U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. (Ret.) | CEO, The Headstrong Project
20 years as a Marine fighter pilot forged unbreakable discipline and leadership under pressure. Decades leading high-stakes operations across Fortune 500 companies honed execution at massive scale. Now as CEO of The Headstrong Project, driving stigma-free, confidential mental health care for veterans, service members, and families—because the mission to heal never ends.
Lt. Col. Dan Kaepernik, USMC (Ret.)
Combat-Proven Leader | Operational Executive | Mental Health Advocate
A 20-year veteran of the United States Marine Corps, Dan flew the F-4 Phantom and F/A-18 Hornet on worldwide deployments in support of combat and peacetime operations. After earning his BS in Engineering Technology from New Jersey Institute of Technology, he applied the same precision and resolve to senior leadership roles at Delta, Boeing, Home Depot, 7-Eleven, Wingstop, and Black Rifle Coffee Company—driving operational excellence across aviation, retail, and restaurant sectors.
"High-threat missions taught me clarity under fire. Leading large teams in fast-moving corporate environments built unbreakable execution. Directing The Headstrong Project today is the most meaningful mission of my career: ensuring no veteran or family member fights invisible wounds alone."
Core Values & Pursuits
Duty & Honor
Team Leadership
Veteran Support
Family First
Resilience
Global Operations
Balance & Recovery
Leadership Strengths
Tactical precision from the cockpit, operational mastery from Fortune 500 boardrooms, and deep empathy now driving national impact in veteran mental health.
Strategic Execution
Turning complex missions into scalable, measurable success—combat to corporate to nonprofit.
Team Leadership
Built and led high-performance teams across squadrons, multi-site operations, and national organizations.
Crisis Decision-Making
Calm, decisive leadership under extreme pressure—battle-tested and boardroom-proven.
Veteran Advocacy
Championing stigma-free mental health access for warriors, service members, and families.
Operational Scale
Managed global deployments and nationwide retail/restaurant networks with zero margin for error.
Resilient Mindset
Applying unwavering grit, discipline, and resilience to heal trauma and build stronger, more hopeful futures.
Career Journey
20+ years of disciplined leadership—from fighter pilot to Fortune 500 executive to nonprofit CEO—dedicated to mission, team excellence, and veteran support.
Apr 2023 – Present
Chief Executive Officer
The Headstrong Project – New York City Metropolitan Area · RemoteLeading national nonprofit delivering free, confidential, stigma-free PTSD and mental health care to post-9/11 veterans, service members, and families. Driving program expansion, strategic growth, clinical impact, and nationwide reach.
Nov 2020 – Dec 2022
Vice President Of Retail Operations
Black Rifle Coffee CompanyOversaw retail operations for veteran-founded brand. Optimized multi-channel performance, store growth, operational efficiency, and team leadership in a high-growth environment.
Jan 2015 – Nov 2020
Vice President of Restaurant Operations
Wingstop Restaurants, Inc. – Dallas, TXLed restaurant operations for national chain. Focused on operational excellence, team development, efficiency improvements, revenue growth, and achievement of performance targets across multiple locations.
May 2011 – Jan 2015
Zone Leader
7-Eleven – New York Metro AreaResponsible for directing all operations of a 7-Eleven Zone consisting of 650+ stores. Complete P&L responsibility. Seven Market Managers reporting.
May 2006 – Jan 2009
District Manager
The Home Depot – Greater Birmingham, Alabama AreaResponsible for directing all day-to-day operations of a Home Depot District consisting of 10 stores. Complete Profit & Loss responsibility. 13 direct reports.
Aug 2002 – Dec 2003
Chief Pilot
The Boeing Company – KuwaitChief Pilot for Kuwait Air Force F/A-18 Pilot Training. Responsible for all undergraduate & graduate level F/A-18 pilot training, curriculum development, instructor oversight, and mission safety in an international military aviation context.
Jan 2001 – Jan 2002
Commercial Airline Pilot
Delta Air Lines – Greater Tampa Bay AreaOperated commercial passenger flights. Applied military aviation expertise to ensure flight safety, crew resource management, regulatory compliance, and exceptional passenger experience during transition to civilian aviation.
Feb 1981 – Feb 2001
Commissioned Officer
United States Marine CorpsNumerous organizational & operational leadership positions involving worldwide peacetime & combat operations. Fighter pilot flying F-4 Phantom and F/A-18 Hornet for 20 years. Built elite leadership, decision-making, and teamwork skills.
Core Strengths
Decades of high-stakes leadership across military aviation, corporate operations, and nonprofit impact have built exceptional depth in strategy, execution, team leadership, and mission-driven advocacy.
Mission Planning
Team Alignment
Outcome Focus
Crisis Management
Operational Scale
Execution Discipline
Veteran Support
Stigma Reduction
Impact Leadership
30+
30
Years Leadership Experience
20
20
Years Marine Corps Service
10+
10
Global Deployments
5000+
5000
Veterans & Families Impacted
Behind the Scenes
Rare glimpses into Dan Kaepernik's 20+ years as a USMC fighter pilot—flying the F-4 Phantom and F/A-18 Hornet in worldwide peacetime and combat operations, leadership in high-stakes missions, and the transition to executive roles.
Ready to Support the Mission?
Whether you're a veteran in need, a partner organization, or someone passionate about healing trauma—let's connect and advance the cause together.
Get In Touch
Whether you're a brand seeking strategic growth or a nonprofit ready to amplify impact—I'm here to help turn vision into reality.