Jim Lose (The MilVet) // Elevating Veterans into Executive Leadership

In today’s episode, Les Craig speaks with Jim Lose, a Marine Corps veteran, longtime recruiter, and CEO of The Military Veteran (The MilVet). With over 25 years of experience helping thousands of service members transition into successful private sector roles, Jim shares his mission to place more veterans in executive leadership across high-growth, early-stage companies. Jim’s passion for service shines through as he talks about the importance of community, coaching, and aligning veterans with roles where they can have lasting impact. From his time in military intelligence to becoming the go-to resource for elite veteran talent, Jim’s journey is rooted in purpose, resilience, and servant leadership.

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

A Career Built on Service

• Grew up in rural Pennsylvania; early influences of service from family (teacher, minister, Marine).
• Commissioned into the Marine Corps, became an intelligence officer and Scout Sniper Platoon Commander.
• Served under leaders like General Mattis and General Neller before they were well known.
• Left active duty after 8 years and entered the recruiting world to continue serving—this time by supporting fellow veterans.

20+ Years Recruiting and Championing Veterans

• Began his recruiting career at Lucas Group during the late 1990s.
• Helped place over 3,000 veterans and transitioned to Korn Ferry after an acquisition in 2021.
• Known for a long-term, relationship-based approach: “Today’s candidate is tomorrow’s client.”
• Shifted focus to post-transition executive placements, filling a gap in veteran recruiting not served by other organizations.

Leading The MilVet

• Joined The MilVet in 2023 to scale a mission-led, veteran-centric recruiting firm.
• Focus: place veterans in executive roles in VC/PE-backed and early-stage companies.
• Differentiators: customized search playbooks, interview scorecard development, and strategic advisory for clients.
• Firm belief: “The best indicator that a company will hire a veteran is having a veteran in the C-suite.”

The Broader Vision & Future Impact

• Identifies high-opportunity sectors for veterans: defense tech, private equity operations, and AI-resistant industries like home services.
• Emphasizes “finding a tribe” and community-building through networking dinners, events, and office hours.
• Coaching is the next frontier for The MilVet—launching an executive coaching offering in 2026.
• Jim’s long-term vision: a national movement to elevate veterans into positions of influence and impact.

Resources:

Website: https://www.themilvet.org/

Jim’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameslose/

The MilVet LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/themilvet/