the question isn’t simply, “Who do we need to hire today?”
It’s also, “What leadership capabilities will we need tomorrow, and are we building relationships with those people now?”
Great strategy without execution is simply intention.
Where does execution tend to break down in your organization, and what have you found actually helps?
Kerry Black
SOTF Director of Corporate Engagement
