Second in Command: The Chief Behind the Chief with Cameron Herold Ep. 557 - ACP COO Richard Comitz - How to Lead By Example in the Nonprofit World
What if you could transform a team of rookies into high-performing, loyal leaders and stay sane in the process?
This episode delivers an unfiltered look inside the mind of Richard Comitz, Chief Operating Officer of American Corporate Partners, a West Point PhD and retired Army Lieutenant Colonel now leading one of America’s most mission-driven nonprofits. He sits down with Narrator to unpack the proven discipline, radical transparency, and mentorship strategies he honed in combat and now deploys to scale an 80-person organization serving over 5,000 mentorships nationwide.
Want to dodge burnout, ignite next-gen talent, and finally get your CEO partnerships working for—not against—you? Listen now. Skip it, and you risk getting buried by the next Ops crisis. This is an urgent, inside-access episode you won’t find anywhere else.
Timestamped Highlights
[00:00] – The leadership power move that made junior staff instantly trust Richard Comitz
[00:04:12] – Why a PhD, combat zones, and organic chemistry are COO superpowers (and how higher ed nearly cost him)
[00:08:48] – How to “inherit” a role from a founder without clashing or caving
[00:13:05] – The secret architecture behind training 60+ brand-new hires (and spotting future all-stars fast)
[00:15:53] – Shocking truths of what actually works to fight young-employee burnout and what never does
[00:19:30] – Hidden mentorship hacks that win powerful partners in Fortune 500s
[00:23:16] – Does military “figure it out” energy work with Gen Z? The raw reality from the field
[00:37:26] – Navigating founder-CEO rigidity and pitching bold new ideas (without ending up fired)
About the Guest
Richard Comitz is the Chief Operating Officer of American Corporate Partners (ACP), a powerhouse nonprofit connecting U.S. veterans and military spouses with Fortune 500 mentors for next-level careers. A retired Army Lieutenant Colonel, West Point organic chemistry instructor, and experienced higher education COO, Comitz is celebrated for turning disciplined military leadership into explosive organizational growth in both the public and nonprofit sectors.
Mentioned Resources
- Peter Attia (podcast, health and nutrition)
- Andrew Huberman (Huberman Lab, neuroscience podcast)
- Jocko Podcast by Jocko Willink (Extreme Ownership, Navy SEAL leadership lessons)
- Joe Rogan Experience (podcast)
- Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink (book)
- West Point (U.S. Military Academy)
About the Co-Host
Sivana Brewer is a Fractional COO for Remote Teams and former COO at Closers.io, where she helped scale the company to multiple eight figures and built over 500+ sales teams in just 2.5 years. She specializes in leadership development, remote operations, and systems that empower teams to grow sustainably.
🔗 Connect with Sivana on LinkedIn
Important Links
- Connect with Cameron: Website | LinkedIn
- Explore the COO Alliance - The World’s Leading Community for Seconds in Command
- Get Cameron’s book: Second in Command: Unleash the Power of Your COO Book
- Take his course: Invest In Your Leaders Online Course (Use promo code PODCAST10 before the end of the month for 10% off)
- Chat or video call with AI Cameron via Delphi
The Second in Command Podcast is an original production hosted by Cameron Herold. Brought to you by COO Alliance. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.