The Military Veteran

What The Military Veteran does

The Military Veteran (TheMilVet) is a US-based retained executive search firm founded in 2022 and co-founded by Brendan Aronson and Tim Hsia, with Jim Lose serving as CEO. The firm specializes in placing elite military veteran executives into C-Suite, General Manager, Vice President, Business Development, Operations, and Finance roles at PE-backed platforms, VC-backed defense and dual-use technology companies, and high-growth operating businesses across aerospace, manufacturing, and services verticals. The Military Veteran has placed more than 100 veteran executives to date, with documented placements closing in under 60 days and a less-than-5% failure rate within the first 36 months in seat; flagship engagements include 40+ veteran placements across 8 portfolio companies for a top PE sponsor and 150+ hires at a PE-backed home services roll-up that scaled from $50M to $3B+ in enterprise value.

The firm's core technology is a curated veteran executive network combined with a bespoke, high-contact search methodology rather than a software platform. There is no proprietary AI/ML stack, no self-serve product, and no marketplace; engagements are quote-based retained searches delivered through a multi-stakeholder search committee process. Revenue is generated primarily through retained search fees, with secondary revenue from executive advisory and coaching engagements. Distribution runs through direct enterprise field sales supported by referral-driven introductions from the veteran network and capital partners, with flagship in-person events hosted at KKR's and JP Morgan Chase's New York headquarters serving as institutional-validated pipeline development.

The team consists of approximately 7-8 named senior contributors, including former executives from Korn Ferry, Aerotek, and Goldman Sachs alongside veteran operators with 50+ years of combined recruiting experience. The firm operates across San Francisco, Washington DC, the Florida Panhandle, Chicago, and New York, with a content ecosystem spanning a podcast (launched October 2022), TheMilVet Newsletter (launched February 2026), case studies, and live events. The Military Veteran has raised a single disclosed $50,000 round from Context Ventures (June 2022), indicating a low-burn, founder-financed operating model.

Name

The Military Veteran

Legal name

The Military Veteran

Website

https://themilvet.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Military Veteran (TheMilVet) is a US retained executive search firm placing elite military veterans into C-Suite, GM, and VP roles at PE-backed platforms, VC-backed defense and dual-use tech companies, and high-growth operating businesses, with 100+ placements to date and under-60-day average search timelines.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Search and Recruiting Services

NAICS

Employment Placement Agencies (561311), Executive Search Services (561312)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Functional Leadership Search (HR/Finance/Legal/Marketing/Sales/Ops) (BPACAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

General Permanent Placement (Multi-Industry) (BPACAFAA), Professional & Technical Direct Hire (IT, Engineering, Finance, Healthcare) (BPACAFAC), Financial Services Leadership Search (Banking/Insurance/PE/Asset Mgmt) (BPACAAAF)

Keywords

• Executive search services
• Veteran talent placement
• Retained executive recruiting
• PE-backed executive hiring
• Defense tech leadership recruiting

Headquarters

HQ city

Milton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Retained Executive Search: Primary revenue stream: retained executive search fees for placing veteran leaders into PE-backed platforms, VC-backed defense/dual-use companies, and high-growth operating businesses. One-time, project-based engagement per search.
2. Executive Advisory and Coaching: Secondary stream: executive advisory and coaching engagements for placed leaders and operator clients, provided by senior team members such as Nick Lodestro.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Military Veteran (TheMilVet) runs a retained executive search practice that places elite military veteran leaders into C-Suite, General Manager, Vice President, Business Development, Operations, and Finance roles at PE- and VC-backed companies, most often at $200,000-$500,000+ in total compensation. Layered on the recruiting engine are executive advisory/coaching and career mentorship services for placed leaders and candidates, supported by a content ecosystem (podcast, newsletter, events, case studies) that builds the candidate pipeline and community.

Product overview

The Military Veteran (TheMilVet) operates as a single integrated executive search and advisory firm rather than a multi-product software platform. Its core offering is a white-glove Executive Search service that places elite military veteran executives into C-Suite, General Manager, Vice President, Business Development, Operations, and Finance roles at PE- and VC-backed companies, supported by a structured 8-week process that typically closes in under 60 days. Layered on top of this core recruiting engine are the Executive Advisory / Coaching and Executive Career Mentorship offerings, which can be combined with recruiting engagements to de-risk and accelerate critical leadership hires. The firm also maintains a content ecosystem — the Military Veteran Podcast, the TheMilVet Newsletter, TheMilVet Live Events, a Case Studies Library, and Business Resources (hiring insights) — that feeds the funnel, builds the veteran leader community, and supplies thought leadership for both clients and candidates. An Open Positions / Careers portal serves as the public job board where candidates can view executive-level leadership opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Executive Search / Recruiting White-glove retained executive search placing elite military veteran executives into C-Suite (CEO, CFO, COO, CTO), General Manager, Vice President, Business Development Manager, Operations, and Finance roles at PE- and VC-backed companies. Most searches close in under 60 days from kickoff to signed offer, with a less than 5% failure rate in the first 24-36 months. Targeted at PE-backed platforms, VC-backed defense tech and dual-use companies, high-growth SaaS and tech businesses, aerospace and manufacturing firms, and multi-site services roll-ups.
• Executive Advisory / Coaching Executive-focused coaching and advisory for business owners, executives, and newly hired leaders, delivered by military veteran advisors with substantial business experience. Sessions cover live issues such as strategy, operations, team dynamics, market entry, growth, M&A integration, and board relationships, with options for individual sessions or ongoing engagements.
• Executive Career Mentorship Career mentorship supporting senior veterans making significant career moves, such as stepping into a first C-level role, joining a PE-backed platform, or moving into a new sector. Helps candidates evaluate opportunities, navigate sponsor and board relationships, and position their experience for high-growth environments.
• The Military Veteran Podcast A podcast featuring conversations with exceptional veteran leaders and civilian allies in business. Hosted by Brendan Aronson, Tim Hsia, and Beau Higgins, the podcast interviews CEOs, founders, investors, and transformation leaders who share real stories and practical insights. Available on Apple Podcasts.
• TheMilVet Newsletter A concise weekly email for both hiring leaders and veteran executives that delivers practical leadership and hiring insights, highlights of sectors with momentum, and updates on new podcast episodes, events, and featured resources.
• TheMilVet Live Events Networking events and workshops for veterans at various stages, from recent transition to seasoned executives. Includes in-person conferences, networking happy hours, and other gatherings hosted across multiple cities (e.g., NYC gathering co-hosted with KKR and JP Morgan Chase in July 2025, Chicago Veterans Networking Happy Hour planned for July 2026).
• Case Studies Library A collection of short case studies and practical hiring content built for PE and VC-backed leadership teams, documenting how veteran executives have helped companies scale, integrate acquisitions, and navigate complex markets.
• Open Positions / Careers Portal Job board hosting executive-level leadership opportunities for veteran candidates, with most roles at PE- and VC-backed companies typically in the $200,000 to $500,000+ total compensation range. Services are free for candidates.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100+ veteran executives placed
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered flagship.

• KKRflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2024KKR hosted Day 1 of The Military Veteran's NYC gathering on July 7-8 at KKR's global headquarters. The event convened veteran operators, founders, and capital partners, functioning as a flagship GTM and community-building partnership that signals institutional alignment.
• JP Morgan ChaseflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2024JP Morgan Chase hosted Day 2 of The Military Veteran's NYC gathering on July 7-8 and is referenced as a military veteran hiring advocate. The partnership lends institutional credibility and access to enterprise clients and veteran talent.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Orion Talent: Military-focused talent acquisition firm connecting veterans with civilian careers across defense, aerospace, and commercial employers. Comparable because it shares the veteran-candidate sourcing mission and works with similar enterprise clients, though it skews more toward technical and mid-career placements rather than C-suite retained search.
• RecruitMilitary: Veteran-focused recruiting and career fair organization serving transitioning service members and veterans. Comparable because it shares the veteran-employment mission and works with enterprise employers hiring veterans, but its primary model is job fairs and self-serve postings rather than retained executive search.
• Bradley-Morris: Veteran-focused recruiting firm (operating under Kforce) specializing in placing military-experienced candidates into civilian careers. Comparable because it shares the veteran-candidate sourcing mission and enterprise employer relationships, though it focuses on mid-career technical and managerial roles rather than C-suite retained search.

Broad incumbents

• Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search firm with deep PE and growth-company practices. Comparable because it recruits C-suite, GM, and VP-level leaders for PE-backed platforms and VC-backed companies, mirroring TheMilVet's target client segments across all candidate backgrounds.
• Egon Zehnder: Privately held global executive search and leadership advisory firm. Comparable because it serves PE-backed platforms and growth-stage companies on senior leadership hiring, overlapping with TheMilVet's retained search model and client base, though it is a generalist rather than veteran-focused.
• Korn Ferry: Global executive search and organizational consulting leader with a deep PE-backed platform practice. Comparable because it serves the same enterprise client base (PE sponsors and high-growth companies) for senior executive placements, but operates at vastly greater scale and across all industries rather than specializing in veterans.
• DHR International: Global executive search firm with a notable PE-backed and portfolio-company practice. Comparable because it places senior leaders into PE-backed platforms, the same primary client segment TheMilVet serves, but as a generalist firm without a veteran-talent specialization.
• Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm with strong PE and operating-company practices. Comparable because it places senior leaders into PE portfolio companies and high-growth businesses, the same client segments TheMilVet targets, but as a generalist firm without a military-veteran specialty.
• Spencer Stuart: Privately held global executive search firm with a strong board and CEO practice. Comparable because it places C-suite leaders into PE-backed and large operating companies — overlapping directly with TheMilVet's core placements — but lacks a veteran-specific specialization.

Emerging players

• Hire Heroes USA: Nonprofit veteran employment organization providing free job-search support to transitioning service members and spouses. Comparable as a veteran-employment ecosystem participant, though its model is nonprofit career counseling rather than retained executive search, making it an adjacent rather than directly competing peer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/81792448
• Facebookfacebook.com/The-Military-Veteran-103185905815618

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Military Veteran