Inventors who serve
Read about American military members turned inventors
Generations of American military members have used their talents to innovate on the battlefield and in their communities.
In 2025, three branches of the United States military — the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps — will celebrate their respective 250th anniversaries. To honor these momentous events, we invite you to read our collection of stories about service members who used their military experiences to invent, patent, and advance our society.
For more inspiration, check out some of our other Journeys of Innovation stories.
Do you know an innovator or entrepreneur with an interesting story?
Browse all stories below or search for a name or story title.
Featured this month
How George Gillespie, a Civil War veteran and Medal of Honor recipient, redesigned and patented America's highest military award.
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The adventures and inventions of Thaddeus S. C. Lowe Full Story >
Lewis Latimer overcame racism, educational challenges to play an integral role in many key inventions that we use today. Full Story >
Nurturing talent and innovation in rural South Dakota Full Story >
Iconic toy inventor Eddy Goldfarb continues to create at the age of 102 Full Story >
How George Gillespie, a Civil War veteran and Medal of Honor recipient, redesigned and patented America's highest military award. Full Story >
An accident changed Rory Cooper’s life and set him on a path to improving the well-being of people with mobility impairments. Full Story >
How a New Orleans inventor helped defeat the Nazis. Full Story >
How eight years of hard work led to the 'overnight success' of the Super Soaker®. Full Story >