Matt Stevens transitioned from the U.S. Navy in 2017 after serving for 26 years as a SEAL.

Transitioning from the SEAL teams to civilian life brought him to The Honor Foundation, a national nonprofit dedicated to supporting U.S. Special Operations Forces as they transition from elite military careers into impactful civilian roles.

Matt attended The Honor Foundation’s (THF) inaugural East Coast class in the spring of 2016, joined their SOF Advisory Board in the spring of 2017, and then joined their Board of Directors in February 2018.

A native of Charlotte, NC, Matt graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1991 with a B.S. in Ocean Engineering. He graduated BUD/S in 1992 with class 179 and was assigned to the East Coast, where he served in various SEAL Teams, SEAL Delivery Vehicle Teams, and Naval Special Warfare Development Group (NSWDG).

Matt commanded at every level in the Naval Special Warfare Community, including a Squadron at DEVGRU, SEAL Team Two, Naval Special Warfare Unit Three, and Naval Special Warfare Group Four.

He served on staff tours at the Joint Special Operations Command in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, as the Operations Officer at Naval Special Warfare Group TWO in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict (ASD SO/LIC) in the Pentagon.

Matt served on the leadership team of an emerging technology company from 2017 to 2019, before assuming the role of CEO of The Honor Foundation.

Learn more about The Honor Foundation at www.Honor.org

Timestamps:

00:00:22 Introduction to Matt Stevens

00:02:00 26 Years in the Teams

00:03:25 DEVGRU and Seal Teams

00:04:36 The Hardest Part of BUD/S

00:06:16 Sponsor Note: Our Book Building The Elite

00:07:03 Toughest Moments of Matt Stevens' Career

00:09:32 Giving Bad News About Performance

00:11:12 Becoming a Good Leader

00:15:08 Becoming Better at Public Speaking

00:17:04 Transitioning Out of the Military

00:20:21 How Did Mentorship Affect Matt Stevens’ Career?

00:23:20 How Did the Honor Foundation Come About?

00:26:28 The Honor Foundation's Three-Phase Program

00:31:09 Impacting Veterans Lives

00:34:31 What a Special Operations Background Brings to the Table

00:37:23 Surviving in the Civilian World

00:40:31 Who is the Honor Foundation For?

00:41:45 Honor Foundation's Goals

00:45:19 Supporting the Honor Foundation

00:46:09 Advice for Special Operators Transitioning Out

00:49:00 One Book Everyone Should Read

00:49:43 Best and Worst Advice Ever Received

00:50:25 Outro

Rima is a medic in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and a tactical medicine instructor originally from the United States. She came to Ukraine as an NGO volunteer in 2022 and began medical studies in 2023 before enlisting in 2024. Now, she works on medical evacuations of soldiers from the frontlines and works in stabilization points where they receive casualties and stabilize their injuries for transport to the nearest hospital.

Before enlisting, she taught tactical medicine per TCCC standards at the International Center for Tactical Medicine in Ukraine. In her spare time, she writes about tactical medicine for a wider audience based on evolving needs and lessons learned on the ground in Ukraine.

More about Rima:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rimamedua

Send Rima and her team medical supplies: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3QM0WCUA0PBK2?ref_=wl_share

Or, snacks from home: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/390U40XEQSS4P?ref_=wl_share

Blue Yellow USA address for care packages:

C/O Blue Yellow USA NFP

PO box 641

Naperville, IL

60566

Timestamps:

Chris Brennan served for 15 years in the Australian Army, 11 of which were as an operator within the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR).

He fulfilled multiple team specialist roles, including as a JTAC and Tandem Bundle Master within a Freefall Assault Team, before progressing into leadership roles as a team 2IC and culminating his career as an SASR Team Leader.

Chris deployed on multiple occasions and spent two years as a specialist trainer and assessor in the SASR's selection and training squadron.

He assisted in the design and implementation of high-risk training for new members undergoing the SASR reinforcement cycle, as well as assisting in the delivery of team-leading packages to
those undergoing progression into tactical leadership functions.

Upon transitioning from the Australian Defence Force, Chris completed his Master of Business degree through the University of New South Wales, which provided academic backing to his lived experiences within the SASR.

As a result, Chris founded OMADA Performance Concepts, a high–performance team consultancy. Through OMADA, he now delivers specialised Team Development solutions, Team Leadership packages, and Instructor Development programs for critical response teams operating in high-risk environments.

More about Chris:

Website: www.omadapc.com.au

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/omada.performance.concepts/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-brennan-991215353/

Timestamps:

00:00:21 Introduction to Chris Brennan

00:01:41 Brennan’s Career in the Australian SAS

00:04:05 Unit Supporters' Success in the U.S.

00:05:39 Hardest Part of Selection

00:07:16 Testing Standards

00:09:17 Quick Note: Mental and Emotional Demands of Selection

00:10:14 Freefall Rules

00:11:19 Jumping Bundles

00:12:24 Working as an Instructor

00:13:21 What Makes a Student Stand Out in the Reinforcement Cycle?

00:14:51 Evaluating Attributes

00:21:24 Cultural Fit

00:24:44 Team Gear, My Gear, Me

00:25:25 Training Other Team Leaders

00:26:03 What Makes an Effective Team Leader?

00:31:02 Tom Satterly and the Hot Wash

00:35:55 Staying Focused on Things You Can Change

00:39:17 Founding Omada

00:44:40 Applying Previous Experiences

00:51:37 Future Plans for Omada

00:53:36 Working for Omada

00:54:06 One Book that Everyone Should Read

00:58:09 Best and Worst Advice Ever Received

00:59:48 Contact Chris Brennan

01:00:37 Outro