Lee Kirby, Salute Co-Founder, and retired Army colonel interviewed Lazaro Cruz, US Navy Veteran and Mechanical Commissioning Engineer at Iconicx.
Before we dig in, our readers would love to get to know you a bit. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood “backstory”?
I grew up in a small farming community of about 1,500 people in North Texas. It was a close-knit, salt-of-the-earth type of place, and I think it’s had a big influence on how I am today—straightforward and to the point. But as soon as I turned 18, I left. There wasn’t much opportunity there. I worked in restaurants and did some ranching, and the only other real opportunity was welding. I knew there was more out there, so I went to go find it—and boy, did I find it.
What are you doing today?
Today, I’m a Mechanical Commissioning Engineer for Iconicx, which has been fantastic coming out of the military. Personally, I’m trying to buy a house and start a family—just doing what we’re all trying to do.
Can you tell us a bit about your military background?
I did 10 years in the Navy as a nuke mechanic on a 688 class submarine. I went through the typical pipeline—boot camp, then a year of school in Goose Creek, SC, followed by a year in Saratoga Springs, NY. After that, I spent the rest of my military career stationed in Pearl Harbor working on the USS Columbia and later at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. I’m very grateful for that opportunity. I got out on December 13, 2024, and started with Iconicx the very next day. I also spent my final four months on SkillBridge with Iconicx, which made for a smooth transition.
Can you share an interesting experience from your military career? What lesson did you take from it?
One of the most formative experiences was my first year on the USS Columbia. I arrived at the peak of an “uphill” cycle—everything was functioning perfectly. But then we entered a “downhill” phase for about a year, and we had a string of really bad leaders. That contrast taught me everything about leadership—mostly by showing me what not to do. I realized that being a good leader often starts with avoiding the mistakes you’ve witnessed. That entire phase of my life was incredibly impactful and helped shape who I am today.
Did your military experience help prepare you for business and leadership? How?
Absolutely. I think that’s why Iconicx specifically seeks out Navy nukes from submarines. Having that responsibility for a nuclear power plant sets you apart and prepares you really well for mission-critical environments. The transition from submarines to data centers was surprisingly easy, which actually scared me at first—I kept wondering if I was missing something. But ultimately, that sense of accountability and precision carries over seamlessly.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?
Yes—his name is Nolan Durnford. I met him my first day on the submarine. I was wiping up oil when he came over, and from that moment on, we were best friends for 4.5 years. We were always on the same wavelength. When I became a leader and he was under me, I wanted to be the best I could for him because of all he’d done for me. After our military service, we stayed close. He let me live with him during my SkillBridge with Iconicx and helped drive me to the airport when I was leaving Hawaii. He made my transition out of the military smooth and painless. I would not have achieved this level of success without his help.
From the depths of the pacific ocean on board the USS Columbia to the peak of the Sawtooth mountains in Central Id, to navigating the winding river of no return, to riding out a nasty squall while crossing the Puget sound in search of Salmon and crab, Nolan Durnford has been there for all of it no matter if it was us catching Salmon on the clearwater river or trying not to freeze to death in the mountains of Wyoming he was there with a smile and a cold beverage. I would not be where I am today without his influence on my life and I look forward to the adventures that are yet to come.
If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most good to the most people, what would it be?
A movement I would like to inspire is something that is personal for me, that would be getting outdoors for more fishing and hunting. I believe that this would be a movement with a profound impact on many people and get them in a better state of mind. The goal would not to bring home a prize salmon or elk but rather to enjoy the outdoors and get in a relaxed state of mind away from all of the distractions of life. Growing up I never did do a lot of hunting or fishing and when I started I was very frustrated with not coming home with any game. As I got older I have realized that it is not always about bringing home meat but rather it was about being out in nature at peace with myself, the elk and salmon are just a bonus. Slowing down and enjoying life would help many people in this day and age. The movement would be to inspire and teach people how to get outside and enjoy a scenic view and nothing else.
How can our readers follow you online?
Via my LinkedIn.