John “JD” F. Dolan II is a Partner and Co-Founder of LDR Growth Partners, where he focuses on building and leading high performing teams and negotiating complex strategic partnerships, both domestically and internationally.
Most recently, JD successfully sourced and led LDR’s invested partnership with one of the world’s most well-respected value investing firms, Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited. A former US Special Operations Officer and Ground Force Commander, JD led strike forces during combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Later he taught for the Army at St. John’s University in NYC and co-authored a book on financial literacy for soldiers and their families. In 2021, 2022, and 2023 respectively, JD led LDR-sponsored humanitarian efforts in support of both Afghan emergency evacuation and Ukrainian medical support and evacuation, resulting in what came to be the most successful humanitarian airlift in history. Where feasible, JD chooses high-impact, purpose-driven challenges that always have human capital at heart. In addition to being a published author, JD often speaks on topics ranging from crisis leadership and elite team building to measuring and optimizing human performance, particularly under stress.
JD serves as a director on the board of both Operation Healing Forces 501(c)(3) – a US Special Operations support organization (operationhealingforces.org) , as well as No One Left Behind 501(c)(3) – an organization committed to keeping our nation’s promise to SIVs and their families (nooneleft.org); and also serves on the advisory board of NuFabrx – an award winning “HealthWear” company (Nufabrx.com). When feasible, JD volunteers with global crisis and disaster response task forces across the globe. In 2022 JD received Dickinson College’s Distinguished Young Alumni Award.
EXPERIENCE: JD served as an Army Infantry officer and later US Special Operations Commander for 8 years, deploying four times in support of US combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Among others, JD’s awards and decorations include two Bronze Stars (1x with Valor device), the Meritorious Service Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation (Extraordinary Heroism), the Valorous Unit Award (Valor), and the Darby Award (US Army Ranger School Distinguished Honor Graduate). A published author (The Soldier’s Financial Leadership Guide) and featured by publications including Military Times, Entrepreneur, Success, Business and American Express, JD often speaks on topics ranging from leadership and performance coaching to health & data-focused corporate wellness. His favorite topic surrounds, “Ritual, Routine, and the Power of Habit”. At LDR, JD leads strategic partnerships and corporate development. In addition to leading the invested partnership with Fairfax Financial Holdings, JD spearheaded the establishment of a global innovation infrastructure and CVC arm (Corporate Venture Capital) for a publicly traded partner, developed and facilitated a multi-national leadership and performance curriculum, and researched & developed (through execution) a data-focused corporate wellness and human performance optimization pilot.
EDUCATION: JD earned a BA from Dickinson College in 2007, an MBA from Columbia University Business School in 2015, and after leaving the Special Operations Community, served as the Assistant Professor of Military Science at St John’s University in New York City. He is a Starting Strength coach, a CF level II performance coach, an USAW Olympic lifting coach, a human longevity institute partner, and a human performance institute evaluator.
JD’s personal interests include family, fitness, and all things outdoor… which almost always include his wife Grace and his golden-doodle Darby (named after William O. Darby – of Darby’s Rangers). Find him at (jd_ldr) | (jd-dolan-ldr)
