Red Star Foundation Announces Nic Vandre to Advisory Board

The Red Star Foundation is proud to announce the appointment of Nic Vandre to its Advisory Board, bringing one of the most respected and uniquely qualified leaders in the national security and veteran community to help guide the organization’s next phase of growth and impact.

Nic Vandre is a Special Operations veteran, national security leader, and mission-driven philanthropist with more than 20 years of service within United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM). His career has been built alongside the very communities Red Star Foundation exists to serve, giving him a firsthand understanding of the invisible wounds of service and the lasting impact they have on military families.

Throughout his career, Nic has witnessed the reality of veteran suicide up close. He has seen the gap between available support and the families who struggle to access it, and he understands that the impact of suicide extends far beyond the individual. It affects millions of loved ones who often go unseen, unheard, and unsupported. That understanding aligns directly with Red Star Foundation’s mission to recognize and support families of military, veteran, and first responder suicides.

Nic brings exceptional operational credibility and a powerful national network to Red Star Foundation. As the former Director of Innovation and Strategic Partnerships at U.S. Army Special Operations Command, he built and led an ecosystem that connected government, private sector, and emerging technology partners to solve complex challenges at speed. His ability to build infrastructure, create partnerships, and execute at scale will play a critical role in accelerating Red Star’s national expansion.

Today, Nic serves as Senior Director of Growth at 10x National Security and leads Military and Community Ventures at 21CV, where he continues to bridge the gap between mission-driven initiatives, corporate partnerships, and national impact. He also serves on multiple boards and advisory roles across the defense, technology, and veteran support ecosystem, further expanding his reach and influence.

As an Advisory Board member, Nic will support Red Star Foundation in advancing key initiatives including the Red Star Service Banner, national peer-to-peer networks, legislative advocacy, and suicide prevention efforts. His experience in building high-impact ecosystems and aligning diverse stakeholders will be instrumental in ensuring that every family navigating the loss of a loved one to suicide knows that they are not alone.

Nic’s decision to join Red Star Foundation is deeply personal. This is not a cause he recently discovered. It is a community he has long been part of and a mission he has witnessed throughout his career. His commitment reflects a shared belief that closing the gap between grief and support is one of the most urgent challenges facing the military and veteran community today.

With Nic Vandre joining the Advisory Board, Red Star Foundation continues to strengthen its leadership, expand its national reach, and move closer to its mission of reducing suicide and supporting the families left behind.