Team Rubicon
A United States-based disaster-response organization that mobilizes military veterans, first responders, and civilian volunteers to help communities affected by disasters.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Team Rubicon is a United States-based international nongovernmental organization focused on disaster response, community recovery, and veteran reintegration. Rather than operating as a conventional consumer brand, it is a mission-led service organization whose public identity is built around rapid deployment, practical fieldwork, and the use of military and emergency-response skills for humanitarian purposes. Its volunteer corps includes military veterans, first responders, medical professionals, tradespeople, logisticians, and other civilians. The organization began in January 2010 after the earthquake in Haiti. United States Marine Corps veterans William McNulty and Jake Wood led an eight-person medical team into Port-au-Prince three days after the earthquake. The group raised money and collected medical supplies from personal networks, traveled through the Dominican Republic, rented transportation, and entered areas that other organizations considered too difficult or dangerous to reach. The team treated thousands of patients and demonstrated the operating model that became Team Rubicon: small, flexible teams using military-style logistics and leadership to reach underserved populations quickly. Team Rubicon was created to address two connected problems. The first was the perceived slowness and inflexibility of conventional disaster response, particularly in the earliest period after a catastrophe. The second was the difficulty many veterans experience when transitioning from military service to civilian life. Team Rubicon presents disaster relief as a continuation of service, giving veterans a structured way to apply leadership, medical, engineering, logistics, and organizational skills while working alongside other responders. The death by suicide of early member Clay Hunt in 2011 further strengthened the organization's emphasis on veteran wellbeing and reintegration. Its work has expanded from emergency medical assistance into a broad range of response and recovery activities. These include disaster assessment, debris removal, home repair, wildfire mitigation, flood and storm recovery, mass feeding, volunteer coordination, and support for displaced populations. Team Rubicon has responded to earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, winter storms, wildfires, and other emergencies in the United States and overseas. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it added food-distribution and community-support programs, working with organizations such as Feeding America, Food Lifeline, and Meals on Wheels. It has also supported Afghan refugees arriving in the United States after the 2021 Kabul airlift. The organization has developed an extensive volunteer network in North America and has reported participation from approximately 180,000 volunteers. Its international expansion was partly organized through Team Rubicon Global, which licensed the name and operating model to affiliated groups. That structure later became contentious, contributing to litigation and the separation or rebranding of several overseas organizations, including the United Kingdom affiliate, which became RE:ACT Disaster Response, and the Australian affiliate, which became Disaster Relief Australia. Team Rubicon's identity is closely associated with veteran service, rapid humanitarian action, and operational pragmatism. Its red-and-gray emblem incorporates a sideways cross and a river motif, symbolizing first aid, departure from conventional approaches, and the crossing of a divide between disaster and relief. The name refers to the expression “crossing the Rubicon,” meaning a decisive point of no return. The organization has received recognition from civic, philanthropic, media, and sporting institutions, and its founders and leaders have attracted support from prominent military, business, and political figures. It remains an active disaster-response and veteran-service organization rather than a commercial brand.
History
Team Rubicon was founded in January 2010 in response to the earthquake that devastated Haiti. Marine veterans William McNulty and Jake Wood assembled an eight-person team, collected medical supplies and private donations, and entered Port-au-Prince three days after the earthquake. The group treated thousands of patients and traveled into areas that were difficult for larger aid organizations to access. Its experience led to the formation of a permanent organization dedicated to combining disaster relief with veteran reintegration. The founders believed that conventional disaster response could be slowed by bureaucracy, insufficient infrastructure, and a lack of appropriately trained personnel. They also believed that veterans possessed valuable skills that could be redirected toward humanitarian work after military service. Team Rubicon therefore developed a model in which veterans and first responders deploy alongside civilian volunteers to conduct practical field operations. These deployments provide assistance to affected communities while giving former service members a renewed sense of purpose, teamwork, and continued service. The death of early Team Rubicon member Clay Hunt by suicide in 2011 intensified the organization's focus on veteran transition, mental health, and peer leadership. In 2013, Team Rubicon established the Clay Hunt Fellowship Program, initially as a 12-month leadership-development program and later as a six-month fellowship. Hunt's name was also given to the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act, which became United States law in 2015. During its first decade, Team Rubicon expanded from emergency medical work into disaster assessment, logistics, debris removal, home repair, wildfire mitigation, and community recovery. It responded to international emergencies including floods in Pakistan, a tsunami in Chile, the Thai-Burma border conflict, and disasters in Ecuador, Nepal, Greece, Turkey, and the Bahamas. In the United States, its deployments included hurricanes and tropical storms such as Irene, Isaac, Matthew, Sandy, Maria, Florence, and Michael, as well as tornadoes, floods, snowstorms, and other localized emergencies. Operation Heartlander in 2019 addressed damage from Winter Storm Ulmer in Nebraska, Iowa, and the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Team Rubicon also developed preventive and resilience-oriented work. Wildfire mitigation projects remove combustible vegetation and other fuels from vulnerable areas, simultaneously protecting communities and providing training for volunteers. In 2018, the organization became the first nongovernmental organization in North America to obtain World Health Organization Emergency Medical Team Type 1 Mobile certification, an accreditation associated with defined emergency medical capabilities and mobilization standards. The COVID-19 pandemic broadened the organization's role again. Team Rubicon supported feeding programs with Food Lifeline, Feeding America, and Meals on Wheels, and promoted a “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” model through which individuals assisted people in their communities while observing public-health precautions. After the 2021 Kabul airlift, the organization supported Afghan refugees entering the United States. International growth was managed in part through Team Rubicon Global, a separate entity that licensed the Team Rubicon name and model to affiliates in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Norway. Questions about governance, control, and the relationship between the United States organization and overseas affiliates produced internal tensions. In 2019, allegations of sexual harassment were made concerning leaders of the United Kingdom and Australian affiliates after an annual leadership conference. The allegations were denied or disputed, and affiliate reviews did not make findings of sexual harassment, although the United Kingdom review identified verbal abuse by a staff member who had been drinking. The United States organization subsequently demanded corrective action from Team Rubicon Global and terminated its trademark license after concluding that the requested measures had not been taken. Team Rubicon Global sued in federal court in 2020, while Team Rubicon counterclaimed for trademark infringement and breach of contract. A federal judge granted Team Rubicon a preliminary injunction preventing use of its trademarks, and the Second Circuit upheld the injunction. The dispute contributed to the separation and rebranding of several overseas organizations. Team Rubicon UK became RE:ACT Disaster Response, Team Rubicon Australia became Disaster Relief Australia, and the Norwegian chapter became Response Norway. Leadership also changed in 2021. Co-founder and then-CEO Jake Wood became Executive Chairman, and President and Chief Operating Officer Art delaCruz became CEO. The organization has received recognition including the Grinnell Prize, CNN Hero recognition for Wood, the Classy Award for National Small Charity of the Year, and the Pat Tillman Award for Courage. It has also attracted advisors and supporters from the military, emergency-management, business, sports, and political communities. Team Rubicon remains an active organization whose central mission is to mobilize veterans and other trained volunteers for disaster response while helping veterans continue a meaningful form of service.
- 2023
Team Rubicon television series appears on The Roku Channel
[1]A television program featuring Team Rubicon's work airs on The Roku Channel.
- 2021
Executive leadership changes
[3]Jake Wood becomes Executive Chairman and Art delaCruz becomes Chief Executive Officer.
- 2020
Trademark licensing dispute with Team Rubicon Global
[1]The United States organization ends the relevant licensing arrangement, leading to federal litigation and an injunction protecting its trademarks.
- 2018
WHO emergency medical certification is achieved
[1]Team Rubicon receives Emergency Medical Team Type 1 Mobile certification from the World Health Organization.
- 2015
Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act becomes law
[1]A United States veteran-suicide-prevention law named after Hunt is enacted.
- 2014
Team Rubicon Global is formed
[1]A separate entity is established to license the organization's name and model to international affiliates.
- 2013
Clay Hunt Fellowship Program is established
[1]Team Rubicon creates a leadership-development fellowship named for Clay Hunt.
- 2011
Clay Hunt's death strengthens the veteran-reintegration mission
[1]The suicide of early member Clay Hunt reinforces Team Rubicon's emphasis on veteran wellbeing, peer support, and continued service.
- 2010
Team Rubicon is founded after the Haiti earthquake
[1]William McNulty and Jake Wood lead an eight-person medical team into Haiti, treating thousands of patients and establishing the organization's disaster-response model.
Products and positioning
A veteran-led, volunteer-powered disaster-response organization positioned between humanitarian aid, emergency management, and veteran reintegration. Team Rubicon emphasizes speed, field capability, logistics, and service-based recovery rather than conventional charity fundraising alone.
Emergency humanitarian service · 2010
Disaster-response operations
Team Rubicon deploys trained volunteers to communities affected by earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, winter storms, wildfires, and other emergencies. Activities can include rapid assessment, logistics, medical support, debris removal, property cleanup, temporary repairs, and coordination with government agencies and other nonprofits. The operating model emphasizes flexible teams capable of reaching locations that may be underserved by larger response organizations.
Disaster prevention and resilience
Wildfire mitigation
Wildfire mitigation projects remove vegetation and other potential fuels from vulnerable communities. These operations reduce exposure to fire while giving volunteers practical training in field logistics, safety, and property-level recovery work. The program extends Team Rubicon's role beyond response after a disaster into preparedness and risk reduction before an emergency occurs.
Community support · 2020
Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Introduced during the COVID-19 period, Neighbors Helping Neighbors encouraged individuals to provide safe, local assistance to fellow community members. The initiative complemented Team Rubicon's larger deployments and feeding work by supporting people who needed help with essentials while public-health restrictions were in place.
Veteran leadership development · 2013
Clay Hunt Fellowship Program
The Clay Hunt Fellowship Program is a leadership-development pathway for veterans. Named after an early Team Rubicon member who died by suicide, it was originally structured as a 12-month fellowship and later became a six-month program. It connects veteran reintegration with practical leadership, service, and organizational experience.
Resettlement and humanitarian assistance · 2021
Afghan refugee support
After the 2021 Kabul airlift, Team Rubicon supported Afghan refugees arriving in the United States. This work extended the organization's disaster-response capabilities into humanitarian logistics and assistance for a displaced population during resettlement.
Controversies
2019
Sexual-harassment allegations involving international affiliate leaders
A Canadian-affiliate volunteer alleged that the chief executives of the United Kingdom and Australian affiliates made inappropriate sexual remarks and directed inappropriate conduct at an international leadership conference. The executives denied wrongdoing or disputed that the conduct constituted harassment. Reviews commissioned by the relevant affiliate trustees did not find sexual harassment, although the United Kingdom review identified verbal abuse by a staff member who had been drinking.
Marketing campaigns
- 2021Afghan refugee assistance
United States
Team Rubicon supported Afghan refugees arriving in the United States after the Kabul airlift.
Outcome. The organization applied its volunteer and logistics capabilities to refugee support.
- 2020COVID-19 feeding and neighborhood-support response
United States
The organization expanded beyond conventional disaster deployments to support food-distribution programs and local assistance during the pandemic.
Outcome. Team Rubicon worked with Feeding America, Food Lifeline, Meals on Wheels, and community volunteers.
- 2019Operation Heartlander
Nebraska · Iowa · South Dakota
Team Rubicon responded to damage caused by Winter Storm Ulmer in the American Midwest and assisted communities including the Pine Ridge Reservation.
Outcome. Volunteers delivered recovery assistance across several affected areas.
- 2010Haiti earthquake response
Haiti
The founding deployment provided emergency medical treatment in and around Port-au-Prince shortly after the earthquake.
Outcome. The team treated thousands of patients and established the model that became Team Rubicon.
Brand decisions
2021
Executive transition and continued mission integrationStrategyBackground
After more than a decade of growth under co-founder Jake Wood, Team Rubicon adjusted its senior leadership structure.
Action taken
Wood moved into the Executive Chairman role, while President and Chief Operating Officer Art delaCruz became Chief Executive Officer.
Aftermath
The transition preserved the organization's emphasis on disaster response and veteran reintegration under new day-to-day executive leadership.
2020
Termination of Team Rubicon Global trademark licenseM&ABackground
Team Rubicon's United States organization concluded that Team Rubicon Global had not taken corrective action requested after complaints involving leaders of overseas affiliates.
Action taken
It terminated the licensing agreement that allowed Team Rubicon Global and affiliated organizations to use the Team Rubicon name and logo, then counterclaimed after Team Rubicon Global filed suit.
Aftermath
A federal court granted a preliminary injunction barring Team Rubicon Global from using the trademarks, and the Second Circuit upheld the injunction. Several international affiliates subsequently separated or rebranded.
Recent events
- 2021
Team Rubicon leadership transition elevates Art delaCruz to CEO[3]
Leadership change
Co-founder Jake Wood moved into an executive-chairman role while then-Chief Operating Officer Art delaCruz became chief executive.
- 2021
Team Rubicon supports Afghan refugees arriving in the United States[1]
Other
Following the Kabul airlift, Team Rubicon assisted Afghan refugees resettling in the United States.
- 2020
Team Rubicon expands operations during the COVID-19 pandemic[1]
Other
The organization added feeding programs and neighborhood-level assistance, working with food banks and senior-support organizations.
- 2020
Team Rubicon Global trademark dispute reaches federal court[1]
Lawsuit · Other
Team Rubicon terminated trademark licensing arrangements with its international affiliate structure, leading to litigation and a preliminary injunction restricting use of the name and logo.
- 2018
Team Rubicon receives WHO Emergency Medical Team Type 1 Mobile certification[1]
Other
The organization became the first nongovernmental organization in North America to receive this World Health Organization emergency medical-team certification.
- 2010
Team Rubicon launches international disaster-response effort after Haiti earthquake[1]
Other
William McNulty and Jake Wood led an eight-person medical team into Haiti shortly after the earthquake, establishing the organization's operating model.
Sources5 sources
- 1Team Rubiconen.wikipedia.org
- 2Team Rubicon official websiteteamrubiconusa.org
- 3Team Rubicon leadership transition announcementteamrubiconusa.org
- 4Garrison Brothers Distillery launches campaign to raise money for Team Rubiconfox7austin.com
- 5Veteran-led disaster response organization partners with Houston Food Bank to deliver meals to those in needclick2houston.com
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