⚓ Veteran Story — Dr. Trunnis Goggins II | United States Navy Veteran
What happens when military service doesn't just change what you do—but completely changes the direction of your life?
On this episode of The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices, AJ Cox sits down with Navy veteran Dr. Trunnis Goggins II for a conversation about service, education, transition, purpose, and what it means to take the lessons learned in uniform and continue putting them to work long after leaving the military.
Growing up in Buffalo, New York, Trunnis didn't follow the traditional path of graduating high school and immediately joining the military. He entered later in life after realizing he needed direction—and what he found in the United States Navy would ultimately change his future.
Trunnis served approximately 13 years between active duty and the Navy Reserve, including time as a Navy recruiter and Recruiter in Charge as a Petty Officer Second Class.
But one of the most powerful moments in his story came from a Navy Chief who challenged him with some words he didn't particularly want to hear.
Trunnis had the opportunity to receive an education through his military benefits—and wasn't taking advantage of it.
That challenge lit a fire.
At 33 years old, Trunnis enrolled in college.
Within two years, he earned his bachelor's degree.
Two years later, his master's degree.
And within nine years of beginning that journey, he had earned his Ph.D. in Strategic Planning.
The first person he called after earning his doctorate?
The Chief who challenged him to go back to school.
His story didn't stop there.
Dr. Goggins went on to become a college professor, author, educator, and advocate, taking what he learned through his own experiences and using it to help others find direction in their lives.
During the conversation, Trunnis and AJ dig into something many veterans understand all too well: the transition from military service back into civilian life.
Even with an advanced education, a home, and a job waiting for him, Trunnis remembers leaving active duty and feeling lost.
And the sense of identity and purpose that came with military service suddenly looked very different.
That experience became part of the inspiration behind his work.
📚 Trunnis discusses his book The Four P's of You, built around four principles:
Purpose. Planning. Passion. Persistence.
He also talks about his work documenting the experiences of veterans transitioning from military to civilian life and using those lessons as a resource for others preparing to make that same journey.
Today, that mission has expanded even further.
Dr. Goggins works with veterans, Veterans Treatment Court programs, and correctional institutions, teaching principles designed to help people rebuild structure, establish purpose, and successfully transition into the next chapter of their lives.
This episode is about much more than one man's Navy career.
It's about what happens when someone challenges you to become better.
It's about finding purpose when the identity you've known suddenly changes.
And it's about taking the opportunities military service provides and using them to continue serving others.
Founder & Executive Director
The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices
⚓ Guest: Dr. Trunnis Goggins II
United States Navy Veteran | Educator | Author
Every veteran's journey is different—and sometimes the most important part of the story is what they build because of their service.
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