Special Operators Transition Foundation

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 Alan C. Mack - Author, 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:
Wells Fargo
Northern Trust Careers
Darley Defense
Miniat
Lockton Companies
Prairie Capital Advisors, Inc.
Bannockburn Global Forex
CDW Corporation
ML Realty
UBS
Porter Pipe & Supply
Payroc
Scales
Nsource
Flying Food Group LLC
USI
AAR Corp
…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. 🇺🇸

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 ex*****on.

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 ex*****on is simply intention.

Where does ex*****on tend to break down in your organization, and what have you found actually helps?

Kerry Black
SOTF Director of Corporate Engagement

Destin, this is one you’ll want to experience from the water. ⛵🇺🇸

Join SOTF on Wednesday, October 7, for an afternoon on the water at the SOTF Regatta. Watch the race aboard one of Legendary Marine’s boats, then head to Schooner’s for food, drinks, and great company, all while supporting Special Operators and their families.

Come for the race. Stay for the patriotism. 🇺🇸

Register to join us: https://hubs.ly/Q04yKt9R0

California showed up for our nation’s Special Operators. 🇺🇸

Last week, SOTF spent time in Los Angeles and San Francisco, connecting with an incredible community of patriots committed to supporting the men and women behind the mission.

In the Bay Area, SOTF was honored to be the beneficiary of an annual fundraising event hosted by Board Vice Chairman Dan Poritzky and Board Member Clint Kollar. SOTF Fellows and alumni looking to make the Bay Area home after service also had the opportunity to expand their networks and build meaningful connections.

A special thank you to Jeff Jacobs, Dan Poritzky, and Clint Kollar for their leadership, and to everyone who joined us in supporting our nation’s Special Operators.

Want to help us continue the mission? Learn more, get involved, or support SOTF at https://hubs.ly/Q04ywLs70. 🇺🇸

The SOTF Team is excited to announce Steve Cheap has successfully transitioned into a Safety Officer (CBRNE) role with The City of Houston. Steve is a seasoned Special Operations leader who recently retired from the U.S. Army as a SFC after 20 years of selfless service.

A snapshot of some of Steve’s accomplishments includes:

🇺🇸 Steve served in both the Infantry and Special Operations Civil Affairs communities throughout his career, progressing from an Infantry Mortarman to senior leadership positions within Civil Affairs. His military service includes multiple deployments and assignments throughout Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Yemen.

🇺🇸 Steve has invested in his professional development throughout his military service, obtaining a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Operations Crisis Management, and a Bachelor’s in Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

🇺🇸 Steve now dedicates his time to his family and to continuing to serve his community.

“The transition from a 20-year military career into the civilian workforce came with challenges that were very different from anything I had experienced in uniform. The SOTF Team helped me translate my military experience into something civilian organizations could understand while providing mentorship, networking opportunities, and guidance throughout the process.

"What stood out to me most, however, was that their support extended beyond my career transition. When my family encountered major and unexpected health issues during an already challenging period in our lives, the SOTF Team was there for us. They reached out, checked on my family, and made it clear that if we needed assistance, they were ready to help in any way they could. That meant more to me than any résumé review, job lead, or professional connection.

"SOTF showed me that their commitment to transitioning service members is about more than finding the next job; it is about taking care of the service member and their family. I’m incredibly grateful for the support they provided to my family and me as I transitioned into my next chapter with the City of Houston, and I encourage other transitioning service members to take advantage of the community, resources, and network SOTF provides.”

To learn more about Steve’s incredible leadership journey, connect with him on LinkedIn.

🏈 Want a shot at NFL or college season tickets for 2027–2028?

Support SOTF through Tix for Good for your chance to win season tickets while helping Special Operators successfully transition to life beyond military service.

Enter by February 14, 2027

👉 Click the link to enter, or copy and paste it into your browser: https://hubs.ly/Q04ywkR40

Every donation makes an impact. Good luck!

Trust is one of those things that’s difficult to earn, easy to lose, and nearly impossible to lead without.

My time in uniform taught me that trust wasn’t simply a leadership concept, it was foundational to everything we did. Trust was rarely built in the big moments, but in the small ones – doing what you said you would do, being candid when the news wasn’t good, owning a mistake when it would be easier to explain it away, and consistently showing up for others. Position and rank may give one authority, but they don’t give them trust. That is earned through our actions, over time, often when we don’t realize anyone is paying attention.

This lesson becomes especially clear during transition from service. For many, military service comes with decades of accumulated credibility. Your teammates know your reputation - they know what you’ve done and what you bring to the fight. Then you walk into a completely new environment… the uniform is gone, the rank is gone, and the title has changed. What travels with you is your character.

At SOTF, we see trust at work every day. A Fellow trusts a coach enough to admit what they don’t know. An alumnus trusts another Fellow enough to open their network. A business leader trusts that experience and character developed through years of service will bring value to their organization. A donor trusts SOTF to turn their generosity into meaningful impact for Special Operators and their families.

Different relationships, different circumstances, the same foundation… trust. We establish it by showing people who we are… by listening, showing humility, keeping our word, and putting others first… by showing up.

Our titles will change throughout our lives, but our character travels with us… earn trust every day.

Keith Pritchard
Director of Development
SOTF Alum

Set sail for a cause that matters. 🇺🇸

Join us on October 7th at Bluewater Bay Marina for Sail for SOF, a Regatta Benefit, and spend the afternoon on the water, bringing the Destin community together in support of Special Operations veterans.

Come race, connect, and enjoy a great day while supporting SOTF's mission. We’d love to have you there!

Grab your crew and sign up today: https://hubs.ly/Q04y7tSB0

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 U.S. Army 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.