There’s an App for That!

Anthony Garcia’s road from an Army combat commander to Silicon Valley entrepreneur

by Chris Jarvis

Anthony Garcia isn’t one to tell war stories. Ask him about his years as an Army officer and helicopter pilot and you can bet he won’t be quick to mention that during the height of the Iraq War he commanded the largest wartime medical evacuation unit ever assembled, safely transporting 6,500 patients.

What Garcia (B.B.A. ’99) will mention is how the responsibilities and challenges of those years shaped him into the person he has become.

Today, Garcia is the co-founder and CEO of a burgeoning technology company in San Francisco’s Silicon Valley. Started in 2011, Adjacent Applications Inc. uses geo-position data to create application software for mobile computing devices. In layman’s terms, he builds mobile apps for smartphones.

The company unveiled its first product last June, a mobile app called Call Dibs. It is a sort of mobile garage sale, allowing users to upload photos of items they want to sell, trade or give away, and search through listings available in their area. The concept may sound familiar — Craigslist, anyone? — but there is something that makes Call Dibs special.

“When we came up with this concept, we thought it could service anyone, but we decided to focus on a particular audience that we’re familiar with,” Garcia said. In a nod to his understanding of the hardships of military life, Garcia made his first project something designed to ease the frequent moves and transitions of military families in a safe environment, since they know they are dealing with military members, spouses or veterans.

And here’s the kicker: It’s free.

With more than 400 downloads and 350 registered users and counting, word of Call Dibs is quickly spreading in military circles. Garcia and his business partner Derek Artz, co-founder and COO, travel the country hosting demonstrations at military bases. Garcia’s father, Anthony Garcia Sr. (B.B.A. ’73), has also been hands-on, promoting the app in their hometown of San Antonio.

While the startup business world is a far cry from a warzone both are fast-paced and high-stress — the type of environment Garcia thrives in. And the pressure-cooker leadership skills he acquired in the military have served him well.

“In this atmosphere, you have to be very good with people, but you have to take action,” Garcia said. “When I flew helicopters, everyone in that aircraft had a say. It’s the same way on our team.”

Though comfortable in his entrepreneurial skin, the transition from the war-weary military lifestyle to the civilian one was not easy. After his return from Iraq, Garcia was unsure of his next move before deciding to go back to school.

It was while completing his MBA at Cornell University in 2009 that the magnitude of two combat tours finally set in. He had been in life-threatening situations and emerged unscathed, while soldiers he had become close with never returned to their families.

“The experiences I had, combined with trying to figure out what my new identity would be after being Capt. Garcia for four years, really put me in a bad situation,” he said in a 2012 interview for “Veterans Helping Veterans,” a California-based television show. “I realized it was time to start a new life. My military experience didn’t define who I was, (but) it was a part of who I was — an experience I wouldn’t trade for anything.”

Garcia began to focus on his positive military experiences and how he could apply them. After seeking treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), he moved to Menlo Park, Calif., to work with a high-profile research and development company.

In November 2010, a casual conversation with Artz, then a co-worker, turned into an idea that prompted both to quit their jobs, start a company and develop Call Dibs.

“Anthony is the ultimate enabler when it comes to allowing you to achieve your best performance,” Artz said. “His expectations for your performance are in line with your capabilities, and he wants you to achieve your best.”

The duo has dreams of building Adjacent Applications into a million-dollar corporation, and they hope Call Dibs will one day become a worldwide phenomenon. But right now, their niche is helping service members.

Within the next six months, Adjacent Applications will roll out new features for Call Dibs that will help active service members and veterans — particularly those coping with PTSD — with networking and job placement.

In many ways, Garcia feels he’s come full circle.

“It’s just about giving back,” Garcia said. “We could open this up to other organizations, but right now we’re focused on the military, and they’ll always be our number one customer.”