Recognizing National Veterans and Military Families Month: Featuring Bill Brown, Jeffrey Lipson, and Kevin Hyde

In recognition of National Veterans and Military Families Month, the Chamber proudly honors the service, leadership, and lasting contributions of those who have worn our nation’s uniform—and the families who stand beside them.

This month, we are privileged to spotlight several Chamber member leaders who are also veterans — Bill Brown, President and Chief Executive Officer of Citadel Credit Union and a member of our Board of Directors and Layer 8 Security’s Jeffrey Lipson, Chief Executive Officer, and Kevin Hyde, President and Co-Founder. In this interview, they will share their perspectives on how their military experience has shaped their careers, leadership styles, and commitment to our regional business community. Their stories remind us of the strength, discipline, and resilience veterans bring to the workplace every day, and we are grateful to highlight their service.

How has being a veteran helped shape your leadership style in the business world today?

Bill Brown: My eight years of service in the United States Navy as a Naval Flight Officer and later as a foreign-affairs officer at the Pentagon instilled in me a few core habits I carry into the business world. First, a bias for action: in the Navy I learned that, regardless of the circumstance, you show up, you fly the mission – and in business that translates to stepping into challenges, not waiting for perfect conditions.

Second, teamwork, relationships, and accountability: I learned that you’re only as good as your crew – and you rely on others, you trust each other, you lead and you lift people up. I hope I bring that same belief system and collective ownership to Citadel.

Third, situational awareness and empathy: one of my mentors in the Navy taught me that great tactical skill must be balanced by understanding human circumstances. These lessons have shaped a leadership style rooted in service, clarity of mission, and the belief that culture and character matter as much as strategy.

Why is it important for our business community to ensure that the veteran community is represented and afforded equal opportunity for career growth?

Bill Brown: Ensuring veteran representation and opportunity in the business community is not only a matter of fairness – it’s a strategic advantage. Veterans bring unique experiences, from leading teams in challenging environments to navigating complex systems and fostering cohesion across missions. A business ecosystem that taps into that talent is richer, more resilient, and more innovative. For organizations like Citadel, which embed community impact and member focus into our work, having veteran representation signals a commitment to service, purpose, and diverse leadership. In my own story, having served in uniform and then transitioned into financial services, I’ve seen how embedding veteran voices creates bridges between organizational purpose and real-world leadership experience. It supports the veteran community by translating the discipline and leadership developed in service into civilian careers – and it benefits the region by diversifying the leadership pipeline and strengthening organizational culture. In short, businesses that open the door to veterans are investing not only in people who served, but also in leadership capacity, community strength, and long-term value creation.

What unique perspectives and benefits do veterans bring to the workplace as leaders?

Kevin Hyde: Those of us who grew up in the military intelligence community bring leadership behaviors that are both uncommon and highly valuable in the business world.

First, we’re trained to make decisions with imperfect information. Intelligence work rarely offers a complete picture, so you learn to analyze rapidly, assess risk, and act decisively, an advantage in fast-moving markets where clients expect clarity.

Second, veterans know how to lead diverse teams under pressure. In the Marine Corps, you don’t choose your team; you learn to get the best out of whoever is beside you. That translates directly to cross-functional business environments where sales, technical, and operational stakeholders often come from very different cultures.

Third, we operate with a mission-first mindset. Veterans excel at turning strategic goals into achievable steps, what the military calls commander’s intent, which builds teams focused on outcomes.

Fourth, we carry a culture of accountability and integrity. In intelligence, your analysis and decisions have real consequences, fostering a level of ownership clients and colleagues immediately recognize.

Finally, veterans are comfortable in ambiguity and adaptive by necessity. We’re trained to bring order to chaos, to be a stabilizing, differentiating force in industries like cybersecurity, tech, risk, and finance.

How does supporting/investing in veteran-owned businesses equate to economic growth and job creation?

Jeffrey Lipson: Supporting and investing in veteran-owned businesses contributes to economic growth and job creation through multiple channels, including direct job creation, revenue generation, community reinvestment, and leveraging the unique skills veterans possess. Veteran entrepreneurs often demonstrate resilience, discipline, and leadership, which are valuable assets in the business world.

Veteran-owned businesses employ millions of people across the country, providing opportunities for local residents, including other veterans. Veteran-owned businesses generate substantial annual revenue, contributing significantly to the national GDP. For example, in 2021, veteran-owned businesses contributed $922 billion in revenue, or 5.3% of the total revenue generated by all classifiable employer businesses.

Many veteran entrepreneurs launch businesses in their hometowns, ensuring that revenue stays within the local community. They are also known for community engagement and charitable giving, further supporting local well-being. We really believe this at Layer 8 Security. “Paying it forward,” is one of our company values. We support various local charities and have created several Veteran scholarships at Penn State to help educate the next generation.

Veterans possess highly valuable skills from their military training, such as leadership, strategic thinking, adaptability, and problem-solving. Many veteran entrepreneurs prioritize hiring fellow veterans and military spouses, offering them a smoother transition into civilian careers. There is an average of 18 Veteran suicides per day! Finding meaningful employment for our Veterans would go a long way in reducing these. We owe it to our Veterans and society to do better.

Despite their significant impact, veteran-owned businesses face challenges such as accessing capital and establishing business networks.  Don’t just tell a Veteran Entrepreneur, “Thank you for your service.”  Instead say, “How can I help you grow your business?”  When you extend yourself to a Veteran, know that they will pay that service back tenfold in innumerable ways.