In recognition of Veterans Day and all who served, this is the second in a series of special features MSP Success is running this week. If you missed the first story in the series, see The Veteran Edge: What Military Experience Brings to Managed Services.
In the military, leadership isn’t theoretical—it’s forged in pressure, purpose, and accountability. That same mindset is evident in the MSP leaders who once wore the uniform. Across their stories, a clear throughline emerges: The habits that drive mission success in the field—discipline, attention to detail, adaptability under pressure, and service to others—are the same ones that drive MSP business success.
From urgency and tenacity to the unwavering belief that “you take care of your people,” these former service members have translated military lessons into business principles that keep their MSPs resilient, reliable, and ready for whatever comes next.
Here are nine lessons that continue to guide them—proof that while the missions have changed, the mindset that drives success remains the same.
1. Discipline Through Structure and Checklists
“As a former Drill Sergeant in the Air Force, I learned to have a very high attention to detail and how to utilize checklists to organize/prioritize my day. This has enabled me to see what it is I have to do so that I can execute at a higher level and get done what I need to get done with the hours in the day I am afforded. The MSP world can have a very high ops tempo and having the skills to utilize a checklist on what needs to be done so that you don’t forget is critical. It’s even more important to organize that list so that you know what’s most important!”
— Melvin Chatman Jr., CEO, Business Continuity Technologies
2. Adaptability Under Pressure
“One of the most important lessons I learned from my military service is adaptability under pressure. The U.S. Army teaches you to stay calm, think critically, and make mission-focused decisions no matter the chaos around you. In the IT and cybersecurity world, that same mindset is essential. When systems go down or an attack hits, you can’t panic. You assess, adapt, and execute, or you improvise, adapt, and overcome. That discipline and composure have been instrumental in building NEXTGen IT into a resilient, proactive MSP that thrives under pressure and always keeps clients protected.”
—Trevor Hardy, President/CEO/Head Nerd, NEXTGen IT
3. Attention to Detail and a Sense of Urgency
“The military to taught me pay attention to details, which can make all the difference in a successful completion of the mission/task. They taught me to have a since of urgency to get the task done. If I can take care of the small things, I will be successful in the large things which is one of my core values. Priorities: God, Country, Family.”
—Jason Johnson, CEO/President, Johnson Business Technology Solutions
4. Service and Discipline Above All
“My military service taught me two things that shaped my life: service and discipline. Service taught me the world is bigger than me—that success comes from helping others succeed. Discipline taught me that sometimes you just have to get it done. Feelings don’t finish missions—commitment does. That mindset has carried directly into building and running my MSP.”
—Sean T. Fullerton, CEO/Founder, NSN Management
5. Composure and Process Under Pressure
“Discipline under pressure is one of the greatest lessons my military experience taught me, and it continues to shape how I lead the team at Bacheler Technologies. In the service, you learn that when the pressure is on, emotions can’t drive your response—process, preparation, and teamwork must.
“In the MSP world, that lesson applies every day. When a client’s network is down or a security threat arises, our ability to stay calm, follow procedure, and communicate clearly determines the outcome. That mindset of accountability, structure, and composure became the foundation for how I built my company and how we continue to create ‘Raving Fans.’ We don’t just fix IT problems; we lead with discipline and purpose, no matter the situation.”
—Craig Bacheler, Founder/CEO, Bacheler Technologies
6. Take Care of Your People—and the Details
“Lesson: Take care of your people. Why: We can’t be successful alone. It takes a team to succeed. Everyone is important and contributes to our success.
“Lesson: Attention to detail. Why: Outcomes are determined in the details. Every detail matters. We do things this way for a reason.
“Lesson: Do everything with a sense of urgency. Why: Time is a limited resource. The difference in winning and losing could be a matter of seconds. Plus, a sluggish half-ass attitude is toxic to you and everyone around you.”
—Mark Adair, Managing Member, Adair Technology
7. Tenacity and Mission Loyalty
“One of the most important lessons I learned from my time in the Marines is tenacity—the ability to stay focused and push through challenges no matter how tough things get. In the military, giving up simply isn’t an option, and that mindset has been instrumental in building and running my MSP business. Whether it’s troubleshooting complex client issues, leading a team through growth, or navigating market changes, that same dedication and loyalty to the mission—and to the people I serve—keeps me moving forward. The Marine Corps taught me to adapt, overcome, and never leave anyone behind, and those principles directly translate into how I lead my business and take care of my clients.”
—Matt Disher, President, Southwest Networks
8. Mission Clarity and Bold Action
“In the Marines, mission clarity and decisive execution meant everything. That mindset became the foundation of Automates. I learned that even under pressure, you show up with focus, integrity, and follow-through. That’s exactly how we run our MSP, responding fast, solving deeply, and operating with precision.
“One of the most powerful lessons I’ve carried into business is the importance of defining your mission in language that everyone can understand and measure. We don’t just talk about ‘better service’ or ‘high performance’ at Automates. We define what that looks like in real numbers and make believers out of our team by proving our methodologies with wins.
“The military also taught me the value of bold action. The willingness to face head-on decisions that seem too big, too complex, or far outside of my normal comfort zone. At Automates, we lean into the impossible. We challenge ourselves to outgrow what we once thought was our limit, not just in revenue or endpoints under management, but in how we empower our clients and our people. Success isn’t just about hitting a target; it’s about building the courage to aim higher than most people dare.”
—Tommy Thornton, CEO, Automates
9. Time Management and Process Discipline
“One of the most important lessons I carried over from my military service into my work as an MSP business owner is the value of time management and process discipline. In the military, every mission depends on structure, timing, and precise execution—there’s no room for guessing or improvisation when systems and people are on the line. That mindset directly translates to the IT and cybersecurity world.
“Running an MSP requires the same disciplined approach: prioritizing tasks, following standardized processes, and ensuring every team member knows their role in the larger mission. By building a process-driven culture within my company—from incident response procedures to daily ticket management—we’ve achieved both efficiency and consistency, which are critical in protecting client systems and meeting SLAs.
“In cybersecurity especially, chaos is the enemy. Time management ensures that we can respond to threats with speed and focus, while process discipline ensures we respond the right way every time. That balance between structure and agility, ingrained from my time in uniform, has been a cornerstone of my success in leading a reliable and security-focused MSP.”
—Shawn Brown, COO and Co-Owner, CST Group
Leadership Lessons That Transcend Service
In an industry defined by constant change and complexity, the principles that guided these veterans in service continue to guide them in business: Lead with clarity, act with discipline, adapt with courage, and always put people first. Those are lessons worth following—uniform or not.
