Chris Brewer on Leadership, Transition, and Life in the Shadows
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Chris Brewer on Leadership, Transition, and Life in the Shadows
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About this listen
In this special ATLVets Speaker Series episode, retired Ranger Battalion NCO and Special Forces officer Chris Brewer shares his remarkable journey from the reactivation of the 1st Ranger Battalion in 1974 to a career in Special Forces, global security contracting, and authorship.
Chris reflects on:
- Crossing the Line: Why he made the controversial move from the NCO corps to becoming an officer, and how it opened the path to Special Forces.
- Lessons from Ranger School: Why the course is less about tactics and more about leadership under extreme stress—and how those lessons translate to civilian life.
- Transition Struggles: His honest admission of “how not to retire” from the military, including the pitfalls many veterans face.
- Post-Service Impact: How his expertise shaped counterterrorism strategies, red-team operations, and security across the globe—including assessments eerily prescient before 9/11.
- Storytelling & Legacy: Why he chose to capture the untold stories of Rangers and Green Berets in his books Old School Ranger and In the Shadows Between Wars.
Chris also offers powerful insights into leadership, team building, and the importance of cross-cultural communication in both military and civilian contexts.
📚 Books by Chris Brewer:
- Old School Ranger – A collection of stories and lessons from the reactivation of the 1st Ranger Battalion.
- In the Shadows Between Wars – Firsthand accounts of Special Forces missions and the realities of unconventional warfare.
- (Both available on Amazon & Barnes & Noble.)
🔑 Key Takeaway: Whether on the battlefield or in the boardroom, success comes from listening, understanding what motivates people, and pulling teams together toward a common goal.
👉 Stay Connected:
Join the ATLVets mission to advance the line for veterans by supporting events, sharing these stories, and helping us build the nation’s premier community for veteran leadership and growth.