From Army Ranger to The Apprentice Winner | Kelly Perdew

How does a West Point graduate and Army Ranger go from military service to winning The Apprentice and building one of the most successful veteran-focused venture capital firms in America?

In this episode of Combat Story, AJ Pasciuti sits down with Kelly Perdew to discuss leadership, service, entrepreneurship, and the lessons that carried him from the U.S. Army to the national spotlight and beyond.

Kelly shares his journey through West Point, Army Intelligence, and Ranger School before discussing the experience of competing on—and ultimately winning—Season 2 of The Apprentice. He reflects on the leadership lessons he learned in uniform, how military experience shaped his approach to business, and why veterans often possess unique advantages as entrepreneurs and leaders.

The conversation also explores startup failures, venture capital, the founding of Moonshots Capital, and the importance of backing mission-driven founders who can thrive in uncertain environments.

Throughout the discussion, Kelly offers practical insights on leadership, resilience, accountability, and what it takes to build successful teams both inside and outside the military.

In this episode, we discuss:

• West Point and Army leadership development
• Ranger School and lessons in perseverance
• Winning The Apprentice Season 2
• Transitioning from military service to business
• Entrepreneurship, startups, and failure
• Building Moonshots Capital
• Investing in veteran-led companies
• Leadership under pressure
• The value veterans bring to the private sector
• Creating impact after military service

Whether you're a veteran navigating transition, an entrepreneur building a company, or simply interested in leadership and personal growth, Kelly's story offers valuable lessons from both the military and business worlds.

Chapters

00:00 Leadership Wins Everywhere
01:12 Meet Kelly Perdew: West Point, Ranger & Apprentice Winner
06:22 Why Military Leadership Translates to Business
12:54 Choosing West Point and the Path to Service
23:23 Ranger School and Learning to Embrace Hardship
29:56 UCLA, Entrepreneurship & Building His First Startup
48:10 Inside The Apprentice: How Kelly Won Season 2
58:39 From Reality TV to Venture Capital
1:05:42 The ID.me Story and Betting on Veteran Founders
1:18:23 Building Moonshots Capital
1:30:29 Why Veterans Make Exceptional Entrepreneurs
1:35:46 Transitioning Out of the Military Successfully
1:41:14 Leadership, Service & Leaving a Legacy
1:45:56 Final Advice for Veterans and Founders

🎙️ Guest — Kelly Perdew

West Point graduate, Army Ranger, entrepreneur, author, winner of *The Apprentice* Season 2, and co-founder of Moonshots Capital. Kelly has spent his career leading teams in the military, building and scaling companies, investing in founders, and helping veterans successfully transition into business and entrepreneurship.

📸 Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/kellyperdew

💼 LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyperdew

𝕏:
https://x.com/kperdew

🚀 Moonshots Capital:
https://moonshotscapital.com

📘 Book — Take Command: Leadership Principles from the Military to Business:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1596980001

🎙️ Host — AJ Pasciuti

Retired Marine Force Recon Scout Sniper and Marine Gunner, author of Darkhorse: Harnessing Hidden Potential in War and Life, and host of Combat Story.

📕 Darkhorse: https://ajpasciuti.com/Darkhorse

📸 AJ Pasciuti Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajpasciuti

🔗 Website: https://www.ajpasciuti.com