BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — United States Navy veteran, former Navy SEAL, and one of the very few Americans ever entrusted to serve as a White House Military Aide carrying the nuclear football for President Barack Obama, former University of Michigan men’s collegiate club water polo player Matt Maasdam was a guest on the MisFitNation podcast.
Maasdam served over 20 years in the United States Navy, deploying to Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa, and the Pacific, operating in some of the most dangerous environments in the world to disrupt terrorist networks and protect American lives. His exceptional leadership led him to the White House, where he was selected to serve as President Barack Obama’s Military Aide, carrying the nuclear football – the briefcase containing the tools required for the President to respond to catastrophic threats. After transitioning from military service, Matt brought his mission-first mindset into the private sector, leading a 2,000-person team at Under Armour, proving that elite leadership principles transcend uniforms.
His journey to the SEALs and the White House at the University of Michigan, where he played water polo—a sport he describes as “fighting in the water with a sprint in between fights.” That combination of endurance, toughness and teamwork helped shape everything that followed.
While in college, Matt worked in a lab focused on human performance in extreme environments, supporting organizations like NASA, Top Gun, and the Navy SEALs. A trip to San Diego made his future unmistakably clear.
“I found my calling. I was going to be a warrior for America—in the water, with guns.”
He entered BUD/S Class 223, where 116 candidates started and only 16 graduated on time.
Following SEAL training, he attended SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape) School, where he met the woman who would become his wife. She later became a Naval Academy graduate and Navy helicopter pilot, and together they navigated the realities of dual-military service—long deployments, uncertainty, and sacrifice—grounded in shared purpose and commitment.
After 9/11, Maasdam deployed to Afghanistan, Africa, and Iraq, including serving on a protective detail for the Vice President of Iraq, operating much like a Secret Service unit. The missions were high-risk, flying low over hostile terrain with the understanding that danger was constant.
Later, he returned stateside as a BUD/S instructor, running Hell Week and shaping the next generation of SEALs.
The role of Presidential Military Aide is among the rarest assignments in the U.S. military. The nuclear football itself has existed only since the Eisenhower administration—carried by just a handful of Americans across history.
At the time, five service members – Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard – rotated through the role. Maasdam traveled with the President 20–25 days a month. A typical day began before dawn and ended after the President’s schedule concluded, often running 24-hour shifts.
He also handled some of the most emotionally demanding ceremonial duties at the White House, including Medal of Honor ceremonies.
Maasdam left the White House around the 14½-year mark, transitioning into the Naval Reserves before eventually transitioning back to Michigan and into business leadership roles with UnderArmour and other enterprises.
He is currently running for election to the United States House of Representatives from Michigan’s 7th Congressional District.
