To propel enlisted veterans and service members towards success in higher Education and beyond through transformative programming that advances skills, builds confidence, and forges lasting connections.

Ryan Pavel serves as Warrior-Scholar Project’s chief executive officer, channeling a deeply-held conviction that enlisted veterans have unlimited potential to leverage military service into enormous impact in higher education and beyond.

At the age of 17, Ryan enlisted in the Marine Corps, culminating in two non-combat deployments to Iraq. Ryan then earned his B.A. from the University of Michigan and J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law. His teaching experience includes working as a Teach For America corps member at an inner-city Detroit high school and as an adjunct instructor at Virginia Military Institute. Ryan has also worked for a variety of legal institutions, including legal aid organizations and a large national law firm.

Ryan serves as a board member of the Union League Club of Chicago, focusing on the club’s commitment to country and community. In 2023, he was selected for the inaugural cohort of Obama Foundation Leaders USA, a nonpartisan leadership development program that seeks to inspire, empower, and connect emerging leaders across the country.

Most Recent Episodes

December 17, 2024

Warrior's Honor Cruise with Richard Fuller

The Warriors Honor Cruise is dedicated to honoring and supporting our nation’s Purple Heart recipients. We strive to provide these brave individuals with a well-deserved break from their daily...

Listen · 1:16:04

December 17, 2024

From Marine to leading Gruntstyle Foundation with Tim Jensen

Established in April of 2021, Grunt Style Foundation is a national nonprofit organization committed to providing life changing resources and experiences for service members, Veterans, and their...

Listen · 1:29:40

December 8, 2024

From Marine to CEO of OO-Lah Cocktails with Trevor Spiers

This veteran-led company, based in Hollywood, Florida, is revolutionizing the RTD cocktail space with a mission that embraces the "kickback Lifestyle."Trevor’s path to founding oo-Lah began during...

Listen · 1:25:04

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David Willis HomeFront Sitrep Podcast

My name is David Willis, I knew at a very early age that I was going into the military but didn’t know what branch. As I got older and started learning about each branch and quickly figured out that the Marines was the best. I served in the Marine Corps from 97-04. My MOS was 0311(infantry). I went to Paris Island for boot camp after boot camp I was stationed with 2nd blt 8th Marines Golf company. While with 2/8 I went on several deployments to port a prince Haiti, Okinawa, South Korea, Greece, also did two trips to Bridgeport California for cold weather training, I wasn’t going to make a Mediterranean float so I extended and joined 1st blt 8th Marines Bravo company. During my time there we deployed to the Mediterranean and had stops in Spain, Italy, Malta, Africa, and other ports. I got out of the Marines in August of 01, but 9/11 happened and was recalled to go back in where I was stationed with a mobilization support battalion and deployed.