Michael “Sully” Sullivan to Assume Role as Executive Director During Team Red, White & Blue 15th Anniversary Celebration in October
Founder Mike Erwin to pass torch to long-time teammate as members gather at the site of their first-ever event: The Twin Cities Marathon
FLOYDS KNOBS, Ind. – September 16, 2025 – Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB) is poised to celebrate a milestone in its evolution as America's leading health and wellness community for the military-connected community when founder Mike Erwin steps down from his role as Executive Director. Michael "Sully" Sullivan, a U.S. Army Veteran and Team RWB's current Chief of Staff, will take over the position in an official leadership transition ceremony during the organization's Legacy Dinner in Minneapolis, Minn., on Oct. 4.
Sullivan first joined Team RWB in early 2011 as a founding member of its Fayetteville, N.C., chapter. A retired U.S. Army Special Forces Colonel with 30 years of military service, Sullivan took part in six combat tours in Afghanistan. His military service heritage spans five generations, beginning with his great-grandfather, who served in World War I, and continuing with his grandfathers in World War II, his father in the Vietnam War, and his children who now serve.
"Team RWB is more than just an organization; it is a community, a family, and a movement," said Sullivan. "I am humbled to take the helm and lead this incredible team into a new era. Our mission has never been more important, and I am excited to build upon our foundation, expand our programming to support both body and mind, and empower our nation’s Veterans to find their purpose and passion through physical activity and genuine connection."
“Sully and I have been serving together since 2008, where I saw his strategic and courageous leadership firsthand in Afghanistan,” said Erwin. “He’s exactly the right leader to carry this mission forward. Under Sully’s leadership, Team RWB will rise to the challenge and redefine leadership through wellness.”
Under Erwin’s leadership, the organization supported more than 141,000 Veterans and Service Members through its programming; held 214,200 in-person and in-app events; launched its Digital Garrison member app in 2019, which tracked more than 1.6 million in-person and virtual workouts and engagements and hosted the Old Glory Ultra Relay in 2025, a nonstop 3,000-mile relay that raised more than $1 million for Team RWB programs.
The Team RWB Legacy Dinner, powered by Wounded Warrior Project, marks a return to the city of Minneapolis, where Team RWB hosted its first event: the 2010 Twin Cities Marathon. The evening will honor members, sponsors, and partners with awards for their efforts and contributions. World champion triathlete Tim O’Donnell will deliver a keynote address.
“Mike Erwin’s leadership, vision, and dedication have touched hundreds of thousands of lives and given our Veterans, service members, and their families a lasting community, purpose-built to lead happier, healthier lives. During my own 32 combined years of active duty service and Veteran work, Mike still stands alone for me in both energy and dedication to the Veteran community. He is like no one I’ve previously worked with,” said Coleman Ruiz, Chairman of the Board at Team RWB. “We know Sully is the leader Team RWB needs to further enrich the lives of the military-connected community.”
Full bios and downloadable headshots of Erwin and Sullivan can be found here. More information about Team RWB’s Legacy Dinner can be found here.
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About Team Red, White & Blue: Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and America's leading health and wellness community for the military-connected community. Team RWB's events and programs empower Veterans and Service Members to build a healthy lifestyle focused on four pillars: physical health, mental health, genuine relationships, and a sense of purpose. With over 250,000 members across the nation, Team RWB is enriching lives and local communities through both in-person events and dynamic in-app programming.
