How a Navy veteran found purpose in full-time content creation
While some call them “influencers,” creators like Navy veteran Waren Delanozapata are more than the word implies. Many are mission-driven entrepreneurs. Much like in the military, their success hinges on personal accountability and grit. It is a career earned through raw talent and the disciplined hustle that defines the entrepreneurial spirit.
In 2021, Delanozapata began his transition from the Navy, using the GI Bill to pursue a degree in kinesiology at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida. Given his seven years of experience as a Navy corpsman, a career in physical therapy seemed like a natural evolution. However, as he moved through his studies, a different passion took hold: gaming and content creation.
“At first, it was just a hobby to make extra income while in school,” said Delanozapata. “But as I neared graduation, I realized physical therapy wasn’t my true passion. I knew I could turn content creation into a career.”
Breaking through as a full-time creator is a high-stakes endeavor. It requires transforming a hobby into a sustainable business—managing branding, analyzing audience data and navigating volatile social media algorithms. This relentless cycle is a hurdle that causes many to quit.
But Delanozapata, known online as MPX_Player, refused to quit. Applying the mental fortitude he gained in the Navy, he experienced a breakthrough in 2025. He more than doubled his following, surpassing half a million fans across his platforms, and is considered one of the top 50 creators in Call of Duty: Warzone. This growth unlocked massive milestones, from representing major brands like Xen Gaming to purchasing his first home using a Department of Veterans Affairs home loan.
In October 2025, Delanozapata was invited to DreamHack Atlanta, one of the nation’s largest gaming conferences, as a featured guest for the gaming community REGIMENT. There, his mission found a new purpose. Through a partnership between REGIMENT and DAV, Delanozapata saw an opportunity to serve again.
“I had been a member of REGIMENT for a while but not DAV,” Delanozapata said. “Once I learned how they connect veterans to life-changing VA benefits, I knew I had to get involved.”
He signed up as a DAV member on the spot and immediately volunteered as a lead influencer for DAV’s Veterans Day streaming event on Twitch, a livestreaming platform where content creators broadcast themselves and interact with viewers in real time.
“Delanozapata embodies the modern veteran entrepreneur—someone who took the discipline of the Navy and applied it to a brand-new frontier,” said DAV National Communications Director Rob Lewis. “We are thrilled to welcome him. By leveraging his success as a creator, he is helping us amplify our mission and ensuring more veterans can access the benefits they have rightfully earned.”
For more information about how to become involved in DAV gaming and livestreaming, scan the code or visit dav.org/dav-gaming-and-livestreaming.