From Infantry to Intelligence: Grit, Discipline, and the Making of a Founder

Feb 19, 2026

Jason Passwaters, CEO and co-founder of Intel 471 and a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, shares how military service shaped his leadership and company culture. He discusses moving from infantry to counterintelligence, bootstrapping a cybersecurity firm while raising a family, building global teams, and the role of humility, resourcefulness, and mission-first thinking in leading a company.

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ANECDOTE

From Infantry To Counterintelligence

Jason joined the Marines in 1997 and initially served in infantry with early deployments including Bahrain and 29 Palms, where he started a family.
He intentionally transitioned into counterintelligence to gain more transferable skills and better support his family.

INSIGHT

Mission-Driven Leadership Traits

Marine habits like discipline, resourcefulness, and mission obsession shaped Jason's leadership style at Intel 471.
He values humble experts who earn respect through competence and let work speak for them.

INSIGHT

Quiet Expertise Wins Trust

Great leaders are often 'humble experts' who earn trust through competence rather than loud claims.
Jason intentionally models quiet professionalism and lets results build credibility within his teams.

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In this episode of Beyond the Deal, Intel 471 CEO and Co-Founder Jason Passwaters joins Thoma Bravo Partner Adam Solomon for a candid conversation about the experiences that shaped him as a leader.

Passwaters reflects on his early years in the U.S. Marines — from infantry to counterintelligence — and the lessons he carried into building a global cybersecurity company. He shares how resourcefulness, team camaraderie, and mission-first thinking became foundational to Intel 471’s culture, as well as the personal commitment required to bootstrap a business while raising a family.

The discussion also explores leadership beyond titles: earning trust through action, building aligned teams across borders, and why humility and self-awareness may be the most underrated traits of a CEO.

For more information on Thoma Bravo's Behind the Deal, visit https://www.thomabravo.com/behindthedeal

Learn more about Thoma Bravo: https://www.thomabravo.com/

Learn more about Intel 471: https://www.intel471.com

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