Military finance leadership lessons for growing businesses
Published: February 10, 2026
Most CFOs talk about "risk management" from behind a desk. I learned it while managing over $33 billion in financial operations across the Middle East during active combat operations. Here's what combat finance teaches you that no MBA program can replicate.
Published: February 10, 2026
How I led a Zero Base Review at Malmstrom AFB that saved $2.4M and what growing businesses can learn from military budgeting discipline. Most companies budget by taking last year's numbers and adding 3-5%. That's incremental budgeting—and it's lazy.
Published: February 10, 2026
I didn't commission as an Air Force officer. I enlisted as an E-1—the lowest rank in the military. That journey from bottom to top taught me more about leadership than any MBA program could. Here's why.
Published: February 10, 2026
I took command in June 2020—right in the middle of COVID-19. Mission: Keep financial operations running for a nuclear missile wing while protecting 140 people. Here's what crisis leadership actually looks like.
Published: February 10, 2026
What I learned managing over $33 billion in financial operations during Middle East combat operations and how it applies to business. No boardroom. No comfortable office. Just real decisions with real consequences.
I'm Gabriel Denny, a retired Air Force Major with 20 years managing billions in high-stakes environments—from combat finance operations to CFO of America's largest nuclear missile wing.
This blog shares lessons from military finance leadership and how they apply to growing businesses.
Want to discuss how military-grade financial leadership can help your business?
GDFS LLC