Ryan Patrick Hunt is an outstanding candidate for the Vetrepreneur® of the Year Award. A retired U.S. Army Major, Ryan served with distinction during multiple deployments to Iraq, earning numerous accolades including the Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters for exemplary leadership and operational excellence.
Following his military career, Ryan founded Tenth Mountain Recruiting, a veteran-owned talent acquisition firm specializing in connecting top talent with leading organizations, with a strong emphasis on veteran hiring. He also launched Mountain Up, a lifestyle brand honoring military heritage, and Veteran Lifestyle Magazine, a digital platform celebrating veteran entrepreneurship and success stories.
Beyond his entrepreneurial ventures, Ryan is deeply committed to giving back to the veteran community. He serves as a Bunker Labs Ambassador for Chicago, supporting veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs, and hosts the annual Veteran Social Summit, a free virtual conference featuring 20+ speakers and attracting over 1,000 attendees from across the military and veteran community. Ryan has also been a featured speaker at the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans at Saint Joseph’s University. He also has been a speaker at Military Influencer Conference 2024.
Through his leadership, mentorship, and unwavering dedication to empowering veterans, Ryan Patrick Hunt exemplifies the values and impact celebrated by the Veteran of the Year® and Vetrepreneur® of the Year Award.
Tenth Mountain LLC
Ryan Hunt’s journey has been shaped by service, purpose, and deep connection. As a U.S. Army Major, he led with courage and conviction through multiple deployments, earning accolades like the Bronze Star Medal. Beyond the uniform, he built lasting friendships rooted in trust, loyalty, and shared sacrifice. His transition into entrepreneurship reflects his commitment to growth and community, founding ventures that empower veterans and elevate talent nationwide. Personally, Ryan is a proud father who finds joy in family adventures, meaningful conversations with friends, and mentoring others along their path. He’s also an avid reader, history enthusiast, and advocate for veteran storytelling. Whether hiking mountain trails or building business ecosystems, Ryan stays grounded by a sense of mission—and uplifted by the people around him.
Ryan Hunt is a decorated U.S. Army veteran, entrepreneur, and talent strategist with over 20 years of leadership experience. A former Army Major with multiple deployments, Ryan is the founder of Tenth Mountain Recruiting and the Veteran Social Summit (VETSOCIAL)—a premier virtual event for veteran entrepreneurs. He is the best-selling author of Recruiting in the War for Talent and The Vetrepreneur Field Manual, and serves as the Chicago Ambassador for Bunker Labs under the IVMF. Named one of the Top 25 Military Entrepreneur Changemakers, Ryan is a national voice on AI in hiring, veteran transition, and leadership development. He is known for building bridges between military talent and modern business, guided by the principles of collaboration, communication, and conviction.
