Rob Arndt is a disruptive leader in the veteran employment space, dedicated to eradicating veteran underemployment through real, military-effective solutions. As the CEO and Founder of BufferSprings, he has transformed how companies engage, hire, and retain military talent by challenging outdated hiring practices and building sustainable pathways for veterans and military spouses.
A Marine Corps veteran with a background in manpower strategy and recruiting, Rob has spent over a decade pioneering new approaches to veteran hiring. His impact has been recognized nationally through multiple industry awards and partnerships with leading corporations like PepsiCo, Caterpillar, and Benesch.
Rob’s contributions extend beyond his company. He actively mentors transitioning service members, veterans, and fellow entrepreneurs, speaks at major conferences such as SHRM, NILG, and NASWA, and collaborates with federal contractors, government agencies, and industry leaders to reshape military hiring and retention programs. His hands-on involvement in veteran career development, employer education, and SkillBridge optimization has set a new standard in the industry.
His accolades include recognition from key organizations in veteran hiring and workforce development, and BufferSprings’ rapid ascent to industry leadership showcases his ability to drive meaningful change. As an ENPP-approved partner with the Department of Labor, Rob’s efforts directly impact transitioning service members at the installation level.
Rob embodies what it means to be a Vetrepreneur® of the Year: a relentless innovator, a results-driven leader, and a true advocate for veteran success in the workforce. His work isn’t just about hiring veterans... it’s about building futures, strengthening companies, and ensuring that military talent is recognized and valued at the highest levels.
Buffer Springs
I grew up having to raise myself, surrounded by bad influences and worse examples. No guidance, no structure, just survival. The Marine Corps was my way out, but it gave me structure, purpose, and a brotherhood I never had. Getting out was a different challenge. The transition programs didn’t prepare me. I left without a plan, without support, and had to figure out civilian life on my own. That’s why I built BufferSprings. I’ve lived every part of this... from being lost, to serving, to working inside hundreds of companies, and alongside thousands of our people to build something real for the next generation. I’m a husband and a dad to four boys. My oldest graduates this summer and heads to the Marines. This mission isn’t just business. It’s personal. I’m not here for contracts or press releases. I’m here to fix what’s broken and make sure our people have what we never did. No one’s more committed or better equipped than I am to fight this fight. Not for optics, but for outcomes
Rob Arndt is a Marine Corps veteran, military talent program architect, and the founder of BufferSprings. He has spent his career on the front lines of veteran hiring. First in uniform, then private sector. Now leading the charge to fix a system that fails far too often. He deployed as a Marine, and then spent eight years inside the Corps leading recruiting and developing manpower strategy. When he transitioned out, he found himself drowning in the so-called sea of goodwill. Everyone claimed to support veterans, but most of it was just noise. Rob spent over a decade working in the military hiring space and quickly realized the hard truth… the solutions being pushed were the problem. He saw what worked, what didn’t, and what was nothing more than window dressing to make companies feel patriotic. For a while, he sold the same programs everyone else did. The kind that sounded good but
