After leaving the Army as an Armor officer in the early 2000s, Patrick Malcor didn’t follow a traditional path. Instead, he jumped into the deep end—taking on opportunities in Iraq and the defense contracting world before eventually becoming CEO of a family office-backed defense company in Europe.
Today, Patrick is the founder and CEO of Ajax Defense, a precision manufacturing firm that supplies mission-critical parts to companies like Raytheon. He’s also a veteran advocate, entrepreneur, and investor with a deep passion for helping service members avoid the “transition trap”—falling into misaligned careers after military life.
In this wide-ranging conversation, Patrick shares hard-earned insights on:
What veterans get wrong about their first job after the military
The value of asking good questions and having 50+ career conversations
The pros and cons of working at big companies vs. scrappy startups
Building companies with purpose and reinvesting in veteran talent
Lessons from early mistakes and the power of reinvention after setbacks
-------------------------------------------------------------Connect with Patrick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickmalcor/
https://ajax-defense.com/
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Connect with Griffin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/griffinbrand/
Connect with Jack: https://www.instagram.com/hawaiimortgagebroker/
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And as always: Go do the thing. Make that decision. Find your next mission.