A year ago, I transitioned out of nine years of active duty service in the United States Navy. It was a pivotal moment. The ten-year mark is often seen as the point where you decide whether to make the military a long-term career or transition into civilian life. My nine years were defined by both high highs and low lows. Some of my most difficult moments happened in uniform, but so did some of my most meaningful.
Looking back, I feel a deep sense of pride. I had the opportunity to serve alongside exceptional people, travel across Asia, Europe, and South America, and collaborate with allied forces around the world. That experience shaped how I think about discipline, leadership, and mental performance under pressure.
This Memorial Day weekend, I also remember those who did not make it home. Those who gave their lives in service of something greater than themselves. Many volunteered willingly, leaving behind families, friends, and comfort in pursuit of protecting freedom. I am humbled to have worn the same uniform and to have served in the same community.
I also think about the friends who are still on active duty today, still deploying, still operating in high stress environments. That is a major reason Thumos exists. We did not build this company simply to start a business. It came directly from lived experience and a shared need we could not ignore.
After returning from deployments, the guidance around brain health and cognitive recovery was often extremely limited. Sleep better, drink less, and take creatine. Creatine is valuable for cognitive performance and energy metabolism, but it was clear that there was a gap when it came to a more complete brain health support system.
My cofounder Connor and I both experienced this firsthand. We deployed together multiple times and were exposed to the physical and cognitive realities of service, including concussive impacts, traumatic brain stress, and the long-term strain that comes with military operations. It is part of the job, but it should not be where the conversation ends around long term brain health and cognitive longevity.
After our final deployment, we both decided it was time to transition. Over the previous four years, I had been away nearly 75 percent of the time. With a wife and a child on the way, I knew that pace was no longer sustainable. Connor was also at a similar crossroads, figuring out what came next.
I was preparing for my MBA and would later be accepted to The Wharton School. Connor was exploring his next path. We both joined The Honor Foundation, a nonprofit that supports Special Operations and Special Forces service members as they transition into civilian careers.
During that time, we visited multiple companies across different industries to better understand the business landscape. After those visits, something stood out clearly. Neither of us felt aligned with consulting, construction, or traditional defense work. On the bus ride back after the final company visit, we both arrived at the same question at the same time. What if we built something focused on brain health and cognitive performance for the military community.
That moment became the foundation of Thumos.
Through conversations at Wharton and discussions with experienced operators in consumer packaged goods, we began shaping what this could become. Those early mentors and advisors eventually became part of our broader network of support as we built the company.
We set a clear mission. Build a brain health supplement designed for military personnel, veterans, and high performance individuals who need sustained cognitive clarity, focus, and stress support in demanding environments. It had to be easy to use, portable, and built for real world conditions. Something you could carry anywhere, use daily, and trust.
This was never intended to be just an energy product. It was designed as a complete brain health and cognitive support formula built to help create the right internal environment for focus, recovery, and long term brain function.
That is how Thumos was born, launched in early 2026.
Our goal is to get Thumos into every command, unit, and team where cognitive performance matters. At the same time, we want to make it accessible to civilians who care about brain health, longevity, stress management, and peak mental performance.
One of the most meaningful parts of my transition out of the military was seeing how much support exists for service members and veterans once they come home. That sense of community matters.
This Memorial Day, Thumos stands with active duty service members, veterans, reservists, and the families who support them. We exist to support cognitive resilience and brain health for those who carry the weight of service.
Hooyah.
- God Bless