Daniel Simpson
Studied at University of Wisconsin - Madison
Hiring Manager at Vocational Rehabilitation Specialists Inc.
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About Daniel
I’m a Special Operations veteran, hold an MSW from UW–Madison, and serve as COO of VRSI the largest Dept of Labor- Homeless Veteran Reintegration Program provider in the country. Over near a decade, I’ve helped place thousands of veterans into meaningful careers, building workforce systems that actually work at scale. My background sits at the intersection of military leadership, social work, and workforce strategy. I’ve led in some of the most demanding environments on earth and spent years translating that into results for veterans navigating the civilian job market. I work with veterans, transitioning service members, and motivated professionals who are ready to make their next move with purpose and precision.
Why do I coach?
I’ve watched what happens when veterans stop working after receiving their VA disability rating. Within months, some of the strongest people I’ve ever known become shells of themselves. Not because of their disability, but because they lost their mission. Work isn’t just a paycheck. It’s identity. It’s the answer to why do I get up today? I’ve seen a veteran find the right job and come back to life in real time. That transformation means everything to me. Research confirms what I’ve seen firsthand: job satisfaction is one of the strongest predictors of overall happiness, ranking above income, vacations, and external rewards.  Too many people are miserable in their roles. Studies using national samples of US workers found that job satisfaction and life satisfaction are deeply and reciprocally linked.  The right role doesn’t just change your career. It changes your life. I’ve led in Special Operations. I’ve led in the boardroom. The through-line is always the same: I believe in people before they believe in themselves, until they don’t need me to anymore. When we work together, we both grow. That’s not a pitch. That’s just what I’ve lived.
Work Experience
Chief Operating Officer
Vocational Rehabilitation Specialists Inc.
July 2017 - Present
Hiring Manager
Joined VRSI in 2017 as Chief Operating Officer and helped build it into one of the largest DOL-VETS funded veteran employment organizations in the country — supporting approximately 25% of the entire federal DOL contract market with offices across California, Florida, North Carolina, Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Built the entire operational infrastructure from the ground up: service delivery curriculum, operating playbooks, staff coaching structures, hiring frameworks, performance systems, and accountability tools that allow consistent, high-quality vocational services to be delivered across every location and team. Designed a repeatable site launch model that allowed the organization to scale rapidly across multiple states without losing execution quality or compliance standards. Served as final authority on all financial, people, and operational decisions — holding executive signing authority across vendor contracts, office leases, and technology agreements, and owning all hiring and compensation decisions across the full organization. Led business development alongside operations — building and maintaining a multi-year federal contract portfolio with a 100% win rate on competitive contracts over five consecutive years. Oversaw programs that have connected more than 10,000 veterans to critical resources and place approximately 1,000 veterans into employment every year — designing the systems and frameworks behind those outcomes and coaching the leaders and frontline staff who deliver them daily.
Education
University of Wisconsin - Madison
Master, Social Work
2010 - 2014
During my Master of Social Work program at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, my graduate coursework focused on children, families, school-based social work, at-risk youth, and community support services. My field experience included working with school systems in Wisconsin, including an at-risk school through CESA 15 in Eau Claire and night school programming at Chippewa Valley Technical College for students age 17 and older who were significantly credit deficient. I supported students facing barriers such as homelessness, mental health needs, behavioral challenges, and academic instability. This experience helped shape my approach to coaching by focusing on practical problem-solving, individualized support, and helping people navigate barriers to education, employment, and personal stability.
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Bachelors Degree , Sociology
2005 - 2009
My undergraduate degree in Sociology included a topical minor focused on delinquent youth. This coursework helped build my understanding of social systems, youth development, behavioral challenges, and the barriers young people can face in education, family, and community settings. This background supported my later work in social work, coaching, and helping individuals navigate personal, educational, and employment-related challenges.