Christian Ruf is a Partner at Uncommon Elite, a firm dedicated to helping military veterans transition into business ownership through entrepreneurship through acquisition. Christian combines the leadership discipline of military service with deep knowledge of the self-funded search model, making him a compelling voice at the intersection of operator mindset and acquisition strategy.

At SMBash 2026, Christian speaks to the unique advantages veteran searchers bring to running acquired businesses — from team-building and systems thinking to mission clarity and resilience under pressure. Whether you're a veteran considering ETA or simply looking to build a stronger operator mindset, his session offers a perspective you won't hear anywhere else.