A lot of veterans leave the military knowing they can lead, solve problems, and operate under pressure, but not always knowing where those skills fit next.
That is the center of this conversation with Jon Powers.
This episode is not just a walk through one man’s resume. It is a look at how military experience can turn into energy leadership, and why that matters far beyond one career path. Jon talks through the road from Iraq to Washington, from Operation Free to CleanCapital, and how the national security case for energy became real to him long before it became a talking point.
What makes this one worth your time is that it stays grounded. Jon is not speaking in abstractions. He is talking about fuel convoys, solar on base, propane shortages, and the kind of practical energy problems that stop feeling theoretical the moment people’s lives depend on them. That is where the conversation gets its weight.
It also lines up cleanly with a core Project Vanguard idea: veterans are credible messengers in energy not because they have the slickest talking points, but because they have lived close to the consequences of bad systems and fragile infrastructure. Project Vanguard’s broader case is that veterans can help move the conversation past purity politics and toward energy security, workforce opportunity, and all-of-the-above realism. This episode gives that argument a real human spine.
A few threads run through the whole discussion:
how service can translate into leadership in a new industry
why energy becomes a national security issue long before it becomes a political one
where veterans may be underestimating how valuable their skills really are
The part I would not give away too cheaply is Jon’s advice to veterans looking at the industry now. It is simple, but it cuts against the hesitation a lot of people carry when they leave the military and try to picture themselves in finance, development, or leadership roles.
If you care about veteran transition, American energy, or how serious people actually build second careers with purpose, this one earns the listen.
Timestamps
00:00 - Introduction & Jon Powers
01:31 - Kevin Johnson and the Early Network
02:46 - Operation Free and John Warner
10:16 - From Pentagon to CleanCapital
15:37 - Why Jon Joined the Army
17:05 - Coming Home and Path to Movies
20:10 - Working With Iraqi Youth
22:56 - How Middle East War Shaped Their Energy View
25:14 - Advice for Veterans Entering Energy
29:49 - Veteran Networks and Honest Translation
Resources
People & Organizations
Jon Powers (LinkedIn)
Kevin Doffing (LinkedIn)
Truman National Security Project (Website)
Operation Free at Truman National Security Project (Website)
Company & Industry News
CleanCapital Secures $300M HoldCo Facility with Infranity (Website)
CleanCapital Acquires 64 Solar and Energy Storage Projects From Greenbacker (Website)
US clean power groups turn to longer deals to finance growth (Reuters)
Solar and storage accounted for 84% of new US power added in 2024, report says (Reuters)
Books & Articles Discussed
