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From the tough streets of East St. Louis to the elite ranks of Navy SEALs and onto entrepreneurial success, Ty Smith's life journey embodies resilience in its truest form. Growing up without a father but with a police officer mother who kept him accountable, Ty found his calling at just 12 years old after watching "Navy SEALs" starring Charlie Sheen. That moment planted a seed that would guide him through life's challenges.
Ty's path wasn't without setbacks. His first attempt at the infamously brutal SEAL training ended when he quit during Hell Week. But this failure became a pivotal moment that ultimately strengthened his resolve. After serving as a military police officer in Sardinia, Italy, the events of 9/11 – which Ty experienced while flying into New York – reignited his determination. He returned to SEAL training with newfound maturity and purpose, successfully completing the program and embarking on multiple combat deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq.
What makes Ty's story particularly compelling is his candid reflection on war's human dimension. He shares a profound moment when, during a raid, he nearly collided with two young Afghan girls fleeing a building he was about to clear. This split-second encounter forced him to confront war's impact on innocents and triggered deep questions about purpose and faith. Throughout intense firefights and dangerous missions, including a harrowing ambush by Taliban fighters, Ty's training prepared his actions while his humanity processed the experience.
After 20 years of military service, Ty successfully transitioned to entrepreneurship, founding ComSafe AI – a company using artificial intelligence to detect workplace issues in communication channels before they escalate. This "left of boom" approach mirrors his military mindset of preventing problems rather than managing their aftermath. Through it all, Ty's journey demonstrates how resilience, adaptability, and maintaining core values create success across vastly different worlds.
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