Wounded Warrior Project CEO on Leadership, Mental Health, and Coming Home

Mar 18, 2026

Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Walter Piatt, a three-star Army general turned CEO of Wounded Warrior Project who spent 42 years leading service members and veteran programs. He discusses the charity’s origins delivering care packages, leadership lessons shaped by empathy, retraining for unexpected challenges, the complex mental-health needs of returning warriors, and how mindfulness boosts focus and resilience.

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INSIGHT

Bring Every Warrior Home Mind Body And Soul

Wounded Warrior Project's mission is to "bring every warrior home" mind, body, and soul through no-cost programs.
It began 22 years ago with someone delivering backpacks at Walter Reed and expanded into 18 programs covering mental health, finances, VA assistance, and careers.

INSIGHT

Leadership Rooted In Empathy And Cultural Understanding

Piatt emphasizes empathy and understanding as core leadership values learned from his father and Afghan partners.
He credits Afghan governor Gulal Mangal teaching him to become a friend first, then to command, shifting his approach to listening and cultural understanding.

ADVICE

Prepare For The Unexpected With Broad Education

Train for the expected but cultivate broad education to handle the unexpected.
Piatt advises leaders to draw on varied life lessons and education to apply new thinking to new problems rather than old thinking to new problems.

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Wounded Warrior Project brings every warrior home—mind, body, and soul—through no-cost programs spanning mental health, financial readiness, and careers. Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Walter Piatt, CEO of Wounded Warrior Project, speaks with Ericka Leslie, chief operating officer of Global Banking & Markets and global head of GBM Operations and Engineering, to discuss the organization’s mission from its beginnings delivering backpacks at Walter Reed to comprehensive support that includes VA disability assistance, financial training, job placement, and peer connection. Piatt discusses lessons in leadership from his time in active duty, the shift from training for the expected to educating for the unexpected, and the need to keep citizens and service members connected.

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