Mason H.

US Army & Special Operations - 21 years

Harvard Kennedy School of Government, MA/MS

Mason is a U.S. Army Special Forces soldier (18X-ray) who is preparing to separate from the Army after serving in the 5th Special Forces Group.



After three semesters at Virginia Military Institute, Mason left school and signed an 18X-ray contract in February 2019. He made it through the Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) and was assigned to 5th Special Forces Group, which focuses on the Middle East. His service included two combat deployments to Iraq and Syria, training exercises (JCETs) in Uzbekistan and Jordan, and assignments in Pakistan and Israel. In Iraq, he worked alongside Iraqi Special Forces on missions against ISIS, an effort he believes made a real difference in the smaller towns where they operated.

Mason will separate from the Army in July 2026 and will begin a full-time MBA at the University of Texas this fall. Guided by a belief in serving something bigger than oneself, he is still shaping what his next chapter will look like, but he is not slowing down.