Title: Fellow and Career Transition Support for U.S. Special Operations Forces
Company: The Honor Foundation
Location: Riverview, Florida, United States
Gerardo E. Matos-Negron, Fellow for Career Transition Support for U.S. Special Operations Forces at The Honor Foundation, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Business Owners for dedication, achievements and leadership in Military and Security Defense.
Mr. Matos-Negron is a U.S. Army Veteran who, in 2026, began his current role as a fellow for career transition support for U.S. Special Operations Forces at The Honor Foundation (THF) in Tampa, Florida. This organization is a career transition program for U.S. Special Operations Forces that translates elite military service into private sector success and fosters the next generation of corporate and community leaders. In this capacity, Mr. Matos-Negron has supported transitioning service members as they navigate new professional landscapes, applying his expertise to help others realize their potential beyond military service.
Before joining THF, Mr. Matos-Negron served as a senior security consultant for the U.S. Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa from 2024 to 2026. He was also a protection specialist with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service at the same location between 2022 and 2024. Mr. Matos-Negron’s earlier assignments included serving as a first sergeant for the 508th Military Police Battalion Detention HHC and as a senior enlisted provost marshal for America I Corps G34 Protection at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma, Washington, between 2019 and 2022. He also spent 2018 and 2019 as an operation S3 training noncommissioned officer for the 42nd Military Police Brigade at Joint Base Lewis McChord.
With a military career that dates back to 2005, Mr. Matos-Negron remains eager to transition out of military roles and into the private sector business. He is actively pursuing his goals with the intention of establishing himself within organizational management structures, focusing on opportunities in the field of operations management.
Mr. Matos-Negron’s distinguished military career also included roles such as senior operations noncommissioned officer and adaptive reconditioning program noncommissioned officer-in-charge with the Warrior Transition Battalion at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He notably led the Community Care Unit at Fort Bragg Warrior Transition Battalion. Earlier assignments saw Mr. Matos-Negron as a platoon sergeant with the 630th Military Police Company in Germany with the 504th Military Police Battalion, 170th Military Police Company, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. He began his military journey as a supply noncommissioned officer-in-charge at Hanau Health Clinic in Germany from 2005 to 2008.
Throughout his service, Mr. Matos-Negron completed two tours in Germany, two in Washington state, one in North Carolina and one combat deployment to Afghanistan. His expertise in military and security defense is widely recognized and praised within his field.
Mr. Matos-Negron’s commitment to excellence is further demonstrated through his academic pursuits. He earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and teaching from the University of Puerto Rico in Río Piedras in 2001 and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona, in 2016. These educational achievements provided Mr. Matos-Negron with a strong foundation in leadership and organizational management. These skills have proven invaluable throughout his military and civilian roles.
In addition to his formal education, Mr. Matos-Negron’s professional development has been complemented by coursework at the Joint Special Operations Forces Senior Enlisted Academy University. He also received protective service detail certification from the U.S. Army, Lean Six Sigma yellow belt certification from Womack Army Medical Center, U.S. Army MOS certification in military police at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and U.S. Army MOS certification in medical logistics at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
Mr. Matos-Negron’s civic involvement extends beyond his primary duties. He provides career transition support for U.S. Special Operations Forces through both The Honor Foundation and FourBlock in Tampa beginning in 2026. Earlier extracurricular activities included serving as assistant instructor with Kukkiwon, the World Taekwondo Headquarters, from 2006 to 2008.
A defining moment in Mr. Matos-Negron’s career came in 2017 when he was tasked by his command sergeant major to organize a third-anniversary celebration for the Warrior Transition Battalion, a unit supporting wounded warriors returning from Iraq and Afghanistan or those requiring care for noncombat illnesses. Witnessing soldiers overcome profound physical and emotional challenges left a lasting impression on him and underscored the resilience within the military community. Later, Mr. Matos-Negron coordinated a significant three-day event marking the battalion’s 10th anniversary, bringing together over 400 alums and community organizations to honor achievements and inspire current participants by sharing stories of success after service.
Mr. Matos-Negron’s distinguished service has been recognized with two Meritorious Service Medals, multiple Army Commendations and selection as a fellow with both Group 129 of The Honor Foundation and FourBlock. Among his proudest achievements, however, have been witnessing young soldiers reach significant milestones, including earning advanced degrees, securing prominent civilian roles or rising as leaders within their communities, demonstrating how skills acquired during service can lead to ongoing success beyond military life.
Throughout his journey, Mr. Matos-Negron has consistently embraced respect as a guiding principle, treating others with dignity while remaining open to feedback and personal growth. These values have shaped positive relationships across all aspects of his work. Mr. Matos-Negron attributes much of his success to foundational lessons instilled by his parents during his upbringing in Puerto Rico and later reinforced by guidance from his wife, Gigie Garcia, who influenced him deeply as a father and husband.
Eager for the future, Mr. Matos-Negron intends to serve his community by modeling kindness and respect for all individuals regardless of background while seeking opportunities within organizational management that allow him to fully support his family and pursue happiness each day. He is also committed to furthering his professional development by pursuing additional certifications such as yellow belt and black belt credentials. Mr. Matos-Negron’s story exemplifies unwavering dedication to leadership within both military and civilian spheres, demonstrating that perseverance, respect for others and purposeful action can drive meaningful change across any field or community.
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