WATM_Mighty 25

Doug Doan Doug Doan has built his career betting on grit. A West Point graduate and former Army intelligence officer who served during the Cold War and at the White House under Reagan, he later turned to venture capital with a singular mission: to back veteran-founded startups. Over waffles after an Army–Navy loss, he launched Hivers and Strivers, now an $80 million fund behind companies like Black Rifle Coffee. For Doan, investing in veterans isn’t charity–it’s smart business. “They’ve led through uncertainty,” he says. “That’s exactly what it takes to win.”

Dan Sylvester Army veteran Dan Sylvester went from soldier to lawyer to leader of one of the nation’s most impactful veteran legal networks. After finishing law school at 44, he joined Holland & Knight and inherited its small veterans group as a first-year associate. Under his leadership, it grew into a 250-member team across 34 offices, delivering $4 million annually in pro bono services to military families. From disability claims to supporting veteran entrepreneurs, Sylvester’s team fills critical gaps. “Being mighty,” he says, “is doing more than you realize you are capable of.”

Thom Tran For Thom Tran, comedy became survival. The son of a South Vietnamese pilot and POW escapee, Tran enlisted young, dreaming of broadcast work like Robin Williams in Good Morning Vietnam. Instead, a bullet to the head in Iraq ended his Army career, leaving him wounded and grieving. Medically discharged, he struggled–until he stumbled into stand-up. Laughter became therapy, first for himself, then for audiences. “I’m not in the Army anymore,” he says. “But I still take care of Joes–with a microphone.”

This year’s class of the Mighty 25 proves that the most powerful force in the military community isn’t just strength–it’s story. From comedy stages to CNN anchors’ desks, from film sets to TikTok feeds to museums, these leaders are harnessing the art of storytelling to honor service, preserve history, and inspire change. Some ensure that the legacy of women veterans and World War II trailblazers is never forgotten. Others give voice to the everyday challenges of military families, spotlighting struggles with child care, employment, and reintegration. A few use humor to break through barriers, helping millions of followers connect with topics like resilience, benefits, and mental health. And some bring stories to life on the silver screen, ensuring the sacrifices of service members reach audiences far beyond the military world. What unites them is a shared commitment: using their platforms–whether on stage, in uniform, or behind the camera–to make sure military and military family voices are heard and honored. In telling these stories, they remind us of a deeper truth: service doesn’t end with a discharge or retirement. For these Mighty 25, service continues every time a story is told, remembered, and shared.

Storytelling and Service

Austin Carrigg When military spouse Austin Carrigg’s children faced complex medical challenges, the Army’s Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) upended her family’s path–reassignments, relocations, endless battles for care. Rather than accept a broken system, she fought back. After testifying before Congress in 2020, she launched Exceptional Families of the Military in 2021. What began as a Facebook group is now a 15,000-member nonprofit driving legislative wins, offering peer support, and providing microgrants for families in crisis. “No one should have to choose between therapy travel and groceries,” Carrigg says.

Betty Diaz For Betty Diaz, supporting veterans became personal the day her cousin’s vehicle hit an IED in Iraq. He survived–blind, burned, and an amputee–but his resilience changed her life. “Whenever I feel down, I call him,” she says. “He lifts me up.” Diaz channeled that inspiration into action, first volunteering with NBC’s Veterans Network, then helping to build similar programs at CBS and Paramount that opened doors for service members in media. “I didn’t promise jobs,” she says. “I promised opportunities.” Today, she continues to champion veterans exploring creative careers.

Maj. James Capers Maj. James Capers never questioned his calling to the Marine Corps. In Vietnam, he led reconnaissance teams through brutal firefights, surviving 19 gunshot wounds, two broken legs, and spending more than a year in recovery. He earned three Purple Hearts, the Silver Star, and two Bronze Stars for valor. Later, as the first Black Marine on a national recruiting poster, he inspired thousands to serve. “I was proud to serve the greatest country in the world,” he says.

Troy Campbell & Travis Ellis – Shepherd’s Men When Marine Troy Campbell met businessman Travis Ellis through a local leadership program, a friendship quickly grew into a mission. After visiting the Shepherd Center’s SHARE program for veterans with brain injuries and PTSD, they launched Shepherd’s Men, blending endurance runs with advocacy to raise awareness and funds. Since 2014, the all-volunteer group has raised more than $12.5 million and, more importantly, shattered stigma around mental health care. “Meeting Troy was part of a divine plan,” Ellis says. “Shepherd’s Men gave me a way to serve.”

Tyler Vargas-Andrews Marine veteran Tyler Vargas-Andrews refuses to be defined by tragedy. Gravely wounded in the Abbey Gate bombing during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, he has endured countless surgeries and an exhausting recovery. But ask him about his service, and he’ll tell you the same thing every time: becoming a Marine was the best decision he ever made. He shares his story not for sympathy but for impact, insisting he is “never a victim.” Through honesty and grit, Vargas-Andrews uses his voice to remind the nation what sacrifice, resilience, and true strength really look like.

Krista Simpson Anderson Nothing could have prepared Krista Simpson Anderson for the day she became a Gold Star Spouse. In 2013, just 20 days into her husband Staff Sgt. Michael Simpson’s deployment to Afghanistan, he was critically injured by an IED. Suddenly, Krista was a widow with two young sons, navigating a grief no checklist could soften. What carried her through was the military community that wrapped around her, showing up like family. Inspired by that support, she founded The Unquiet Professional, a nonprofit that walks alongside others through loss and carries forward her husband’s legacy of service. “It’s about making sure no one has to walk this path alone,” she says.

Maria Reed For Maria Reed, military life came with challenges that sparked unexpected inspiration. A self-described “Army spouse tired of uninspired base housing,” she turned frustration into creativity. In 2016, Reed launched Moving With the Military, a home makeover show dedicated to transforming not just spaces, but the lives of the families who live in them. Nearly a decade later, she and her team have completed more than 80 makeovers, each one a blend of design, community, and heart. Now also a “military mom,” Reed sees her mission as bigger than décor. “It’s service. It’s connection. It’s reminding families they’re never alone,” she says.

Benjamin Mack-Jackson At just 23-years-old, Benjamin Mack-Jackson has already spent nearly half his life preserving the voices of America’s World War II veterans. What began when he was 13–armed with just an iPhone and a passion for history–grew into a nonprofit dedicated to recording the stories of WWII service members before time silences them. To date, he has captured more than 300 conversations, weaving together lessons on resilience, sacrifice, and the meaning of service. For Mack-Jackson, it’s more than history–it’s a living legacy. “These stories aren’t just about the past,” he says. “They’re about who we become in the future.”

Phyllis Wilson Phyllis Wilson spent 37 years in the Army, rising to Chief Warrant Officer 5, before discovering a mission that would define her next chapter. In 2013, she came across the Women’s Military Memorial–the nation’s only major tribute to the more than 3 million women who have worn the uniform. The experience moved her deeply, and she soon took on the role of president. Under her leadership, the memorial has grown into a living archive of women’s service, preserving their stories for generations. “For too long, women’s contributions were overlooked,” Wilson says. “Now, their families can see their legacy honored in stone and story.”

Ginger Miller For Ginger Miller, service didn’t end when she left the Navy–it took on a new form. After a medical discharge, she found herself homeless while caring for a young family, navigating a transition to civilian life with little support. That struggle became the foundation of her mission. In 2011, Miller founded the Women Veterans Interactive Foundation, creating programs in financial literacy and workforce development specifically for women veterans. Since then, she has helped thousands rebuild their lives. Her advocacy has earned national recognition, including a presidential appointment to the USO Board of Governors. “I lived the struggle,” Miller says. “Now, I want to make sure others don’t have to face it alone.”

Edna Cummings Edna Cummings has spent her life breaking barriers and preserving history. One of the first women–and the first Black woman–to join Appalachian State’s ROTC program, she went on to a 25-year Army career, including helping to establish U.S. Northern Command. But it’s her work since retirement that has amplified her legacy. Cummings has dedicated herself to ensuring the story of the Six Triple Eight–an all-Black, all-women battalion that kept wartime mail flowing during World War II–is never forgotten. Through monuments, documentaries, and tireless advocacy, she has elevated their contributions into the public eye. “Their story is our story,” she says. “And it deserves to be told.”

Besa Pinchotti & Raleigh Smith Duttweiler Besa Pinchotti and Raleigh Smith Duttweiler are proof that two perspectives can be stronger than one. Since 2018, they’ve led the National Military Family Association together. Their partnership and friendship thrives on trust and candor–even disagreement–turning different viewpoints into better solutions. Under their leadership, the organization has strengthened support systems, championed urgent needs, and launched programs that save lives. “We’re at our best because we face it together,” they say. And for the families they serve, that teamwork makes all the difference.

Rosemary Williams Rosemary Williams became a military spouse later in life, but once she stepped into that world, she committed herself fully to serving it. During her husband’s deployment, she saw the challenges young families faced and decided to act. A former Emmy-winning journalist, Williams brought her storytelling skills to military family advocacy. She held senior roles at the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense. She represented military families at the White House and helped shape programs that improved lives nationwide. Today, through her work at Deloitte and in nonprofit leadership, she continues to amplify the voices of veterans and spouses. “Every family deserves to feel seen and supported,” she says.

Lloyd Knight For retired Air Force First Sergeant Lloyd Knight, service didn’t end with his uniform. At UPS, where he leads Veteran Talent Acquisition Strategy, Knight has been instrumental in hiring and supporting more than 19,000 veterans. He also co-founded VETLANTA, a 14,000-member networking community, and launched UPS’ Veterans Business Resource Group. His focus is simple but profound: open doors, create opportunities, and help veterans translate their skills into civilian success. “Military service builds leaders,” he says. “My job is to make sure the world sees that.” For Knight, being mighty means making a difference–one veteran at a time.

General Remo Butler Brigadier General Remo Butler made history as the first Black Special Forces general, a milestone built on decades of resilience and determination. Growing up in a military family in Mississippi, Butler joined ROTC as a practical decision–yet it launched him into one of the Army’s toughest paths. He completed Special Forces qualification in 1977 and spent his career taking on challenges few embraced. Along the way, he confronted systemic barriers and became a mentor for others, highlighting disparities in promotion opportunities for Black officers. Now retired, he continues to share his story, inspiring future generations with lessons in leadership, grit, and breaking barriers. “If I could do it,” he says, “so can you.”

Scott Ruskan Rescue swimmers live by the motto: “So others may live.” For 26-year-old Coast Guard swimmer Scott Ruskan, those words became real during his very first mission–helping save 165 people during the July 4 floods in Texas. “I just did my best to make them feel safe,” Ruskan recalled, reflecting on the campers he triaged and comforted. A former lifeguard and accountant, he found his calling in the Coast Guard, embracing the grit and teamwork it takes to save lives in the most dangerous conditions.

J.J. Montanaro For J.J. Montanaro, service and support are deeply intertwined. Inspired by his father, a Naval aviator, he attended West Point and went on to serve six years on active duty and 14 in the Army Reserve. Afterward, he discovered his true passion: helping people secure their financial futures. As a financial planner, Montanaro has guided service members through life’s financial challenges, from career transitions to long-term planning. Montanaro’s role has evolved from hands-on financial planning to serving within USAA’s military advocacy group. In that capacity, he works on initiatives to improve financial readiness, develop career transition programs, and partner with nonprofits serving the military community. “These are my people,” he says. “Supporting them is how I continue to serve.”

Thomas Schenk & Gary Landerfelt In 2005, on an Atlanta airport ramp, Delta employee Thomas Schenk witnessed a Marine saluting a fallen comrade’s casket–alone. Moved by the moment, Schenk, a 20-year Navy veteran called his friend Gary Landerfelt, a longtime ramp agent, and founded the Delta Honor Guard to ensure no fallen hero ever traveled home without dignity and respect. Nearly 20 years later, the group has honored more than 10,500 fallen service members and first responders at airports across the country.

Michael Schindler For Navy veteran Michael Schindler, transition isn’t just a career phase–it’s a mission. As founder of Operation Military Family, he has spent more than a decade helping service members and their loved ones navigate life after the military. His programs, which have served over 10,000 families, blend practical tools with emotional guidance, helping people rediscover purpose, rebuild relationships, and heal together. “Somebody that shines in other people’s lives and uplifts someone else–that is mighty to me,” Schindler says. His work ensures families thrive long after service.

Brianna Keilar When CNN anchor Brianna Keilar’s husband, Army officer Fernando Luján, deployed during her pregnancy, she leaned on the military spouse community in ways she hadn’t expected. “Supplementing my existing support system with a military one made such a difference,” she says. That personal experience reshaped her professional mission. Through CNN’s Home Front, Keilar has spotlighted military family stories, tackling challenges from childcare shortages to spouse employment. For her, journalism is both responsibility and privilege–a way to shine light on the extraordinary lives of everyday service members and families.

Johnny Vargas It’s safe to say Army Sergeant First Class Johnny Vargas has gone viral. What started as lighthearted TikTok videos now reaches more than 30 million people a month. He targets reaching service members and veterans, combining humorous videos with informative guidance on benefits and mental health resources. “Humor brings people in, but once they’re here, I can use that platform for good. That’s what it’s all about,” he says. Now in his twelfth year of service, Vargas balances active duty with graduate studies and advocacy–preparing for a future in counseling to ensure veterans and families have support where it’s needed most.

Alex Garland & Ray Mendoza Filmmakers Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza share a mission: telling authentic military stories on the silver screen. Garland, known for his meticulous storytelling, and Mendoza, a former Navy SEAL and Iraq War veteran, worked together on Civil War and more recently, Warfare, depicting the events of an attack Mendoza survived in 2006. For Garland and Mendoza, getting these stories “right” is paramount. From the accuracy of the set to Mendoza’s firsthand experience, authenticity is everything. “I have one opportunity to tell it right, to get it right, and to honor the people who were there,” shared Mendoza.

Presented by