Ep. 127 Be an Asset, Not a Liability: How a Civilian Contractor Became a Leader in Construction Consulting

In this episode of TheMilVet Podcast, we sit down with Michael Osburn, Managing Director of Aristos Global and former Army contractor (civilian) assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Teams in Kunar during The Surge, to explore his unique path from civil-military operations in Afghanistan to tackling complex problems in private equity and construction consulting.

Michael shares how working alongside military, intelligence, and DEA teams as a civilian contractor shaped his approach to leadership, teamwork, and “being an asset, not a liability”—lessons that carried over into building his own company. From the challenges of fusing military and civilian efforts in dynamic environments to navigating a return to private sector life, Michael offers a grounded, practical perspective on how experiences in conflict zones translate into business acumen.

You’ll hear about:

• The challenges of integrating military, civil, and intelligence teams in Afghanistan
• The value of building real-world networks before you need them
• How Michael structured Aristos Global to operate as the “special operations” of construction consulting
• Advice for those transitioning from public service or overseas contracting into private equity, real estate, and construction

Whether you're considering a transition from high-stakes environments or interested in how crisis management skills apply to entrepreneurship, this episode is full of insight, authenticity, and practical wisdom.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

#ConstructionLeadership #MilitaryTransition #ContractorExperience #PrivateEquity #RealEstateDevelopment #SpecialOperationsMindset #AfghanistanDeployment #TheMilVetPodcast #CivilMilitaryOperations #VeteranNetwork #LeadershipDevelopment #AristosGlobal #ForcesForGood

Thanks for listening!

Here's how you can find us to continue the conversation:

Tweet us at @brendan_aronson
Follow us on Instagram at @themilitaryvet
Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter at https://www.themilvet.org/resources-for-veterans
Check out our video content on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@themilitaryvet