Moving Forward: A New Chapter

15 years ago, I founded Team Red, White & Blue with a clear vision: to enrich Veterans’ lives. Since then, Team RWB has grown into something far bigger than I ever imagined—a true community supporting Veterans and Service Members as they lead healthier lives.  Today, I’m writing to share a major upcoming milestone in our organization’s story.

This October—on the 15th anniversary of Team RWB’s very first event, the Twin Cities Marathon—I will hand over the Executive Director role to Michael “Sully” Sullivan, who will lead Team RWB to new heights in our next chapter!  Both the Board of Directors and our staff approached this succession plan with a clear vision...and we emerged with a detailed left seat/right seat ride to set Sully and the entire organization up for success.  

Sully and I have been serving together since 2008.  That service started in 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group---Sully was a Green Beret company commander and I was an intelligence officer in support.  On our 2009 deployment to Afghanistan, I saw his strategic and courageous leadership firsthand.  Just a couple years later, when I asked him to stand up the Fayetteville chapter of Team RWB, he answered the call without hesitation.  

Since then, Sully has remained a steadfast part of Team RWB’s journey as an Eagle Leader and member. He officially joined our staff in 2023…. first as an intern while transitioning out of the Army, and then stepped into the Chief of Staff role. 

A retired Special Forces Colonel, Sully served 30 years in the U.S. Army, including 6 combat tours in Afghanistan. He spent a year leading Special Operations in Lebanon, and led training missions across Africa. His military legacy runs deep—spanning 5 generations—and continues through his children, who are serving in the active duty Army today.  Sully brings robust leadership experience and an unshakable commitment to the Veteran community.  He’s exactly the right leader to carry this mission forward.

Whether you joined in 2010 or just last week, thank you for being a part of our mission!  The national conversation around health and wellness is louder than ever. Both Sully and I are convinced that Veterans have a unique opportunity—and responsibility—to lead America out of the current mental & physical health crisis. Team RWB is ready to meet this moment. Under Sully’s leadership, we will rise to the challenge and re-define what leadership through wellness truly looks like.

Let’s keep moving forward—stronger than ever!

Mike