MILCOM Founders Podcast – Episode 23: From Marine General to AI Innovator with Terry Williams

Join host Rod Loges and retired Marine Brigadier General Terry Williams as they explore leadership, community building, and the transformational power of technology in veteran entrepreneurship.

In this episode:

• Terry's journey from rebellious college student to 32-year Marine Corps career
• Building community and networks through the PenFed Veteran Entrepreneur Program
• How faith and perseverance help overcome life's greatest challenges
• Terry's innovative use of AI to create music albums, books, and full-stack applications
• Essential military leadership principles that drive entrepreneurial success
• The importance of spiritual growth alongside professional development

Key takeaways:

• Community and mentorship are critical barriers to veteran entrepreneurship success
• AI is a revolutionary tool that can turn one person into twenty, but requires verification
• Military values like humility, discipline, and adaptability translate directly to business success
• Persistence through failure often leads to greater success in subsequent ventures
• The PenFed program serves 200+ veterans with no cost and no equity requirements

Guest: Terry Williams, Retired Marine Brigadier General, Senior VP Global Fixed Assets at PenFed Credit Union, Program Director at PenFed Foundation

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrterry-v-williams/ 
• PenFed Credit Union: https://www.penfed.org/
• Program Info: penfedfoundation.org

Terry Williams served 32 years in the US Marine Corps, retiring as Brigadier General in 2019. Throughout his distinguished career, he commanded at all levels and took on critical logistics and strategic planning roles worldwide.

After military service, Terry founded Van Williams, LLC, a consulting firm specializing in facilities management and executive coaching. Currently, he leads the PenFed Veteran Entrepreneur Program, which has graduated over 200 veteran founders. Terry is also passionate about AI innovation, having created three Christian contemporary music albums, written thriller novels, and built full-stack applications using artificial intelligence tools.

The MILCOM Founders Podcast champions and celebrates military community business owners. Each episode brings practical insights from successful veteran entrepreneurs.

Sponsored by One Degree Financial
www.onedegreefinancial.com

Support veteran entrepreneurs: Learn about the Dick Loges Veteran Entrepreneur Scholarship Fund at https://www.milcomfounders.com/