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Ep. 117 From Marine to Machine Learning: Paul Hylenski’s Mission to Fix the VA System
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In this inspiring episode of The MilVet Podcast, host Beau Higgins sits down with Paul Hylenski, CEO and Founder of Vet Mentor AI, Marine Corps veteran, best-selling author, and 4x Tedx Speaker to explore his journey from the flight line to the forefront of artificial intelligence.
After serving eight years in the Marine Corps — including at the prestigious Presidential Helicopter Squadron (HMX-1) — Paul faced the same frustrating, confusing VA disability claims process that so many veterans struggle with. Denied multiple times and left with only a 10% rating, he decided to take matters into his own hands. Teaching himself to code five programming languages in just six months, Paul built his own AI platform to navigate the VA system — ultimately recovering the full benefits he deserved.
💡 Key Takeaways from This Episode:
- The creation of Vet Mentor AI, an avatar-driven platform that analyzes VA claims and helps veterans refile with precision.
- How AI uncovered a shocking VA error: a veteran’s claim had been denied using another veteran’s medical records.
- Paul's battle-tested leadership lessons — and how bad managers inspired his bestselling books and multiple TEDx Talks.
- Why error-proofing processes, not people, is the future of effective leadership in both military and civilian organizations.
- The importance of resilience, perseverance, and taking the shot — whether you're applying for a TED Talk or building something that doesn’t exist yet.
This episode is a must-listen for veterans navigating the benefits system, leaders seeking a more human-centered approach, and anyone curious about the real-world potential of AI for social impact.
#TheMilVetPodcast #VeteranSuccess #VetMentorAI #PaulHylenski #AIForGood #LeadershipMatters #MarineCorps #VAClaims #VeteranSupport #TEDxSpeaker #VeteranEntrepreneur
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