Kyle served as a U.S. Navy submariner, operating nuclear reactors in the tightest, highest-pressure environments imaginable. But when he left the military, he faced the same wall many veterans hit: a résumé no one knew what to do with.
Here’s why Kyle’s story matters in under 60 seconds:
The nuclear sector was shrinking. He didn’t have a college degree. And his transition program didn’t exactly set him up to land on his feet.
So he started two steps down, supervising high-voltage contractors, studying specs at night, and building spreadsheets no one asked for but everyone eventually relied on.
Today, Kyle runs multiple solar and battery sites across Texas. He works with rural counties, hires local talent, and gives school tours through solar farms so students see what’s possible right where they live.
I’ve said it before: If you don’t understand the ground game, you won’t get anything built. Kyle doesn’t just understand it, he’s earned the trust to lead it.
In this episode of the Project Vanguard Podcast, Kyle and I cover:
00:00 – Intro to Kyle’s background: Navy submariner to Texas solar lead
02:04 – Why Kyle joined the military
03:50 – Becoming a Navy nuclear operator
05:55 – Misconceptions about nuclear power and waste
08:45 – Why Kyle left nuclear and shifted toward renewables
10:50 – Landing his first job post-Navy (Acciona and the control center)
13:45 – Transitioning to high-voltage solar fieldwork without prior experience
17:30 – Using spreadsheets to break into solar operations
18:55 – Going back to school and discovering a passion for business ops
20:10 – Moving to Houston to run solar farms
21:45 – Community engagement and solar’s impact on rural Texas
23:30 – Local government disconnect and policy friction
24:50 – Hosting school tours and sparking interest in solar
27:35 – Agrivoltaics: sheep, land management, and challenges
32:45 – The big picture: renewables, national security, and energy mix
35:50 – Advice for veterans entering clean energy
36:25 – Kyle’s leadership with Project Vanguard in Houston
From Pittsburgh to Powering Texas
Kyle grew up in post-industrial Pittsburgh with few options. The Navy gave him a path. Clean energy gave him a mission.
He’s worked across the energy stack (nuclear, high voltage, solar, battery storage) and every time, he found a way to contribute even without a clear roadmap.
“I didn’t know what a high-voltage substation was. But I figured out how to add value anyway.”
Now he’s not just managing megawatts. He’s shaping how clean energy is perceived in Texas, one rural county at a time.
Solar, Sheep, and Rural Trust
The conversation around renewables gets louder every week. But Kyle’s not interested in headlines. He’s focused on what’s happening on the ground.
‘These projects are going into rural counties that have been left behind. Not just economically, but physically. Oil pulled out. No one came back. But we’re here.’
He hires local contractors. Buys lunch from local shops. Partners with junior colleges. Hosts school tours. Runs sheep on his sites to keep the land productive.
“When the lease is up, that land will be the most fertile soil in the county.”
That’s not just energy. That’s stewardship.
The Veteran Blueprint
Kyle’s story is exactly why we built Project Vanguard.
He didn’t start with a college degree. He started with discipline, mission-focus, and the willingness to take a step back so he could build forward.
‘I’m not special. Any vet can do this. Just get your foot in the door. Prove yourself. The rest follows.’
And now? Kyle’s not just running solar sites. He’s leading our Houston chapter, helping other veterans break into the industry, especially those who are underemployed or overlooked.
And if Kyle’s story hit home, send it to someone who needs to hear it.
This isn’t just about clean energy.
It’s about service, self-reliance, and building American energy from the ground up.
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