Retired Naval Officer Finds His Purpose in Helping Veterans Discover Theirs

Nearly half a century ago, Maurice Wilson left his hometown of Chicago to carry on his family’s legacy of service. Following his brother into the US Marine Corps and later becoming a hospital corpsman in the US Navy, he embarked on a career that would span 23 years.

Early in his journey, a Black Master Chief Petty Officer—the highest enlisted rank—inspired Wilson to aim high. Through tours in Rhode Island, North Carolina, California and Hawaii, he ultimately achieved that goal.

But reaching the pinnacle of his military career came at a personal cost: his motivation. “I ran out of gas,” he recalled. “My subconscious mind started looking for what was next.” That search led him to step away from the uniform and into a new, uncertain identity.

“I knew what it meant to be a Master Chief in uniform, but that didn’t carry the same meaning in the civilian world,” he said. “I had to ask myself, ‘Who am I now? Who should I be?’ When I left the military, I had to create a new version of me—it was almost like an identity crisis.”

What followed was a decade-long search for answers.

From Technology to Nonprofit Leadership

Wilson first pivoted to technology, earning a master’s degree in Telecommunications Systems Management. But in 1998, he felt a deeper calling and shifted into nonprofit service with the Urban League of San Diego County, where he spent over a decade advancing racial equality for minorities and Black Americans.

Yet, he grew concerned that some efforts, though well-intentioned, weren’t producing lasting results. At the same time, he was troubled by rising unemployment, homelessness and suicide among Veterans—realities that ignited a new purpose: helping successfully navigate the difficult transition to civilian life.

“I knew I wanted to make a difference in people’s lives,” he said. “I wanted to get things done and figure out how to really move our community forward.”

In 2010, Wilson, along with retired Rear Admiral Ronne Froman, co-founded National Veterans Transition Services, Inc. (NVTSI) with seed funding from Navy Federal. The organization delivers end-to-end employment and entrepreneurship services for transitioning Servicemembers. At its core is the nationally recognized REBOOT Workshop™, a 3-week, behavior-based transition program for Servicemembers, Veterans and spouses—the only program of its kind in the country.

“Over the years, I’ve learned you have to address the root cause of the challenge,” Wilson said. “It’s not just about a job. It’s about identity, purpose and service—3 pillars that come naturally in the military but are harder to find in civilian life.”

Every year, about 200,000 Servicemembers transition out of the military. Yet the majority—81 percent—say they don’t feel fully prepared to enter the civilian job market; 2/3rds don’t have a job lined up; and more than half eventually apply for extended unemployment insurance, Wilson said.

While the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) provides valuable resources, NVTSI’s research has identified 6 structural gaps in the transition process that must be closed. NVTSI’s goal is bold: close these 6 gaps and reduce by 50 percent the number of Veterans leaving military service without a job.

Harnessing AI for the Future of Transition

To achieve this vision, NVTSI.org is now leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to strengthen its programs and address the transition gaps head-on:

• AI-driven job matching connects Veterans to roles that align with their skills, experiences and values, helping to close the employment gap more effectively.

• AI-powered career guidance helps Servicemembers explore and select post-military career paths during the early stages of their transition—well before separation.

• These tools provide clear roadmaps for upskilling and reskilling, so Servicemembers can prepare for civilian careers while still in uniform.

By integrating AI into the transition process, NVTSI is reshaping the future of Veteran readiness and creating a scalable model for nationwide impact.

Proven Success

With a 97 percent success rate, REBOOT has earned recognition from the White House, which honored Wilson as a Champion of Change. The San Diego Business Journal named him among its 500 Influential Business Leaders in 2016 and Top 50 Influential Veteran Business Leaders in 2022. He was also recognized as Veteran of the Year in his home district in 2017.

Building on that success, Wilson and NVTSI recently launched Operation Vetrepreneur, an initiative to uplift Veteran-owned businesses across Southern California. Supported through state-funded entrepreneurship training, the program equips Veteran business owners with the skills to launch, manage and grow sustainable companies. Training covers business strategy, financial management, marketing, human resources and technology—core competencies designed to strengthen the Veteran business community and create new employment opportunities for fellow Veterans and their families.

A business membership with Navy Federal has been pivotal to growth, Wilson said, because it has provided reliable, custom services that have enabled the nonprofit to operate with confidence and stability. For example, when the venture needed a business line of credit to launch a new initiative, Navy Federal stepped in—providing a financial buffer at just the right time.

“That line of credit helped us not only launch but also execute successfully, ensuring we could focus on serving Veterans instead of worrying about cash flow,” Wilson said. “Having that trusted partnership has been invaluable as we’ve scaled our programs nationally.”

The program’s graduates include thousands of success stories. Otto Delacruz secured a good-paying nonprofit role in a difficult economy. Joe Musselman went on to found The Honor Foundation, serving the US Special Operations community. Ashley Gonzalez became a financial advisor with Edward Jones. REBOOT also provides specialized programming for women Veterans, addressing unique challenges they face.

Wilson and NVTSI are continuing to expand their impact. A partnership with a production company will soon bring to life the stories of Servicemembers who transitioned into careers as diverse as fashion design, culinary arts and martial arts instruction. Alongside this, the rollout of AI-assisted career and financial planning modules will allow NVTSI to intervene earlier in the transition process, ensuring Servicemembers are positioned for success well before separation.

Still, Wilson insists the heart of the program will never change. In civilian life, he reminds Veterans: “Purpose doesn’t find you—you find it.”