Matt Maasdam is a Navy SEAL veteran, business leader, and Democratic candidate for Congress from Michigan. A graduate of the University of Michigan, Matt served over 20 years in the U.S. Navy, deploying to Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa, and the Pacific, and working in some of the world’s most challenging environments. His military career included serving as the lead instructor for Hell Week at SEAL training and being selected as a Military Aide to President Barack Obama.

After leaving active duty, Matt transitioned to the private sector, holding leadership roles at Under Armour and founding two e-commerce businesses. He brings hands-on experience in team building, job creation, and supporting working families. Matt lives in mid-Michigan with his wife, Laura, a fellow Navy veteran, their two sons, and their cat, Captain America. Guided by service, integrity, and teamwork, he is running for Congress to deliver practical solutions and unite communities.

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Kaj Larsen is a former U.S. Navy SEAL turned journalist, filmmaker, and podcast host. After serving with Naval Special Warfare, he transitioned into frontline reporting, covering conflict zones and global security issues for outlets including VICE News, HBO, and National Geographic. Known for his grounded, no-nonsense storytelling, Larsen brings an operator’s perspective to modern warfare, geopolitics, and leadership. He is the host of the Bravo Two Zero podcast, where he explores war, culture, and the human cost of conflict through candid conversations with veterans, journalists, and subject-matter experts.

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Dave Berke is a retired US Marine Corps Officer, TOPGUN Instructor, and now a leadership instructor and speaker with Echelon Front, where he serves as Chief Development Officer. As a F/A-18 pilot, he deployed twice from the USS John C Stennis in support of combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. He spent three years as an Instructor Pilot at TOPGUN where he served as the Training Officer, the senior staff pilot responsible for the conduct of the TOPGUN course. 

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Melissa Comeau is a Marine Corps spouse, director of the American Red Cross’ Military Veteran Caregiver Network, and a writer. She is known for her book “Sleeping with the War,” published in 2015 by the War Writers’ Campaign. The book offers a family and caregiver perspective on life after combat. She served as an Arizona Fellow for the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and in that role was honored to help bring to fruition the Hidden Heroes Congressional Caucus for Military and Veteran Caregivers. She is a recognized advocate for the military and veteran community and continues to support caregivers in her current role with the American Red Cross’ Military Veteran Caregiver Network. Before joining the network, Melissa served as the executive director of Lives of Promise, a San Diego-based nonprofit that supports military families facing a PTSD diagnosis. She has also offered peer support to Marines and their families at the Wounded Warrior Battalion – West. Melissa has a background in accounting and IT project management. She lives in Texas and is married to a U.S. Marine who was medically retired after nearly 13 years of service, including four combat deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan.

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Happy Thanksgiving to all!

-The SOFREP Team

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Anthony Vinci, PhD, is a technology and national-security executive, entrepreneur, and former U.S. intelligence official. He earned his doctorate in International Relations from the London School of Economics, after earlier studies in philosophy at Reed College and the University of Oxford. Vinci served as an intelligence officer in multiple global theaters before being appointed the first Chief Technology Officer and Associate Director for Capabilities at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, where he led major initiatives in artificial intelligence, geospatial intelligence modernization, and public-private technology partnerships. In the private sector, he has founded and led technology companies focused on geospatial analytics and artificial intelligence, and has held senior roles at major firms including Bridgewater Associates. He continues to work at the intersection of emerging technology and national security and serves as an adjunct senior fellow with leading national-security research organizations.

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Benjamin “Ben” Goldhagen is a human rights advocate and war documentarian whose work centers on exposing the human cost of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and countering disinformation surrounding the conflict. The son of a Holocaust survivor, he frames his advocacy through a moral and historical lens that emphasizes the dangers of unchecked brutality and “eliminationist” violence. After the full-scale invasion began, Goldhagen embedded himself in Ukraine, documenting frontline realities, displacement, and civilian resilience while supporting Ukrainian communities through strategic guidance and storytelling. His films—To The Zero Line and The Steel Porcupine—spotlight the lived experiences of Ukrainians and argue that meaningful international support, including modern weaponry, is both a humanitarian and moral imperative. Through his fieldwork, writing, and documentary projects, he seeks to preserve truth, confront disinformation, and amplify the voices of those living through the war.

Thanks again to our sponsor Navy Federal Credit Union! Find out more here: https://navyfederal.org/veterans

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Thom Geiser is a retired U.S. Air Force veteran who now serves as an Armed Services Advisor for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Drawing on decades of experience—including flying C-130s, working in special operations, and serving in international advisory roles—he helps connect military practitioners with humanitarian law and principles. In his role at the ICRC, he engages with armed forces around the world to promote the protection of civilians, improve understanding of the laws of armed conflict, and support the integration of humanitarian considerations into military planning and operations.

Thank you to our sponsor NFCU, and a Happy Veterans Day to All!

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Mike Hayes is a former U.S. Navy SEAL officer who served 20 years in Special Operations. A graduate of one of the toughest SEAL training classes—one of only 19 out of 120 to complete—he deployed throughout South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia, including in Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Hayes commanded SEAL Team TWO and led a 2,000-person Special Operations Task Force in southeastern Afghanistan. He also served as Deputy Commander for all Special Operations in Anbar Province, Iraq, and was selected as a White House Fellow (’08–’09). At the National Security Council, he served as Director for Defense Policy and Strategy, where he helped draft a proposed START Treaty and led the White House response to the Maersk Alabama hijacking. His decorations include the Bronze Star for Valor in Iraq, a Bronze Star for Afghanistan, and the Defense Superior Service Medal. After retiring from the Navy, Hayes transitioned to senior leadership roles in technology and investment, and authored Never Enough: A Navy SEAL Commander on Living a Life of Excellence, Agility, and Meaning, donating all profits to support Gold Star families. He lives with his wife, Anita, and their daughter, Maeson, and most enjoys spending time and laughing with them when not mentoring others or speaking about leadership.

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Teagan Broadwater is a former law-enforcement officer, author, entrepreneur, and multi-disciplinary creator whose work spans undercover operations, music, podcasting, and philanthropy. He served as an undercover officer with the Fort Worth Police Department, where his assignments included multiple narcotics units, the gang unit, and an FBI Gang & Violent Crimes Task Force. During his career, he led a deep undercover operation in a six-street neighborhood nicknamed “The Fishbowl,” where he posed as a high-end cocaine trafficker to infiltrate a violent gang. That work resulted in dozens of arrests, major seizures, and recognition by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and his department. After leaving the police department, Broadwater founded a security and investigations firm, authored the memoir Life in the Fish Bowl, and launched creative ventures focused on community healing, systemic justice, and empowerment. Today, he continues to contribute through public speaking, podcasting, and music, while supporting charitable initiatives for youth, veterans, and underserved communities.

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Unseen Warrior offers mental health professionals a comprehensive guide to providing clinical services for military personnel and veterans. Drawing on the authors’ more than 50 years of cumulative military service and 35 years of clinical expertise, this book bridges the cultural divide that often exists between military and civilian life. Key insights into values, experiences, and challenges that are important in applying effective therapeutic strategies are presented. With practical tools and a step-by-step field manual, Unseen Warrior empowers you to deliver culturally competent, impactful mental health care to the men and women who have served. Jessica Behne Jessica Behne (Major, USMCR) is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Marine Corps veteran with over thirteen years of service. She holds degrees in Social Work and Marriage and Family Therapy and is pursuing a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision. Jessica teaches graduate-level counseling courses, supervises clinicians working with military populations, and operates a telehealth practice serving veterans and their families. Her research and clinical work focus on the cognitive effects of military training and trauma. Sam Zasadny Sam Zasadny is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and psychologist-in-training. A former helicopter pilot and aviation instructor, he served in multiple deployments before transitioning to the U.S. Navy Medical Service Corps to become a Navy psychologist. Sam holds advanced degrees in international policy and psychology and is completing his Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) at Wheaton College. His professional interests center on mental health, resilience, and the intersection of military service and psychological well-being.

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