Show notes
John Doolittle is a retired Navy SEAL Captain and the Director of the Florida Chamber Health Council. In this second conversation, we discuss hurricane response, Florida's Special Mission Unit, first responder mental health, the healing power of eTMS, Kaatsu and so much more.
John was raised in Walnut Creek, California. He earned a Bachelor of Science from the United States Air Force Academy in 1992 and a Master of Science in Defense Analysis from the Naval Postgraduate School in 2005. After more than 25 years in the Navy, he retired from the SEAL Teams and began applying his Navy experience in the private sector before landing at the Florida Chamber of Commerce.
After an inter-service transfer and cross-commissioning from the Air Force to the Navy in 1992, John joined the Navy and worked as a hard-hat salvage diver for three years. He then completed Basic Underwater Demolition SEAL (BUD/S) training, serving as the Class Leader of Class 213. From 1996 to 2017, John advanced through the officer ranks, was assigned to various SEAL Teams, and conducted multiple deployments across the European, African, Pacific, and Middle Eastern theaters of operations.
Additionally, while pursuing his Master’s degree, he completed a solo swim across the English Channel in memory of a fallen teammate and friend (Neil Roberts) to raise funds for the UDTSEAL Association and the Navy SEAL Foundation. Much of his Navy career focused on the military’s response to 9/11, a hectic period for John and his family. His last duty station in the Navy was at U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), where he led the Preservation of the Force and Family (POTFF) program. The program supports the 73,000 personnel of USSOCOM, offering physical and behavioral health resources throughout the force. These critical personnel are now integrated into all USSOCOM command elements, aiming to sustain our nation’s most vital weapon system: the Soldier, Sailor, Airman, or Marine.
In 2017, John joined the team at KAATSU Global to improve the lives of wounded warriors in America. At KAATSU, John also began sharing his unique perspective with students, athletes, and corporations. John continues to speak to schools, organizations, and teams about the importance of resilience, leadership, and trust.
In 2025, John transitioned from KAATSU to join the Florida Chamber of Commerce team as the Executive Director of the Florida Chamber Health Council. His new mission is to improve behavioral health and mental wellness across Florida, much like he did for USSOCOM: “There is no health without mental health.” John is a member of the Florida State Guard Special Mission Unit (FSG-SMU) and an ambassador for both the UDT/SEAL Association and the Navy SEAL Foundation.
John and his wife, Katie, live in St. Petersburg, Florida, while their children—Meg (18), Ryan (21), and Sean (22)—attend college. The Navy has taken the Doolittle family around the world, and now John enjoys sharing his proven leadership lessons as he strives to enhance the lives of Floridians through his new role at the Florida Chamber of Commerce
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