Operational Fortitude: What Family Offices Can Learn from Veterans

By Lisa Morris

On Veterans Day, I find myself thinking about what those who have served can teach the rest of us. Family offices can learn valuable lessons from these real-life heroes, so I wanted to share a few stories about veterans I've had the pleasure of meeting and how family offices can benefit from their expertise and example.

1. Know Your Mission: Dave Esra

Dave Esra served as an infantry officer for 22 years and retired as a Major (O-4). He initially transitioned into leadership roles in corporate America but felt a giant void. He missed being part of something truly meaningful—a mission with a shared set of values. In 2020, he was asked to help build the startup Pregistry, which ran studies on COVID-19 vaccine safety during pregnancy. This is where he first saw the opportunity to do more to make pregnancy safer and improve families' lives. He felt called to apply the discipline he learned in the military to a field you might not expect: maternal health.

He is now the Founder and CEO of BobiHealth, an AI-driven digital maternal health platform that uses predictive analytics to help reduce maternal mortality and complications. BobiHealth helps people track blood pressure, symptoms, and mood between appointments. A daily check-in can prompt a mental health screening and, with the patient’s permission, a call from a caseworker. In uniform, his mission was to bring soldiers home to their families. Today, his mission is to make sure that every mother can come home to hers.

What makes Dave's path work is something the military calls Commander's Intent. When everyone understands the goal and the reason behind it, teams can make fast, smart decisions without waiting for permission at every step.

What this means for family offices: Families often struggle because different generations want different things. One branch wants growth, another wants philanthropy, and a third just wants to avoid risk. Defining a clear "family intent"—a shared north star for how capital is invested, what causes you support, and what core values you stand for—gives your investment committee and advisors the confidence to act decisively without losing sight of what the family actually cares about.

2. Protect the Inner Circle: Misty Cook

Misty Cook spent 20 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, much of it supporting three- and four-star generals. That's a role where precision, discretion, and grace under pressure aren't optional. After retiring, she founded Concierge on Call (now Next COC), a strategic consulting firm that helps senior military leaders and high-level executives move into boardrooms, executive suites, and advisory roles.

What this means for family offices: Misty knows that the people closest to the top need structure they can trust, and that confidentiality is everything. If your family office or a portfolio company needs access to top military leaders to serve as board advisors or speakers, Misty is your one-stop shop for unparalleled access to men and women who have risen to the highest ranks.

3. Plan for the Unexpected: Dean Stott, MBE

Dean Stott served 16 years in the British military, including in the elite Special Boat Service. A parachuting accident ended that career, but it didn't slow him down. Having barely cycled before, he went on to set two world records, including riding the entire 14,000-mile Pan-American Highway from Argentina to Alaska in just under 100 days. Today he's an international keynote speaker, the author of Relentless, and a global security and crisis consultant.

Special forces operators live by a simple truth: no plan survives first contact. You prepare, you adapt, and you keep going. Dean's life—from special operations to recovering from a devastating injury to pushing his body across two continents—is a masterclass in that mindset.

What this means for family offices: Preserving wealth across generations is really about managing the risks nobody sees coming. Traditional planning tends to underestimate rare but serious events: sanctions, a sudden cash crunch, a cyberattack, or a physical security threat. The military answer is "red-teaming," which means deliberately poking holes in your own plans. Stress-test your balance sheet, your asset custody, and your personal security protocols against the shocks you hope never happen. That way, if one does, you're read

4. Invest in People: Mike Ferraro

Mike Ferraro served in the U.S. Air Force for nearly 32 years, retiring as a Command Chief Master Sergeant. He's now the Founder and President of Bridging The Gap for Veterans (BridgingTheGap.vet), a nonprofit focused on career coaching, talent pipelines, and transition programs for service members heading into the private sector. He also brings aerospace education into his advocacy, helping organizations find and keep outstanding military talent. Mike sees the same challenge repeatedly: veterans have incredible skills, but translating them into terms the corporate world understands can be hard.

100% of profits from my book, Can You Rollerskate? are donated to this charity to support veterans during this transition.

What this means for family offices: Many family offices struggle to find and keep great people, especially during leadership changes. Veterans bring qualities you won't learn in business school: true ownership of outcomes, teamwork, calm under pressure, discipline, and deep loyalty. Creating intentional pathways to hire veterans into key roles—such as Chief of Staff, Head of Operations, Risk Officer, or Portfolio Operator—gives you leaders who are built for high-trust environments like yours.

The Bottom Line

Building wealth creates an enterprise. Disciplined execution is what keeps it standing. Dave, Misty, Dean, and Mike each show a different side of that discipline: clear mission, careful governance, smart risk planning, and real investment in people. Family offices that adopt these lessons will be far better prepared for whatever tomorrow brings.

I am grateful every day to live in a free country, something only made possible by the brave men and women who keep us all safe. I honor all of our veterans, and I hope you can find time today to say thank you and show your appreciation.

Disclosure: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax or legal advice. Anyone considering investments should work with an experienced tax professional before relying on any of the provisions described above.

Author Bio: Lisa Morris is Managing Director of AKS Family Partners LP, a single family office based in NYC.  She has two decades of experience spanning theater, travel, entrepreneurship, philanthropy, and investments.

She founded the travel company Road Concierge, which was later acquired by Internova Travel Group. A former Broadway actress, she is also an Entrepreneur-in-Residence with NYSERDA, an EarthShot Prize nominator, and a member of several investment and impact communities, including NEXUS Impact Society, 3i, IPI/Campden, Top Tier Impact, Aura Club, Adoreum, and Gaingels.

She has held senior consulting roles with nonprofits including Epic Foundation, Mary Tyler Moore Foundation, and AKS Family Foundation, and as Director of Philanthropic Services for FORCE Family Office. She serves on several advisory boards, consults for companies from startups to public firms, and is a frequent public speaker and pitch coach. Her upcoming book, "Can You Rollerskate?", launches November 2nd, 2026 and is available for pre-order on Amazon, Waterstones, and Barnes & Noble.