Mitchell Kieffer

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Mitchell Kieffer (Captain, USAF [Ret.]) was the Chief Data Scientist for several U.S. and Air Force Commands as an officer in the military and as a civilian contractor. He is a combat-proven leader, being Wounded in Action – Purple Heart Recipient – when his vehicle was directly hit by a copper plated Explosively Formed Penetrating IED which gave him a Traumatic Brain Injury as well as fractured 10 vertebrae. He then earned a Master’s Degree in Data Science/Operations Research from the Air Force Institute of Technology via a prestigious assignment. He went on to lead two Air Force doctrine guiding ‘Core Function’ teams, earning the ‘USAF Analytic Team of the Year’ award, the Lance P. Sijan Award for the ‘Highest Quality of Leadership’, as well as ‘Company Grade Officer of the Year’, twice.

Mitchell was stratified by his commanders as number one of his peers in every Air Force and Joint assignments. He has also earned “Distinguished Graduate” honors at all Professional Military Education courses. After medically retiring from the Air Force, Kieffer earned an MBA concentrating in Finance and holds a Six Sigma Master Black Belt.

Utilizing his MBA-Finance & M.S. Data Science, he conducted cradle to grave business plans & analyses, analyses of alternatives valuations, Benefit-Cost-Risk assessments, and surveying studies and workshops driven toward providing operational and strategic optimization predictions and prescriptions.

He competed in the US Olympic Committee’s “Warrior Games” in 2013 and 2014 where he was crowned the “Ultimate Champion” both times, being the first ever Air Force recipient to win the award. He has raced professionally as a triathlete, and was the Coach & Captain of the All-Air Force Triathlon Team. He has been highlighted frequently in various media – TV, Magazines, Newspapers, and Podcasts. He has been on ESPN SportsCenter as a guest, and twice on Fox News (Fox & Friends). Kieffer has been a keynote speaker at numerous conferences, symposiums and events to include at the US Olympic Training Center, Air Force Memorial, the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, Air Force Museum, Air Force Association Conference, Air Force Vs Army Football Game, amongst many more.

He is married with an adopted son and stepdaughter, spending much of his time in his wife’s native country of Peru. He is a survivor of Stage 4 Melanoma Cancer.  He has owned his own Personal Training & Coaching business for over 20 years. He is the Founder and CEO of “Business Leaders Quick Reaction Force LLC”, concentrating on financial and operational consulting primarily focused on advancing small businesses, especially veteran-owned/service-disabled veteran owned small businesses.

Dylan Boles

Chief of Staff

Dylan Boles is a recent collegiate student-athlete, where he played Division-I football as a defensive lineman at Stanford University from 2017-2021 and the University of Northern Iowa from 2021-2023, graduating with a B.A. in Political Science and a M.A. in Public Policy, respectively. Predominantly, his studies have focused on US policy, international relations & security, and military history. His passion for public service and dedication for serving Veterans derives from his family’s history of military service, as his grandfather on his father’s side enlisted at 17 years-old to join the US Navy and fight in the Pacific Theater of World War II, and his grandfather on his mother’s side serving as a sergeant in the US Army during the Vietnam War.

This deep passion and gratitude is reflected in his recent work as a policy analyst and researcher for the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs, where his work resulted in legislative proposals and policy recommendations to enhance Veteran eligibility for VA benefits, as well as improving the overall quality of care for Veterans.

Prior to his engagement with the Veteran community, Dylan has had extensive experience with leadership and management, which included coordinating and directing meetings with member institutions; collaborating with NCAA officials and administrators; discussing strategy with 501-C(3) organizations, union groups, US Senators, as well as legal counsel; in addition to handling media availability. He has appeared on CNN, ESPN, College Gameday, the Wall Street Journal, the Athletic, and a multitude of other publications and news networks.

Now, he is a member of the Business Leaders Quick Reaction Force team as the Chief of Staff, to assist Veterans in building their businesses, accomplishing their dreams, strengthening their communities, and providing for their families.

Staci Kemp

Chief of Business Development Officer

Staci Kemp is a highly accomplished and versatile professional with a distinguished career spanning over 20 years. With her rich tapestry of skills and experiences spanning military service, business management and development, emergency response, entrepreneurship, and cosmetology, Staci is well-prepared to contribute to the success of your business.

In her capacity as an Air Force veteran, Staci served with distinction during overseas deployments for Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and the Civil Reserve Air Fleet. Her responsibilities included overseeing critical readiness and emergency management plans, co-authoring manuals for Air Force-wide implementation, conducting rigorous risk assessments, and leading base-wide responses to natural disasters. Staci's ability to collaborate seamlessly with interagency partners, local emergency services, and federal agencies showcases her adept coordination of disaster response efforts.

In her previous role as General Manager and Business Development professional at the AbilityOne Base Supply Center, located at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, Staci efficiently managed multi-million-dollar non-profit operations. Through strategic business development initiatives, she consistently achieved preset goals for new government and military agency contracts, expanding the center's reach and revenue while ensuring compliance with the AbilityOne Program regulations. Staci's efforts in procurement, inventory management, and customer service operations resulted in a 40% reduction in excess inventory and associated costs, along with perfect inventory audit scores yearly.

Staci founded and currently operates Tyr 1 LLC, a mission-driven company dedicated to supporting veterans and first responders facing mental health challenges. In her role as Owner and Chief Operating Officer, she successfully develops and executes business strategies, resulting in consistent revenue growth and expanded support for mental health initiatives. Leveraging marketing efforts through e-commerce platforms and social media campaigns, Staci enhances brand visibility and establishes partnerships with mental health organizations to allocate proceeds for their programs. Her hands-on management includes overseeing all aspects of the business, from budgeting to product sourcing, customer service, and strategic planning.

Staci's extensive experience also includes successful roles as a Salon Manager and Cosmetologist, where she demonstrated exceptional leadership, operational efficiency, and a keen focus on customer satisfaction. Additionally, her tenure as a Childcare Owner and Provider reflects her ability to establish and operate a licensed facility while ensuring a safe, nurturing, and educational environment for children.

Her dedication to excellence, coupled with a proven track record of achieving results in diverse environments, makes her qualified for her role of Chief of Business Development. Staci looks forward to bringing her passion for innovation and commitment to making a positive impact to all of those she works with.