OpsLens Deck of 52 Most Wanted Post 9/11 Frontline Leaders
In 2018, as a spin-off and salute to the original 2003 deck of 52 Most Wanted playing cards, let’s honor post 9/11 frontline leaders here at home. Once a week, for 52 weeks this year, OpsLens will post a card highlighting one of the 52 Most Wanted Post 9/11 Frontline Leaders. You’ll learn the top facts about their business or organization, as well as why they made the list, which comes down to impact, scalability, health and unique selling proposition.
I encourage you to look for these weekly updates, share the card with your network, and support or buy the products and services they offer. See the 52 Most Wanted Post 9/11 Frontline Leaders launch story here.
Jack of Diamonds | With Honor
Just a few days after yet another government shutdown, I’m certain you know the profession that ranks at the bottom for public trust. Politicians. Debilitating partisanship and divisiveness in Congress is near a record high, which has sent an unnerving ripple across our country, felt not only at local community gatherings but also at tense moments around the kitchen table. A surge of new, principled leaders is desperately needed to reverse the dysfunction and hyper-polarization, and Marine veteran and With Honor co-founder Rye Barcott is taking action. With Honor is a new cross-partisan organization (super-PAC and an affiliated 501(c)(4) entity) focused on increasing the number of next-generation veterans in Congress. Rye understood the data: first, extreme partisanship has corroded our national legislature, leading to an erosion of the political middle ground and a crisis of public confidence in Congress over the past several decades, and second, veteran representation dramatically declined from 70 percent in post WWII years to today’s near-historic low of 19 percent. Research shows that veterans have been more cross-partisan than non-veterans in Congress over the course of U.S. history. Moreover, Rye also understands from firsthand experience in Africa and on the streets of Baghdad that veterans know how to work together to solve problems.
An unprecedented number—more than 150 next-generation veterans across the country—are stepping into the arena this year and want to serve again. Yet the most significant barrier to entry for these men and women are the soaring costs to run for office. That’s where With Honor comes in. In 2018, this organization will focus on U.S. House races and support the most capable 25 to 35 next-generation veterans running for Congress — Republicans, Democrats, Independents — who will work together to get things done regardless of political party. Their first slate of candidates was announced last week—veteran candidates who take the With Honor Pledge to put principles before politics, and lead with civility, integrity, and courage, including the courage to cross party lines by taking specific actions like meeting with someone from another party once a month and sponsoring legislation with another party once a year. Midterm elections are about to make history, hopefully, by bringing trust back into the political equation, with honor.
With Honor is a frontline leader that should be on your list of most wanted organizations to support in 2018.
Frontline Leader (Co-Founder): Rye Barcott
Name of Company/Organization: With Honor, founded 2017.
Location: Charlotte, N.C.
Post 9/11 Service Connection: Marine Corps and Global Humanitarian.
Tours of Duty: Bosnia, Horn of Africa, Iraq (these were as a Marine; there’s much more).
One sentence tagline & mission statement: Principles before politics.
Company / organization website: https://www.withhonor.org/
∗ Author is on the National Council of Advisors for this organization.
