Forged by two of the toughest programs in the U.S. military, Steve Milgazo has 25+ years of leadership and strategy experience.

Steve’s early career started after high school when he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and joined Pararescue training. As an elite trauma medic and rescue specialist he was stationed in Florida where he stood rescue alert for 26 NASA Space Shuttle operations.

Wanting to pursue higher education and a commission in the Navy, he went to the University of Colorado and attended Naval ROTC. Upon graduation, he reported to San Diego, CA and Basic Underwater Demotion/ SEAL training (BUD/S). His assignments as a junior SEAL officer resulted in various deployments as a tactical team leader in locations throughout Europe and the Middle East. He’s had the honor of training and operating with the most elite U.S. military units and foreign special operations teams from 12 countries throughout the world.

His transition into senior executive leadership started when he took the role of Chief of Staff for BUD/S where he oversaw all aspects of operations, human capital management, finances, and facilities for a student and staff population of 600 personnel. It was here he found his strength in enterprise optimization and developing strategic vision. His efforts resulted in a high performing culture that consistently operated a peak performance while conducting high risk training every day at eight regional facilities across the nation.

After completing this tour, Steve went on to develop enterprise strategy for various Navy and Special Operations commands responsible for deploying fully trained military units throughout the globe. He was be responsible for leading strategy planning with senior executive stakeholders, overseeing C-Suite level approval, and directing execution plans. His major accomplishments include the development of a unique Navy and Special Operations training integration plan, the 5-year strategy for Central and South America operations, and the strategy for the development of the future SEAL fighting force.

In October 2019, Steve retired from 30 years of service and recently founded Optimal Path Coaching (https://optimal-path.net/) for people in high demand roles who want optimal cognitive, physical, and spiritual balance so they can deliver the impact they want at work and the fulfillment they desire in their personal lives.

Along with his B.A. in Kinesiology from the University of Colorado, he earned a M.S. in Information Systems and Operations from the Naval Post Graduate School. Steve is scheduled to earn his M.S. in Kinesiology and Integrated Wellness in the summer of 2025.

Steve is the proud father of two beautiful teenage daughters, so when he is not watching his girls play softball or ride horses, you can find him surfing, tinkering with classic cars, or hiking peaks throughout San Diego.

Through The Sweet Spot Leader program, Steve seeks to pass along his experience and wisdom to those who, like him, are dedicated to leading transformational change to make our world a better place for everyone.