Colorado Springs is a city built on service—military, civic and personal. I have spent my life living those values, first as a U.S. Army Special Forces officer, and now as a consultant, mentor and community leader. For years, I believed the Republican Party stood for the same principles:

Discipline, accountability and country above self. But that party has changed. And so have my political convictions.

Today, I have joined the Unity Party of Colorado because I believe our city — and our state — deserve leadership rooted in integrity, not ideology.

My military career took me from Fort Carson to combat zones across Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

I advised NATO in Istanbul and studied strategic policy at MIT. After retiring from active duty, I founded a consulting firm focused on aerospace, defense and cybersecurity compliance — work I later continued with a global advisory company.

Locally, I have served on the boards of YMCA Camp Shady Brook and CIVA Charter High School, helping shape youth development and educational innovation.

Today, I continue that commitment to civic engagement as president emeritus of the Colorado Springs World Affairs Council and secretary of the World Affairs Councils of America.

I also serve as an adviser to the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, representing Colorado and several Midwestern states in advancing bipartisan support for American global engagement.

These experiences taught me that leadership is about building — not branding. It is about showing up, listening and solving problems.

The Republican Party I joined valued fiscal discipline, national security and constitutional integrity. But over the past decade, I have watched it drift toward political theater and away from practical governance. I have seen candidates embrace conspiracy theories, attack vulnerable communities and undermine the institutions that protect our democracy. Frankly, it has lost its humanity.

That is not the party I signed up for. And it is not the kind of leadership Colorado Springs deserves.

The Unity Party of Colorado offers a better path — one rooted in respect, responsibility and real problem-solving. It is a party for veterans, educators, entrepreneurs, and civic leaders who believe in working together to get things done.

Unity does not mean watering down convictions.

It means standing firm without tearing others down. It means building coalitions, not echo chambers.

In a city like ours — home to military families, aerospace innovators and civic-minded neighbors — Unity reflects the independent spirit and practical values we live by every day.

I did not leave the Republican Party lightly. But I left because I believe Colorado Springs and El Paso County deserve leadership that listens, adapts and delivers. Whether it is protecting veterans’ benefits, expanding access to tech-driven careers, or strengthening our local institutions — I am ready to help lead that effort.

The Unity Party is not just a political alternative. It is a call to action.

It is a place for the unaffiliated to come together, organize and build a structured political apparatus capable of driving meaningful change. For those who feel politically homeless, Unity offers a home — and a path forward.

Karl Schneider is the former vice chair of the El Paso County Republican Party, a retired Army Special Forces officer and civic leader based in Colorado Springs.