Ryan Callahan, a 2022 Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program Scholar and Executive Vice President of Digital Marketing and Innovation at Blue Star Families, shares how he has dedicated his life to advocating for military and veteran families.
Transitioning veterans and their families face numerous challenges when separating from active military service. Many organizations have stepped up to help; however, confusion and misalignment of values often result in gaps in services and can leave families scrambling for the help they desperately need. The George W. Bush Institute’s Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program empowers active-duty service members, veterans, and civilians from diverse backgrounds and sectors to become impactful leaders. The program provides the training needed for Scholars to address the gaps in service provided to veterans by breaking down the military-civilian divide. Once we complete the program, we step up to help improve the quality of life for millions of veterans through our work as leaders in corporations, government programs, and philanthropic organizations.
Continuing a legacy of service
My family’s military service legacy has influenced my leadership style and dedication to continuing to serve military and veteran families. I was born in Boston, Massachusetts, to a Vietnam-era Marine Corps veteran, and I am also the grandson of two World War II Army veterans. After service, my grandfather went on to become a steamfitter at the original World Trade Center, and my father became a successful principal of an automated engineering firm.
Both my grandfather and father instilled in me the core values that I hold dear today: authenticity, compassion, and integrity. They paved the way for my mission to inspire innovative ideas that improve the lives of the military community and shape how I lead my team at Blue Star Families.
Personal leadership project: Building trust with veterans & the VA
During my time in the Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program, I completed a personal leadership project that aimed to combat the suicide epidemic in the veteran community. The goal of my project was to connect veterans and their families with the resources they needed to navigate services offered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). I partnered with the VA to conduct a series of online events that increased access to health care and helped veterans and their families navigate benefits and services in real time. Through this partnership, we successfully conducted over 50 question-and-answer sessions that received over 7 million impressions and connected over 6,000 veterans with vetted resources and information. According to the Veterans Experience Office, these events also increased trust in VA services in all seven pilot locations. It was a big win in improving relations between the VA and the veteran community.
Next step: Expanding impact through leadership
I joined Blue Star Families, an organization created by military spouses to empower military families to thrive as they serve, after completing the Veteran Leadership Program. As the Executive Vice President of Digital Marketing and Innovation, I have expanded my scope of opportunity from solely serving veterans to serving active-duty service members and their families, as well. I am responsible for driving the digital experience and growth vision through the digital membership lifestyle platform, the Blue Star Neighborhood.
The Neighborhood supports Blue Star Families’ mission by providing members with continuity, no matter where military life may take them. Members can easily connect with new Blue Star chapter locations, perks, and programs like Blue Star Outposts, Military Families Outdoors, and careers webinars. Since I joined Blue Star Families, I have grown the Neighborhood into the nation’s largest digital community solely focused on supporting military and veteran-connected families.
In addition to my work in the Blue Star Neighborhood, I continue to champion the mental health of veterans and military families through Blue Star Support Circles – Upstream Solutions to Crisis. Through this program, Blue Star Families delivers evidence-based education to empower military and veteran family members to recognize and understand the mental health struggle of their service member or veteran and intervene before it becomes a crisis.
Using technology to support military families with support from fellow VLP alumni
Recently, Blue Star Families hosted a Big Ideas roundtable in New York City focusing on digital connectedness and the role of technology in better serving military families. These sessions are designed to gather fresh perspectives from stakeholders and help inform the future direction of Blue Star Families. For me and my fellow experts and leaders, it was an opportunity to engage in a think tank-style discussion about how technology can be leveraged to improve the support system for military families.
One of the key takeaways from this event was how critical digital connectedness is in today’s world. Military families, especially those in remote or deployed locations, need to feel connected to their communities and have ready-made access to necessary resources. The discussion revolved around how Blue Star Families can harness technology to create a more seamless experience for members, making it easier for them to access programs, services, and support networks.
My fellow alumni were also there to support me. One of the secret powers you gain through the Bush Institute is the “VLP bat signal.” If you need help, VLP experts and alumni will come running. This roundtable was no different. I am grateful to my fellow Class of 2022 alumni Audrey Adams, Bryan Escobedo, Kim Guedrey, and Vishal Amin. These colleagues answered the call for military families, no questions asked.
Lessons learned in leadership
One of the most important and impactful lessons I learned from my time in the program is to find joy in your service. I learned from President George W. Bush that you can’t lead anybody to do anything, anywhere, if you don’t have joy, and humor reflects a joyful heart. Witnessing President Bush’s sense of humor in person was refreshing; it’s a trait he believes shows modesty and self-awareness.
I do my best to embody that same joy, humility, and compassion in my leadership when it comes to my team, making sure they feel supported and encouraged in everything they do. I take my mission seriously, but not myself. I like to highlight errors or mistakes as a way to show humility. I also like to tell funny stories about things that happen during my day, and it encourages my team to do the same. There’s a saying from the military that I love – “take care of your people, and they will take care of the mission” – and I put this into practice with my team. I trust them to get the work done, and I make sure they feel supported in doing so.
Takeaways from the Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program
I was able to come away from the Veteran Leadership Program with a new perspective on my leadership style and myself. I overcame my imposter syndrome, and the connections I made through the program have been invaluable. My fellow Scholars inspire me to work harder every single day and be the best version of myself. They hold me accountable and dare me to dream bigger. When I have a challenge at work, my Stand-To colleagues are the first to know. They listen with compassion and offer sound advice and support. They have become an extension of my family.
In addition to enhancing my leadership skills, the program also made me a better husband, son, father, and friend. I was fortunate to ask President Bush how he balanced family and work life with the stresses of the White House. He replied that he learned from his father, and no matter how busy he was, there was no doubt of unconditional love. He also said he married well. I couldn’t agree more. I would not be here without the unconditional love and support from my family.
The lessons I have learned along my leadership journey from my family and the Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program have shaped the leader I am today. These lessons have influenced my approach to leadership, my ability to connect with others, and my strategy for addressing the challenges military families face. I am deeply committed to my work with Blue Star Families to empower service members, veterans, and their families to thrive as they serve. Through collaboration, innovation, and a shared commitment to service, I believe that everyone can do their part to create a better future for those who have sacrificed so much for this country.
