HT TRAN

Sergeant, U.S. Army
Business Entrepreneur, Anvil Builders

During a combat deployment to Iraq, HT was hit by an improvised explosive device. He lost his right eye and sustained permanent injuries to his left leg that required doctors to insert a titanium rod to help repair it.

During his 15 months recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, HT met with Mike Conklin, chairman and CEO of Sentinels of Freedom (SOF) and other SOF mentors. Mike and SOF were there for HT during his long recovery, providing both mentorships and guidance. After his release from the hospital, SOF provided connections to help HT get started as a procurement officer with Northrop Grumman. This eventually led him to start his own civil engineering company, Anvil Builders, in 2010.

As CEO and President of that company, HT was guided by his desire to give back to other veterans and to have an impact on their lives that SOF had had on his. Today Anvil Builders is deeply committed to aiding the disabled veteran community. In fact, HT’s commitment to advancing the veteran community has been featured in the San Francisco Chronicle and on CNN. In addition, he has been honored with Engineering News Record’s Award of Excellence in recognition of Anvil Builders’ growth and the contributions they have made to the veteran community. HT has also been recognized by Sentinels of Freedom chairman and CEO Mike Conklin, who brought him on board as a member of the organization’s board of directors.

What was HT’s experience with Sentinels of Freedom? “Flawless. Highly effective. You do not feel like just another number, and there are no promises that might not be delivered. You never feel like you have been swindled: It is the Real Deal. The number one thing is that the organization does not just take anyone. You have to want success and [be willing] to give it back.”