Introduction
When Jason “Buzz” Lewis enlisted in the U.S. Army at 17, his plan was simple: serve four years, earn college tuition, and move on. Twenty-five years later, Buzz had served across continents, commanded troops in combat, advised from the halls of the Pentagon, and shaped the operational heart of America’s military missions. His story is one of grit, leadership, and deep introspection.
Now, as the Vice President and COO of Unturning Steel (UTS), a nonprofit that empowers transitioning service members Buzz is once again on the front lines. But this time, the mission is different. It’s not about battle strategy or national defense. It’s about healing, rediscovery, and building purpose beyond the uniform.
A Military Career Built on People, Process, and Purpose
Buzz’s military journey began not with glory, but with necessity. Raised by a single mother who couldn’t afford college for both her children, he saw the Army as his ticket to a better future. What he found in uniform, however, was more than just education.
Starting as a young infantryman, Buzz deployed to Iraq as a 22-year-old platoon leader. Later, in Afghanistan, he led a company of over 120 soldiers, learning one of his most enduring leadership lessons: “Every soldier has a story, and you can’t treat everyone the same.”
From direct combat roles to complex staff assignments, Buzz developed a specialty in process improvement and leadership development. He eventually led specialized units in Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear operations, then moved into joint service roles in Hawaii, the National Guard Bureau, and the Pentagon.
“I didn’t have to be the smartest guy in the room,” he reflects. “I just had to use the smart people around me effectively and support them well.”
The Transition: Complex, Emotional, and Misunderstood
Despite a two-year runway to prepare, Buzz describes his transition as surprisingly overwhelming. “I thought it would be less stressful,” he admits. “But I’m busier now than when I was in uniform. The civilian world doesn’t give you a mission, it gives you a thousand options.”
That flood of choices was both exciting and paralyzing. Like many service members, Buzz confronted the silent burden of military identity the sense that if he wasn’t “doing” something urgent, he was falling behind.
“Even now,” he shares, “I still feel like I need permission to stop working. I time-block my calendar like I’m defending a battlefield. And sometimes I forget that I’m allowed to just be with my family.”
Buzz points to a core misconception that both veterans and civilians often share: that service members “have it all together.” In reality, the facade of confidence often hides isolation and uncertainty. “We’re fatally self-reliant,” he says. “People think we don’t need help because we look fine. But the truth is, we’re struggling and we just don’t say it out loud.”
Discovering Unturning Steel: A Podcast, a Purpose, and a Path Forward
Buzz discovered Unturning Steel the way many great connections happen; through a podcast. He heard founder Bill Leahy sharing the origin story of the organization, built in honor of his late brother, and felt an instant pull.
Moved by Bill’s mission and message, Buzz reached out through a mutual friend and spent the next 18 months shaping a custom internship through the Army’s SkillBridge program. Initially planning to enter the technical track working in manufacturing, Buzz pivoted toward an internship in leadership and nonprofit operations, better suited to his skills and values.
Today, as VP and COO, he’s responsible for setting up the board structure, financial systems, CRM tools, and the candidate onboarding process all the internal architecture necessary for UTS to grow sustainably.
“My job was to take everything in Bill’s head and make it operational,” Buzz explains. “Now we’re not just a great idea. We’re a functioning engine for transition.”
Helping Veterans Do More Than “Land a Job”
UTS stands apart from many other veteran support nonprofits because it goes beyond resumes and job placement. At its core, it’s about identity, purpose, and healing.
Buzz sees this every day in the veterans he meets, men and women trying to figure out who they are without a rank, without a mission, and without the military structure that once gave them certainty.
He urges fellow service members to start early and give themselves permission to do something different: “Try new things. Make mistakes. Every decision can be undecided.”
The Vision Ahead: Building a True Community
While UTS has already made an impact through its technical certification program, Buzz sees the future as something even bigger: a full-spectrum support system not just for veterans, but for their families too.
“In five years, I want Unturning Steel to be more than a program. I want it to be a community,” he says. “We want to bring in spouses, children, and extended families. Because when one person transitions, the whole family does.”
It’s a vision of transformation that doesn’t end at job placement, but one that continues into belonging, support, and shared growth.
The Veteran Starter Pack: What Really Matters
When asked what he’d include in a “starter pack” for fellow veterans beginning their civilian journey, Buzz’s answer perfectly captures his heart, humor, and hope.
Serious Item: A journal—with my wife’s perspective written in the front cover.
*“When I was still in uniform, I used to say that when I got out, I didn’t want to do it without my wife—I wanted to do it with her.
So I brought her into the transition process: every briefing, every conversation, every step she wanted to be part of. That journal became a space to process my faith, family, and identity beyond the military. But what made it truly meaningful was having her write her thoughts in the front cover.
Her words became a compass, reminding me of who I am, what matters most, and who I’m becoming with her in this next chapter.”*
Silly Item: A Florida beach-starter kit—flip-flops, sunglasses, and no socks in sight.
*“Since retiring and moving to Florida, I haven’t worn socks once—and honestly, I don’t miss them. My new uniform is flip-flops, sunglasses, and a good hat.
It might sound silly, but it’s symbolic too: a reminder that the mission has changed, the environment is different, and sometimes stepping forward means letting go of the rigid structure and embracing something new, with a little sun, sand, and joy along the way.”*
Conclusion: The New Kind of Mission
Jason “Buzz” Lewis may have taken off the uniform, but he hasn’t stopped serving. At Unturning Steel, he’s helping veterans rediscover themselves not just as employees, but as parents, spouses, thinkers, and dreamers.
His story is a powerful reminder that transition isn’t about losing something; it’s about redefining what service, leadership, and purpose mean in this new season of life.
The mission has changed. The battlefield is different. But Buzz? He’s still exactly where he belongs which is leading from the front.
