From Army Ranger to The Apprentice Winner | Kelly Perdew

<p>How does a West Point graduate and Army Ranger go from military service to winning <em>The Apprentice</em> and building one of the most successful veteran-focused venture capital firms in America?</p> <p>In this episode of Combat Story, AJ Pasciuti sits down with <strong><span class="whitespace-normal">Kelly Perdew</span></strong> to discuss leadership, service, entrepreneurship, and the lessons that carried him from the U.S. Army to the national spotlight and beyond.</p> <p>Kelly shares his journey through West Point, Army Intelligence, and Ranger School before discussing the experience of competing on—and ultimately winning—Season 2 of <em>The Apprentice</em>. He reflects on the leadership lessons he learned in uniform, how military experience shaped his approach to business, and why veterans often possess unique advantages as entrepreneurs and leaders.</p> <p>The conversation also explores startup failures, venture capital, the founding of Moonshots Capital, and the importance of backing mission-driven founders who can thrive in uncertain environments.</p> <p>Throughout the discussion, Kelly offers practical insights on leadership, resilience, accountability, and what it takes to build successful teams both inside and outside the military.</p> <p>In this episode, we discuss:</p> <ul> <li> West Point and Army leadership development</li> <li> Ranger School and lessons in perseverance</li> <li> Winning <em>The Apprentice</em> Season 2</li> <li> Transitioning from military service to business</li> <li> Entrepreneurship, startups, and failure</li> <li> Building Moonshots Capital</li> <li> Investing in veteran-led companies</li> <li> Leadership under pressure</li> <li>The value veterans bring to the private sector</li> <li> Creating impact after military service</li> </ul> <p>Whether you're a veteran navigating transition, an entrepreneur building a company, or simply interested in leadership and personal growth, Kelly's story offers valuable lessons from both the military and business worlds.</p> <p>Chapters</p> <p>00:00 Leadership Wins Everywhere<br /> 01:12 Meet Kelly Perdew: West Point, Ranger & Apprentice Winner<br /> 06:22 Why Military Leadership Translates to Business<br /> 12:54 Choosing West Point and the Path to Service<br /> 23:23 Ranger School and Learning to Embrace Hardship<br /> 29:56 UCLA, Entrepreneurship & Building His First Startup<br /> 48:10 Inside The Apprentice: How Kelly Won Season 2<br /> 58:39 From Reality TV to Venture Capital<br /> 1:05:42 The ID.me Story and Betting on Veteran Founders<br /> 1:18:23 Building Moonshots Capital<br /> 1:30:29 Why Veterans Make Exceptional Entrepreneurs<br /> 1:35:46 Transitioning Out of the Military Successfully<br /> 1:41:14 Leadership, Service & Leaving a Legacy<br /> 1:45:56 Final Advice for Veterans and Founders</p> <hr /> <p>🎙️ Guest — Kelly Perdew</p> <p>West Point graduate, Army Ranger, entrepreneur, author, winner of *The Apprentice* Season 2, and co-founder of Moonshots Capital. Kelly has spent his career leading teams in the military, building and scaling companies, investing in founders, and helping veterans successfully transition into business and entrepreneurship.</p> <p>📸 Instagram:<br /> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kellyperdew">https://www.instagram.com/kellyperdew</a></p> <p><br /> 💼 LinkedIn:<br /> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyperdew">https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyperdew</a></p> <p>𝕏:<br /> <a href="https://x.com/kperdew">https://x.com/kperdew</a></p> <p>🚀 Moonshots Capital:<br /> <a href="https://moonshotscapital.com">https://moonshotscapital.com</a></p> <p>📘 Book — Take Command: Leadership Principles from the Military to Business:</p> <p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1596980001">https://www.amazon.com/dp/1596980001</a></p> <p> </p> <p>🎙️ Host — AJ Pasciuti</p> <p>Retired Marine Force Recon Scout Sniper and Marine Gunner, author of Darkhorse: Harnessing Hidden Potential in War and Life, and host of Combat Story. </p> <p>📕 Darkhorse: <a href="https://ajpasciuti.com/Darkhorse">https://ajpasciuti.com/Darkhorse</a></p> <p>📸 AJ Pasciuti Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ajpasciuti">https://www.instagram.com/ajpasciuti</a></p> <p>🔗 Website: <a href="https://www.ajpasciuti.com">https://www.ajpasciuti.com</a></p> <p> </p>