Send us Fan Mail

Michael Sullivan is a retired U.S. Army Special Forces Colonel with 30 years of service, including 23 years as a Green Beret and the Executive Director at Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB).

A 1994 graduate of Claremont McKenna College, he led some of the military’s most elite special operations units and served in key command roles across Afghanistan, Lebanon, and Africa. Sully completed six combat tours in Afghanistan and commanded organizations including 3rd Special Forces Group, Special Operations Command Forward–Lebanon, and 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade. 

He is also a founding member of Team RWB’s Fayetteville Chapter and comes from a four-generation family legacy of military service.

-

Quick Episode Summary:

Exploring purpose, connection, legacy, and resilience in veterans’ post-service lives.

-

Podcast Chapters:

00:00 Intro

07:35 Military sense of purpose and community

10:58 Building a Veteran Fitness Community

15:40 Missing camaraderie and connection

17:51 Monday motor pool and team bonding

19:31 Dealing with loneliness and isolation

22:46 Family legacy of military service

27:00 Kids choosing West Point

31:00 Honoring sacrifices through action

35:17 Veteran wellness and fitness community

39:06 Importance of community connection

42:43 Joining Team RWB for support

-

🔥 Torch Takeaways Include:

• Leadership and Legacy
• Mission vs. Purpose
• Combating Isolation and Fostering Connection
• The Power of Ritual and Remembrance

-

Quotes to open episodes:

"You're not damaged. You're actually better prepared to handle some of the worst days ahead." 

“A leader must be what he wants the team to become.” – John Wooden

-

His Resources: 

• Website: https://teamrwb.org/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-s-985a8a2b/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sully_rwb/ 

Support the show

Connect with Passing The Torch: Facebook and IG: @torchmartin

More Amazing Stories:

Episode 41: Lee Ellis – Freeing You From Bond That Make You Insecure

Episode 81: Kurt Warner – Perseverance, Humility, and Lighting the Way 

Episode 90: Michelle 'MACE' Curran – How to Turn Fear into Fuel

------------

© 2026 TORCH LEAP®, LLC. All rights reserved.