Soldier Pulse

A weekly podcast featuring analysis of issues critical to Soldiers with experts currently serving in and retired from the U.S. Army.

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“Swiss Army Knives”: Why Veterans Make Great Founders

Soldier Pulse
Porter Smith and Rebecca Patterson
June 4, 2026

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Episode Notes:

Rebecca sits down with Porter Smith, an Army veteran and former pilot who traded an elite aviation career for the unexplored world of startups and defense tech. Porter walks through his path from Harvard Law and venture capital to founding his own company. During this conversation, he argues that veterans consistently misprice risk, explaining why a startup may be the smartest move you're not considering.

Image: Carly Feliciano via DVIDS