The Real-Life Jack Ryan
From Pararescue to the CIA to DeliverFund
Mike Glover and Nic McKinley trace the full arc of Nic's career — from U.S. Air Force Pararescue to the CIA to founding DeliverFund. A direct, operator-to-operator conversation on intelligence tradecraft, counter-trafficking operations, and the VICE Media "Real-Life Jack Ryan" label.
Watch on YouTube →What Nic Said
Key Moments
The Pararescue Years
Nic describes more than a decade in U.S. Air Force Pararescue — the operational environment, the combat deployments, and the tradecraft that defined his approach to high-stakes problem-solving under pressure.
From the Military to the CIA
How and why Nic was recruited into a specialized unit at the CIA, what he can share about that work, and how the experience of running intelligence operations shaped his view of what technology could accomplish against criminal networks.
The Real-Life Jack Ryan Label
Where the VICE Media designation came from, what it means in practice, and Nic's candid take on carrying it publicly. The comparison to Tom Clancy's character — and where the fiction diverges from the operational reality.
Founding DeliverFund
Nic explains why he left in 2014 to found DeliverFund, what the organization does differently from law enforcement, and how the private intelligence model fills a structural gap that government agencies cannot.
The Technology Approach to Counter-Trafficking
An operator's view of why technology is the lever that scales impact against trafficking networks. DeliverFund's model of equipping law enforcement with intelligence, data, and tools — and why that approach outperforms traditional investigation alone.
Point of Disruption
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