History of HCC
HCC's Founder Andrew Nguyen is a 1st generation American who is passionate about entrepreneurship, veterans, and America. After the attacks on 9/11, Nguyen enlisted in the Marines in 2002 and served 4 years active duty. He served two tours overseas; one on the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit followed by a combat deployment in Afghanistan. In the Marine Corps, he was trained as an Infantryman, TOW SABER Missile Gunner Instructor, Black Belt Marine Corps Martial Arts Instructor, Helicopter Rope Suspension Training (HRST) Master, and Combat Marksmanship Instructor. Nguyen was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with a Distinguished “V” for Valor for his actions that took out two machine positions during an ambush in Operation Sorkh Khar in Afghanistan 2005.
After his transition off active duty in the Marine Corps in 2006, Andrew successfully completed degrees and executive programs from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Southern Methodist University, and University of North Texas. In 2008, Andrew launched WSI Search (re-branded to 03Entrepreneur) – a marketing and development firm specializing in custom software, websites, and mobile apps. Having achieved success even through a down economy, he then recognized a direct correlation between military leadership and entrepreneurship. The Marine Corps core values – Honor, Courage, and Commitment – transcended beyond the military for him. These core values that are ingrained in him and many veterans apply not only on the battlefield, but in entrepreneurship and community as well.
This realization that all veterans possess these same traits to become successful after the military motivated him to go back to school and build a business model for other veterans to take a similar path into entrepreneurship while focusing on 3 components: education, mentoring, and community.
In 2011, after completing his Masters in Entrepreneurship from Southern Methodist University, Andrew officially launched Honor Courage Commitment, Inc. and dedicated his life to helping veterans become successful after service. During his time as President of HCC and #22KILL, Andrew committed to a full-time position with a $0 salary.
After his transition off active duty in the Marine Corps in 2006, Andrew successfully completed degrees and executive programs from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Southern Methodist University, and University of North Texas. In 2008, Andrew launched WSI Search (re-branded to 03Entrepreneur) – a marketing and development firm specializing in custom software, websites, and mobile apps. Having achieved success even through a down economy, he then recognized a direct correlation between military leadership and entrepreneurship. The Marine Corps core values – Honor, Courage, and Commitment – transcended beyond the military for him. These core values that are ingrained in him and many veterans apply not only on the battlefield, but in entrepreneurship and community as well.
This realization that all veterans possess these same traits to become successful after the military motivated him to go back to school and build a business model for other veterans to take a similar path into entrepreneurship while focusing on 3 components: education, mentoring, and community.
In 2011, after completing his Masters in Entrepreneurship from Southern Methodist University, Andrew officially launched Honor Courage Commitment, Inc. and dedicated his life to helping veterans become successful after service. During his time as President of HCC and #22KILL, Andrew committed to a full-time position with a $0 salary.