Some partnerships are born from branding meetings. Others are born from life, loss, and the unbreakable bonds of service. For Sam Mackey, co-owner of Outsider and a recently retired Navy SEAL, the company’s relationship with the Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Gold Star Wives is as personal as it gets.
Mackey spent 20 years in the SEAL Teams-years defined by grit, brotherhood, and sacrifice. He knows the weight of service not just in deployments, but in the families left behind. “NSW Gold Star Wives are the widows of fallen Navy SEALs,” he explains. “Most of these amazing women we host at our hunting retreat were married to friends of mine or I had worked with their husbands in some capacity while I was in the SEAL Teams.”
The idea for the annual Gold Star Wives Hunt began four years ago at Jay Cutler’s ranch in Kentucky. Cutler-former NFL quarterback, fellow outdoorsman, and co-owner of Outsider-shared Sam's desire to create more than a gesture. They wanted to offer peace, laughter, and a kind of healing only the outdoors can deliver.
Mackey called his close friend Brooke Keating, widow of Charles “Charlie” Keating IV, a beloved SEAL and friend who was killed in action. Together, they organized that first gathering—hosting five Gold Star Wives, a deer hunt, and a new tradition. “Everyone was floored at how awesome these women are,” Sam says, recalling their resilience, sharp wit, and humor forged in the darkest of circumstances. “I truly don’t think there is a more resilient group of women on earth.”
For Mackey, nature isn’t a hobby, it’s therapy. “I call it ‘tree stand therapy,’ and Mother Nature is my therapist,” he says happily. It’s a gift he wants to share, so others can feel the same grounding and freedom he found after years of high-stakes service.
That spirit of adventure, resilience, community, and living boldly drives Outsider as a brand. “We love camaraderie, adventure, and having a damn good time,” Mackey says. “Live free, be bold, have fun, take the risk; that is what you can do to honor these resilient women and their late husbands.”
Outsider puts that mission into action. The brand donates a portion of proceeds to the Navy SEAL Foundation, supporting the NSW Gold Star Family Program, and remains committed to expanding the annual hunt and other initiatives for the women and families of fallen SEALs.
Sam doesn’t take his own homecoming for granted. “I know I am one of the lucky ones,” he reflects. “Many men in our line of work no longer have these opportunities. The least we can do is support their widows and families.”
With Outsider, giving back isn’t charity-it’s a promise, a tradition, and a way of living.
Outsider supports NSW Gold Star Families through Navy SEAL Foundation donations and annual outdoor retreats. Co-owner and retired Navy SEAL Sam Mackey shares his “tree stand therapy,” offering the healing power of nature to honor the resilience and sacrifice of Gold Star Wives.