Oct 31, 2025 · 2h 6m
🔥 From Navy SEAL to Tech Founder: Helping Veterans Find Their Next Mission 🎙️ The Veterans Who Build Show: Episode 43 📅 Releases October 31! Jeff Gibson served 20 years in the Navy — 10 on Active Duty as a Diving Officer and SEAL, assigned to SEAL Team One and SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team Two, and another 10 as a Reservist. After serving, Jeff turned his focus to helping the 200,000 veterans who transition from the military every year. Today, he’s the Founder and COO of Oplign, a veteran-owned SaaS platform that uses AI to match veterans with employers by translating their military experience into civilian opportunity. From the battlefield to business innovation, Jeff’s mission is the same — helping veterans find where they belong next. 🎖️ Guest: Jeff Gibson U.S. Navy SEAL (Ret.) Founder & COO, Oplign ➡︎ The VWB show is sponsored by: https://jet.build/ Mentions in This Video Jeff's Info: ➡︎ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gibsonjeff/ ➡︎ Business: https://oplign.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLijVm0yNy8 Subscribe To Our Podcast Here ➡︎ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKONY1n1qysTx2RiBiwj28QzLc8gI2oui ➡︎ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2ZizGddgHgKA4oimoLkNRc?si=cd7c0afd6b064292 ➡︎ Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3Vt3rCE ➡︎ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vwbshow/ ➡︎ X: https://twitter.com/TheVWBShow ➡︎ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamstark512/ ➡︎ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/veterans-who-build ➡︎ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/veteranswhobuild/ The Veterans Who Build Show ➡︎ At VWB, we are on a mission to provide a platform for Veterans to share their story, empower others for success, transition from Military to civilian to profession, chat translatable skills, professional and personal wins, and all things Built Environment The VWB Show Sponsors ➡︎ The VWB show is sponsored by @jetbuild ➡︎ Find more information on Jet.Build, here: www.jet.build ➡︎ Jet.Build is THE central command for RE development and construction project management software. Solutions range from project finance to stakeholder collaboration, construction operations, and data reporting with AI. Jet.Build is the better way to build Timecodes Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 03:25 Bridging the Civilian-Military Gap 06:13 Jeff's Military Journey Begins 07:01 Childhood and Early Influences 12:12 Discovering the ROTC Path 15:51 Transitioning to Navy Dive School 19:57 Life on the USS Sunbird 30:41 Desire to Join the SEALs 34:36 The Application Process for SEAL Training 36:36 Navigating Career Decisions in the Navy 38:41 The Journey to SEAL Training 42:15 Experiencing the Phases of SEAL Training 53:36 Mindset and Endurance in Training 54:36 Transitioning to SEAL Team Operations 01:07:43 The Dynamics of Trust in Military Operations 01:09:03 First Deployment Experiences and Cultural Interactions 01:12:00 Transitioning Between SEAL Teams 01:13:27 The Role of Submersibles in SEAL Operations 01:19:15 Reflections on Military Service and Life Choices 01:20:41 Deciding to Leave Active Duty 01:24:36 Navigating the Transition to Civilian Life 01:29:58 Pursuing Education and Career Opportunities 01:32:05 The Impact of 9/11 on Career Choices 01:35:36 Experiences in Defense Contracting 01:37:49 Life in North Carolina and Global Travels 01:39:55 Transitioning from Military to Civilian Life 01:42:06 Hindsight Advice for Veterans 01:44:08 The Birth of Opline 01:46:09 Innovating the Labor Market for Veterans 01:52:49 Translating Military Skills to Civilian Professions 02:01:05 Entrepreneurship Insights and Challenges 02:02:39 Wellness Practices and Recommendations 02:04:23 Book Recommendations and Closing Thoughts 02:06:03 Jet.Build Sponsor #veteranswhobuild #realestatedevelopment #construction #aec #cre #veterans