Ep. 134 From Vietnam to West Point: France Hoang’s Journey of Service, Sacrifice, and Success

In this episode of TheMilVet Podcast, host Beau Higgins engages in a deep and candid conversation with France Hoang, Co-Founder and CEO of BoodleBox, West Point graduate, and United States Army Veteran.

France shares his inspiring journey, starting as a Vietnamese refugee evacuated from Saigon, and later graduating in the top 1% of his class at the United States Military Academy at West Point. He served in the U.S. Army in multiple leadership roles, including deployments with both the Military Police and Special Forces commands, and as Deputy Chief of Police and SWAT Commander at Fort Leavenworth. His military career includes service in Southeast Afghanistan and contributions to national security across multiple U.S. government branches.

Listeners will gain invaluable insights into France’s transition from active duty to law school—graduating magna cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center—and his subsequent appointment as Associate White House Counsel and Special Assistant to the President, along with service as an Assistant United States Attorney and lawyer at Williams & Connolly. He reflects on building teams and integrating innovative technology in law, aerospace, and defense, co-founding companies with combined sales of over $600 million and creating employment for more than 1,200 professionals.

France opens up about his drive to empower lifelong learning in the age of AI as the CEO and co-founder of BoodleBox, a collaborative AI platform now used by over 10,000 professors and students at 650+ colleges, preparing the workforce for the future. He discusses the realities of entrepreneurship, team-building, resilience, and leadership, highlighting hard-won lessons from his decades of experience in high-stakes environments.

This episode delivers practical advice for veterans and founders on career transitions, embracing innovation, and pursuing passion-driven success. France continues to serve on multiple boards and is passionate about empowering communities in education, technology, and veteran support.

Connect with France and TheMilVet community at themilvet.org to learn more about empowering veterans in private equity, venture capital, and beyond.

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