This episode features a conversation with France Hoang ‘95, Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer, boodleAI
France is the Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer at boodleAI and West Point class of ‘95 where he graduated in the top 1% of his class. France is also a Partner at FH and H, holds numerous board positions, and is a distinguished visiting lecturer at West Point. Early in his career, France went from Platoon Leader to Battalion Staff Officer to Deputy Chief Of Police, to SWAT Commander before transitioning into the legal field where he ultimately became an Assistant United States Attorney.
On this episode, France shares how he was airlifted out of Vietnam at the age of 2, rose up the ranks in both the Army and as a lawyer, and how after 9 years in the private sector, he deployed again at the age of 35 as a Special Forces Officer in Afghanistan.
Episode Timestamps
(02:05) AAR—The After Action Review
(02:30) Getting airlifted out of Vietnam at the age of 2
(04:00) Why France’s parents decided to settle in the U.S.
(06:10) Joining West Point
(07:40) Post West Point
(12:00) Becoming the Chief of Police and SWAT team Commander
(17:00) Preparation meets opportunity
(20:00) Re-deploying at the age of 35 to the Special Forces
(23:45) Getting involved in aerospace
(28:30) The love of learning
(32:40) What France would have done differently
(34:00) The Sitrep—The Situation Report
(37:10) The founding story of boodleAI
(40:40) SOP—Standard Operating Procedure
(43:15) Giving Back
“I’m a big fan of what I call ‘hold my beer moments.’ What are those things that you’re going to look back on in life and say, ‘Gosh, I regret not doing that’ versus, ‘That was crazy, but how cool that I had a chance to do that.’”
—France Hoang ‘95
