LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–MIC Unplugged: Los Angeles, produced by the Military Influencer Conference with National University serving as title sponsor, will take place Saturday, Feb. 28, at Hollywood American Legion Post 43, Legion Theater, bringing Black military leaders together for a public discussion on how leadership and influence evolve after military service.
Presented in partnership with the BLK OPS Foundation, a veteran service organization dedicated to empowering youth in underserved communities through the stories of underrepresented Special Operations Forces veterans and an Amazon series, the event is part of the MIC Unplugged series. MIC Unplugged convenes veteran leaders whose experiences continue to shape business, technology, advocacy, culture, and community leadership long after their military service.
The discussion will be hosted by U.S. military veteran and comedian Thom Tran and will feature Mark Greene, former U.S. Navy SEAL, author, and speaker; Assia Lau’ren, U.S. Army Veteran turned actress and artist; Chuol Deng, U.S. Army Special Forces veteran and founder and CEO of Cloud Safari; and Robert Zackery III, U.S. Air Force Special Operations veteran and president of Primer Development Group.
“This series was created to spotlight the leadership veterans carry with them long after service,” said Curtez Riggs, U.S. Army veteran and founder of the Military Influencer Conference. “MIC Unplugged creates space for real conversation about how that leadership shows up in business, culture, and community.”
“This event is about celebrating Black excellence in service and the leadership that continues long after military service,” said Dr. Saul Lankster of National University. “As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. reminded us, we must do the work so well that it opens doors for others.”
For more information about the Military Influencer Conference and partnership opportunities, visit militaryinfluencer.com.
About Military Influencer Conference (MIC)
The Military Influencer Conference (MIC) is the premier event for entrepreneurs, influencers, leaders, and brands supporting the military community. Each year, it brings together more than 2,000 attendees and more than 100 global partners for networking, collaboration, and innovation. As part of the Recurrent portfolio, MIC is backed by military-focused media brands including Task & Purpose, MilSpouseFest, We Are The Mighty, and The War Zone, reaching millions of service members, veterans, and families worldwide. With its “For Us, By Us” approach, MIC amplifies authentic military voices and builds lasting connections.
Contacts
For media inquiries, contact:
Lakesha Cole
lakesha.cole@teamrecurrent.io
(813) 331-5282


While Silicon Valley dominates Web2, emerging markets like the UAE and Singapore lead DePIN adoption with better regulations and real infrastructure needs. Opinion by: Yanal M. Hammouda, head of market expansion at WingbitThe decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN) sector saw $150 million of capital flow during Q1 2025, with a projected market size of $3.5 trillion by 2028. Yet the most significant development isn’t the capital raised but where these networks operate. Emerging markets like the Middle East, Southeast Asia and South America — rather than Silicon Valley — are driving the future of DePIN adoption. Read more
