Adam Callinan | Volunteer Spotlight
“I saw volunteering with BSB as an incredibly unique opportunity to give my time and energy in a way that could directly impact the lives of those who put everything on the line, day in and out.”
Big Sky Bravery is built on the heart and grit of our volunteers—the unsung heroes behind every life we impact. Our monthly Volunteer Spotlight honors their selfless dedication and gives you a chance to meet the remarkable people who help make our mission possible.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN a VOLUNTEer with BIG SKY BRAVERY?
I have participated in five Task Forces, three as a Task Force Director – my first was in January 2022.
What made you want to get involved with Big Sky Bravery?
Two words: Sam Maschino.
I mean, yes, I grew up with a deep appreciation for the military. Having never served, I will always feel incredibly in debt to those who have. Then I met Sam Maschino, and he told me about BSB and its purpose, and I was in.
I saw volunteering with BSB as an incredibly unique opportunity to give my time and energy in a way that could directly impact the lives of those who put everything on the line, day in and out.
Can you share a moment that has had the most significant impact on you since joining Big Sky Bravery?
There have been a lot, I’ll narrow it down to two that stand out. Both of these experiences happened on the final night of their respective Task Forces, sitting around the table over dinner.
The first was when a recipient from an unknown unit, who was relatively quiet throughout the week, shared that he had been contemplating suicide for two years. He went on to detail his experience over that week, explaining that he was truly happy and for the first time in a very long time, no longer contemplating suicide.
The second that stands out came from another recipient and 20+ year operator, a true warrior. He explained that over the course of his life in the Special Operations he had deployed to some of the worst places in the world, in the worst conditions, and found himself wondering what he was doing there. He went about his job, performing unimaginable feats of endurance and bravery, at an extremely high level, but continuously had that thought. He went on to say that it wasn’t until that moment, with our group of three volunteers and five recipients experiencing a week together in Montana, that he understood why he was in those terrible places and situations. He did it for us.
How has Big Sky Bravery's motto, 'Give More Than You Take,' influenced your mindset or actions?
The experience with BSB has certainly evolved my understanding of what “giving” means. I don’t honestly think it’s particularly difficult to give more than you take. I believe it’s nearly impossible to give and truly expect nothing in return. There are two areas of my life where I can honestly say that I give and expect absolutely nothing in return: my family and BSB.
Surprisingly (or not!), from those two areas I receive far more than I give.
Is there anything you see differently or appreciate more deeply since your time with the SOF community?
The incredibly blessed life I have that is allowed to revolve around time with my wife and kids.
When you’re on a TF and talking through the challenges of life, the recipient issues are never about war, or how difficult something was “at work”. To them, it’s a job.
Their challenges are almost all about family – missing birthdays, holidays, soccer games, and family dinner. It makes sense when they’re deployed for 280 days per year – for two decades…
Where did you grow up, and what kind of work fills your days when you're not volunteering with us?
I was extremely fortunate to be born and raised in Flagstaff, Arizona, by two incredible parents, alongside a younger sister. I’m now Dad to two little ones, and they, alongside my wife Katie (who just completed her first BSB Task Force!), are my focus.
Professionally speaking, I’m an entrepreneur. I was co-founder/CEO of a consumer product company called BottleKeeper, which was acquired by RTIC Outdoors in 2021. Yes, we were on Shark Tank :) I’m now on another startup adventure, building a software company called Pentane. Apparently I like chewing on glass – that’s what startups feel like most of the time!
When I'm not serving with Big Sky Bravery, I'm most passionate about…
My family and the outdoors. We spend a lot of time in all that Montana has to offer, outside and up in the mountains. I’m an avid hunter as well, with a huge preference for the added challenge that comes with hunting archery.
Is there a particular quote or saying that guides or inspires you?
The quote that I’ve repeated the most lately, generally to my daughter when she’s trying to “motivate” her brother to do something, comes from Dwight D. Eisenhower on leadership:
"Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.”