AI Summary
5 min read“When I’m on target, I’m not thinking about you.” That is what Robin King’s husband, a Navy SEAL of 32 years, once told her. It sounds harsh, but she came to understand it as a necessary condition of the job: the operator must be laser-focused on the mission, not worrying about the family back home. That insight became the organizing principle of the Navy SEAL Foundation, which King now leads. In a live conversation at Goldman Sachs, she and retired Rear Admiral Keith Davids—the former commander of Naval Special Warfare—discussed who the SEALs are, how their role is shifting in a new geopolitical era, and what it actually takes to support a community that has been at war for over two decades.
Who the SEALs Are and What They Do
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What you'll learn
- 1 (00:04) **Mission of the Navy SEAL Foundation** - Foundation CEO Robin King states the core objective is to support families so warriors can focus entirely on the mission.
- 2 (00:56) **Introduction of Guests and Host** - Vanya Kosinov introduces Rear Admiral Keith Davids and Robin King, outlining their backgrounds and the conversation's focus on the SEAL community's evolution and support.
- 3 (02:42) **Origin Story: How a Sailing Champion Became a SEAL** - Rear Admiral Davids describes being recruited to the Naval Academy for sailing and the unconventional recruiting pitch that drew him to the SEALs.
- 4 (05:06) **From Photographer's Wife to Foundation Leader** - Robin King shares her personal journey as a SEAL spouse and how the Foundation's mission evolved organically after 9/11.
- 5 (07:19) **Defining the SEALs: Problem Solvers, Not Just Direct Action** - Davids clarifies the SEALs' core identity and mission set, emphasizing their role as adaptable problem-solvers.
- 6 (11:26) **Defining the Navy SEAL Foundation's Mission** - King explains the Foundation's role in ensuring family resilience so the operator can be "laser focused" on the mission without distraction.
- 7 (13:05) **Geopolitical Shifts: The Diffusion of Technology** - Davids identifies the democratization of technology as a major force changing warfare.
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Show Notes
The Navy SEAL Foundation serves as a critical pillar of support for the SEAL community, providing comprehensive resources for active-duty operators, veterans, and their families. Goldman Sachs’ Vanya Kasanof, head of Investment Banking Client Services for the Consumer and Retail Group within Investment Banking, joined Rear Admiral Keith Davids, former commander of Naval Special Warfare Command, and Robin King, chief executive officer of the Navy SEAL Foundation, to discuss the unique challenges faced by SEALs and their families. They also talk about how the foundation is navigating a shifting geopolitical landscape that demands constant readiness and resilience.
This episode was recorded in partnership with the Goldman Sachs Veterans Network on March 23, 2026.
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