From the Military to AI: Chris Duffy on Finding Opportunity and Building a New Career

Transitioning from military service into civilian life can be one of the biggest changes in a service leaver’s career. It means stepping into a new environment, learning how to translate years of experience into a different context and working out what comes next.

But what happens when the next chapter isn't something you had planned for?

In the latest episode of The Route to Networking: Military Leavers Edition, host Jamie Maher, Head of AI Infrastructure at Hamilton Barnes, sits down with Chris Duffy, Managing Director and Chief AI Officer at Ignite AI Solutions, to explore his journey from the Royal Corps of Signals into the world of technology, AI and entrepreneurship.

After more than two decades in the military, Chris's transition took him in a direction that would have been difficult to predict just a few years earlier. Along the way, he discovered new opportunities, developed new skills and ultimately built something of his own.

From recognising the value of his military experience to spotting the potential of an emerging technology, Chris shares an honest and inspiring perspective on what it means to leave the Armed Forces and create your next chapter.

A Career Built Around Technology

Chris joined the British Army in 2001, beginning his career as a Private soldier in the Royal Corps of Signals. Over the next 23 years, he progressed to Warrant Officer Class Two and Yeoman of Signals, building a career across communications, technology, project delivery and leadership.

His experience included five years as a Special Forces Communicator, delivering secure communications for high-risk ministerial missions and supporting operations across Iraq, Afghanistan and the Levant, alongside relief missions in Africa, the Caribbean and Poland.

He also led major communications and technology projects, managed significant budgets and worked across complex operational environments where adaptability and decision-making were essential.

That experience gave Chris a strong foundation in technology and leadership. But as his military career approached its end, something new caught his attention.

The Moment ChatGPT Changed Everything

Towards the end of his military career, Chris was already preparing for his next chapter. He was studying cybersecurity and had planned to continue developing his technical knowledge as part of his resettlement.

Then, in November 2022, ChatGPT was released.

Chris started experimenting with the technology and quickly became fascinated by what it could do.

“I started playing with that, and it sparked my interest. And then I could see where it was going, and I just thought, this is going to change everything.”

That moment changed the direction of his plans.

By early 2023, while attending his resettlement courses, Chris was already telling people that he wanted to move into AI. It wasn't yet an obvious career path, but Chris could see the potential of the technology and the growing gap between what AI could do and people's ability to use it effectively.

“The technology gap and the people gap is massive. And with AI it’s even bigger.”

Rather than seeing that uncertainty as a reason not to pursue it, Chris saw an opportunity.

From Learning to Building Something New

Chris didn't leave the Army and immediately start his own AI business.

His transition involved gaining experience within the civilian world, developing new skills and learning how businesses operated outside the military.

Those experiences helped him understand where he could create genuine value and gave him the knowledge and confidence to eventually pursue something of his own.

At the same time, his interest in AI continued to grow.

He could see businesses beginning to explore the technology, but also recognised that many didn't know how to implement it effectively or turn it into meaningful business value.

That combination of emerging technology, growing demand and his own experience presented an opportunity.

Chris decided to go after it.

Today, that journey has led to Ignite AI Solutions, where he helps organisations understand and adopt AI.

His story is a reminder that a military transition doesn't have to mean finding a direct civilian equivalent of your previous career. Sometimes, it can mean discovering something completely new and building the skills needed to pursue it.

The Military Skills That Stayed With Him

Although Chris moved into a new industry, he didn't leave his military experience behind.

His time in the Royal Corps of Signals had developed his ability to operate under pressure, lead people, manage complex projects and adapt quickly to unfamiliar situations.

For Chris, adaptability, resilience and meticulousness have been some of the most valuable qualities he has carried into civilian life.

“Being able to be meticulous in what you do and be resilient... being able to adapt to unfamiliar environments.”

Those skills have proved particularly valuable in AI, an industry that is changing at extraordinary speed.

The technology itself is constantly evolving, meaning the ability to learn, experiment, adapt and make decisions in uncertain environments can be just as important as technical knowledge.

Learning to Operate in a Different World

Of course, the transition wasn't without its challenges.

Chris describes moving from military life into the civilian commercial world as a massively unfamiliar environment.

In the military, there is often a clear structure and direction. In business, particularly when running your own company, the decisions are yours.

“You start being told what to do, and then you go into an environment where you're not told what to do. And if you are in your own business, then all the decisions are yours.”

Learning to operate without that same structure was an important part of Chris's transition.

Instead of waiting for the next instruction, you have to identify the problem, decide what needs to happen and take responsibility for making it happen.

For Chris, that shift ultimately became an important part of moving from military leadership into entrepreneurship.

Start Before You Leave

One of Chris's strongest messages for other service leavers is to start preparing early.

His own experience demonstrates why. By the time he was going through his resettlement, he already had an area he wanted to pursue because he had spent time exploring new technology and thinking about what could come next.

Whether you're learning about a new industry, developing a skill, attending events or simply speaking to people outside the military, starting early gives you time to explore your options without the pressure of needing an immediate answer.

Chris believes the same principle applies to AI and entrepreneurship:

“The sooner you start that... start using AI or start building the business... the better it'll be.”

You don't need to know exactly where the journey will end.

You just need to start moving.

Build Your Network Before You Need It

Alongside preparation, Chris sees networking as one of the most important things a service leaver can invest in.

His advice is simple:

“Start early and your network is everything.”

Maintaining relationships with people both inside and outside the military can help service leavers understand different career paths, discover new industries and learn from people who have already made the transition.

For Chris, networking has played an important role throughout his own career, helping him build relationships and navigate new opportunities.

The message is simple: don't wait until you need your network to start building one.

Don't Be Afraid to Build Something

Perhaps the biggest message from Chris's story is that your next career doesn't have to already exist.

You don't have to find an exact civilian equivalent of your military role, follow the most obvious resettlement path or know exactly where you'll end up before you take the first step.

Chris saw something in AI that excited him. He recognised a growing demand, invested time in understanding it and built the experience he needed to turn that interest into something tangible.

Eventually, that meant creating his own business.

His journey is a reminder that entrepreneurship doesn't have to be the first step after leaving the military. It can be something you work towards by learning from other organisations, building experience and developing an understanding of where you can create value.

As Chris reflects on his career:

“I always have an itch to scratch and I always want to do something that is better than what I'm already doing.”

For anyone considering a similar leap, his advice is simple: don't hesitate. You will get things wrong, but learning from setbacks, adapting and continuing to move forward is part of building something worthwhile.

The Next Mission Could Be Yours to Create

Chris Duffy's journey is a powerful example of what can happen when military experience, curiosity and opportunity come together.

After 23 years in the Royal Corps of Signals, he didn't simply look for a direct replacement for his military career. He looked forward, discovered AI at a pivotal moment and followed that interest until it became something much bigger.

For military leavers, his story offers an important reminder: you don't have to have your entire future mapped out before you leave.

Your next chapter might start with a new skill, a technology that catches your attention or an opportunity you hadn't considered before.

Sometimes, the most exciting career opportunities aren't the ones waiting for you.

They're the ones you create yourself.

Listen to the Full Episode

There's much more to Chris's story than his transition from the military into AI.

In his conversation with Jamie Maher, Chris talks openly about what it was really like leaving the Army after 23 years, the skills he took with him into civilian life and the challenges of learning to operate in a completely different environment.

He also shares how his interest in AI developed, what he learned from working in the civilian world before starting his own business, and why he believes military leavers shouldn't be afraid to create their own opportunities.

And, in the episode's Quick-Fire Round, Chris tackles some big questions, including:

• Why does Chris believe trust is the most important leadership lesson the military taught him? 
• Why is AI much harder to apply to a business than people might think? 
• Which emerging technologies does Chris believe could fundamentally change the world? 
• What achievement since leaving the military is Chris most proud of, and how did he build a business from the ground up? 
• What would Chris tell his younger self before making the decision to leave the Army?

His answers offer a glimpse into the mindset that has shaped his career, from leadership and technology to entrepreneurship, networking and taking the leap.

Listen to the full episode of The Route to Networking: Military Leavers Edition to hear Chris's story and discover how curiosity, adaptability and a willingness to pursue something new helped shape his next chapter.