Veteran's Day
This Veterans Day, we’re taking a moment to honor the women and men who have served, and the many ways that service continues to shape their lives long after the uniform comes off. We’ve always believed that what you wear should help you show up as yourself, and there’s no story that brings that to life quite like the one we’re sharing today.
To every veteran and service member: thank you. Verify through GOVX ID to claim your discount.
Meet Maddie Larson
Maddie started Navy ROTC at just 17 and went on to serve in the Navy, including aboard an aircraft carrier during the initial COVID outbreak in 2020, where she helped coordinate the response and care for thousands of sailors. After leaving the military, she headed to grad school and now works in renewable energy development at DESRI, helping bring large-scale solar and battery storage projects to life. We asked her about her service, her transition, and what it’s been like to build a civilian wardrobe for the first time.
Keep scrolling to read Maddie's answers and see her Luxeire picks.
What drew you to serve in the Navy, and what experience or moment from your time there has stayed with you most?
I joined the Navy because I wanted to challenge myself, see the world, and be part of something bigger than myself. I was only 17 when I started ROTC, and looking back, I don’t think I had any idea just how much the Navy would shape my life or the experiences it would give me.
One experience that will always stay with me was serving aboard an aircraft carrier during the initial COVID outbreak in 2020. We ended up in Guam for weeks, and I was part of the team helping coordinate the response and care for thousands of sailors. It was an incredibly uncertain time. We were dealing with a situation none of us had experienced before, working around the clock, and constantly trying to figure out the best way to keep people safe and get them the care they needed.
I remember how exhausting those weeks were, but also how meaningful the work felt. There was a real sense that what we were doing mattered, not in some abstract way, but in the day-to-day lives of the sailors we were responsible for. We were trying to get people healthy and then either reunite them with their families or make sure those continuing the mission could do so safely.
That experience really reinforced something I came to appreciate throughout my time in the Navy: at its core, leadership is about taking care of people, especially when things are difficult. It’s something that will stay with me for the rest of my life.
What does Veterans Day mean to you personally, and what do you wish more people understood about serving or about the people you served with?
What strikes me most when I reflect on Veterans Day is just how young so many service members are. A lot of people make the decision to serve while they’re still teenagers, before they’ve really had the chance to figure out who they are or what they want out of life, and then find themselves entrusted with extraordinary responsibility.
People join for all sorts of reasons, whether it’s a calling to serve, educational opportunities, financial stability, or simply the chance to see the world. They come from incredibly different backgrounds, but regardless of what brought them there, they’re showing up every day, often making real sacrifices and doing difficult work that most people never see.
To me, Veterans Day is about recognizing those ordinary people who take on extraordinary responsibilities, often at a remarkably young age.
Shop Maddie's Look
Shop Maddie's Look
What was it like going from the Navy to grad school? What surprised you, what was hardest, and what skills from your service carried over in ways you didn’t expect?
I started Navy ROTC at 17, so by the time I left the military, I’d spent my entire adult life in that world. I’d never really had a civilian career, and suddenly I had this overwhelming amount of freedom to decide what I wanted to do and what I wanted my life to look like. That was exciting, but also a little terrifying!
One of the hardest adjustments was realizing how much community had been built into military life. You’re constantly surrounded by people working toward a shared mission, and suddenly you have to be much more intentional about building those relationships yourself.
As far as transferable skills, clear, direct communication and staying calm under pressure have been the biggest. In the military, you’re sometimes dealing with genuinely life-or-death situations. Most challenges in the business world are thankfully not that urgent, and having that perspective has helped me stay levelheaded, make decisions, and not get too overwhelmed when things get stressful.
Tell us about your work in renewable energy development at DESRI. How does your Navy background shape the way you lead, solve problems, or think about your mission today?
I now work in renewable energy development at DESRI, helping bring large-scale solar and battery storage projects to life. It’s a completely different industry from the Navy, and there’s definitely been a steep learning curve, but I’ve found some surprising similarities.
One of the things I really appreciate is that a lot of people who choose to work in renewable energy are also motivated by a sense of purpose. There’s a shared belief in the importance of the work we’re doing, which reminds me of the military in some ways.
My Navy experience has also made me comfortable stepping into unfamiliar situations, asking questions, and making decisions without necessarily having all the information. I’ve learned that you can accomplish a lot by communicating clearly, being decisive, and bringing the right people together to solve a problem. Those skills have been just as valuable in my new career as they were in uniform.
Shop Maddie's Look
Shop Maddie's Look
Your uniform once told everyone who you were and what you were there to do. Now that you choose what you wear, how do you think about getting dressed for work, and what role does your wardrobe play in how you feel and show up each day?
This has actually been a surprisingly challenging part of transitioning out of the Navy! For years, I never had to think about what I was going to wear to work. I had a uniform, and that was that. Suddenly, I was standing in front of my closet every morning trying to figure out not just what to wear, but what my personal style even looks like in a professional setting.
It’s been a bit of a learning curve figuring out how to look polished and put together while still feeling comfortable and true to myself. But I’ve also realized how much what I wear affects how I feel. When I put on something that fits well and makes me feel confident, I find myself sitting a little straighter, pulling my shoulders back, and showing up differently at work.
That’s what I appreciate about brands like Luxeire. Having beautiful, classic, versatile pieces makes it so much easier to build a wardrobe that feels like me without overthinking it every morning. I’m learning that a few really great staples can go a long way, both for work and everyday life.
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