Lee Kirby, Salute Co-Founder and retired Army Colonel, interviewed Nick Grant, an Army EOD Veteran and current Field Operations Manager at ForgeNow
Before we dig in, our readers would love to get to know you a bit. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood "backstory"?
I was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, where I developed a love for the outdoors, sports, and service at an early age. Growing up, I always aspired to be in the military and wanted to be part of something bigger than myself. My father is a breast cancer surgeon, and I have always admired what it means to really help someone. After graduating from Highland Park High School, I attended Marion Military Institute for a year before earning an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. That experience shaped not only my career but also my perspective on leadership, responsibility, and serving others.
And what are you doing today?
Today I serve as the Field Operations Manager at ForgeNow, a skilled trades training company that helps veterans, transitioning service members, and civilians launch careers in high-demand industries such as HVAC, electrical, plumbing, facilities maintenance, and data centers.
My primary focus is helping active-duty service members transition successfully through SkillBridge or right after they leave service. I currently lead a team of 13 retirees across 13 military installations who educate transitioning service members about ForgeNow at the different transition offices.
One of the most rewarding parts of my job is watching someone go from uncertainty about their future to graduating with confidence, industry certifications, and a job before they even leave the building. It’s incredibly fulfilling to be on the team responsible for that.
Can you tell us a bit about your military background?
I graduated from West Point in 2018 and commissioned as an Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) officer.
After completing EOD school, I was assigned to the 752nd Ordnance Company (EOD) at Fort Hood, where I led some of the Army’s best bomb technicians. One of our missions was homeland response, driving around the state of Texas disposing of explosive ordnance found by civilians and law enforcement. From late 2021 through mid-2022, I deployed to Syria as the EOD Platoon Leader for six EOD teams supporting six ODA’s from 5th Special Forces Group.
During that deployment, our platoon executed more than 360 combat missions supporting special operations forces. We disposed of more than 33,000 lbs. of conventional explosive hazards, chemical munitions, and even secured radiological materials that could have posed significant hazards.
Serving alongside such talented bomb techs remains one of the greatest privileges of my life.
Can you share the most interesting story that you experienced during your military career? What "takeaway" did you learn from that story?
As the only EOD Officer in Syria, I made it a priority to build relationships not only with our military partners, but also with several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working to rebuild communities that had previously been occupied by ISIS. Their teams were restoring schools, repairing infrastructure, and helping families return to their homes. During that work, they would occasionally uncover unexploded ordnance, homemade explosives caches, or other dangerous munitions left behind by years of conflict.
One NGO reached out about almost two dozen chemical munitions containing mustard gas they had buried on their property. They knew they couldn’t simply ignore the problem, but they also knew attempting to move or destroy the munitions themselves could have had catastrophic consequences.
My team was tasked with safely disposing of the rounds, but we quickly encountered a big challenge. The procedure required far more explosives than we had available. Due to the logistical constraints of operating in Syria, there simply wasn’t enough C-4 in the country for us to conduct the demolition safely.
I had heard that a nearby Tier 1 Army unit had a team member who started his career as an EOD tech. I reached out, explained the situation, and without hesitation they stepped in to help. They were able to source the additional C-4 we needed, and together we planned and executed a joint demolition operation to safely dispose of the chemical munitions.
Watching organizations with completely different missions come together to solve a dangerous problem was something I’ll never forget. The NGOs trusted us to eliminate a hazard that threatened their people. Our Special Operations partners trusted us to execute the mission safely and supported us with security during the operation. Another unit provided all the explosives we could ever need. Everyone checked their egos at the door and focused on accomplishing a common objective.
The experience reinforced a lesson that has shaped how I lead today: relationships matter long before you need them. The trust we had built across organizations made it possible to solve a problem that none of us could have solved alone.
Do you think your experience in the military helped prepare you for business or leadership? Can you explain?
Absolutely.
The military teaches you how to make decisions with incomplete information, communicate clearly, solve problems under pressure, and put your team ahead of yourself. Those skills translate directly into business.
Perhaps even more important, the military teaches accountability. As a leader, you quickly learn that your success depends on developing the people around you. That philosophy has carried over into my work at ForgeNow. Whether I’m working with our military liaisons across the country or helping a transitioning Soldier find their next career, my goal is to remove obstacles and help others succeed.
Leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about creating an environment where people can do their best work.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?
One person I’m especially grateful for is Rob Holmes, the co-founder of ForgeNow. Rob is a West Point graduate from the Class of 1989, and I first met him when I was a 17-year-old high school student who dreamed of attending West Point.
Even though he barely knew me, he took the time to help me through the admissions process, introduced me to other West Point graduates in the Dallas area, and helped me better understand what it meant to become an Army officer. His guidance played an important role in helping me achieve that goal.
Years later, as I was transitioning out of the Army, Rob and I reconnected. He shared his vision for ForgeNow and asked me to help grow a team and awareness of the program within the military community. It felt like everything had come full circle.
What I admire most about Rob isn’t just his professional success, but his character. He’s an honest, humble leader who genuinely cares about people. He leads with integrity and sets an example both as a businessman and as a father. His mentorship has impacted my life at multiple stages, and it’s reminded me of the importance of paying that investment forward by helping the next generation of veterans navigate their own transition.
You are a part of the Salute Veterans Community that shares a common passion of helping veterans get into this industry. This community is "veterans helping veterans." Why is this important to you?
Transitioning out of the military can be one of the most uncertain periods in a person’s life.
Many veterans don’t need someone to hand them success. They need someone to show them what’s possible and point them in the right direction.
That’s why organizations like Salute and ForgeNow matter so much. Veterans naturally trust people who have walked a similar path. When one veteran helps another navigate the transition, it creates a ripple effect that benefits families, employers, and entire communities.
I’ve benefited from veterans who took the time to mentor me, and I believe we all have a responsibility to do the same for those coming behind us.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?
I would love to see a movement that changes how we think about skilled trades. If you are reading this, you already know the opportunity that exists. Many people do not.
For too long, we’ve encouraged young people to believe that success only comes through a traditional four-year college degree. Meanwhile, our country faces an enormous shortage of skilled trades professionals.
For veterans especially, the trades often provide many of the things they miss after military service like purpose, teamwork, problem-solving, and the satisfaction of accomplishing difficult missions.
If we can continue changing that perception, we’ll create opportunities for thousands of veterans while helping solve one of America’s biggest workforce challenges.
How can our readers follow you online?
I’m active on LinkedIn. I also enjoy sharing my passion as a classically trained pianist on YouTube under @NickGrantPiano, where I post performances in my spare time.