Revolutionizing TDY: How Furniture and Tech Are Solving a $10B Problem with Steve Buchanan, USMA ‘99
Feb 16, 2026
“Our goal is to serve as many people as possible, because in a small way, helping them is our way of still serving the country.” - Steve Buchanan, USMA ‘99
Steve Buchanan is a U.S Army Veteran and the CEO of TDY Rentals, a company on a mission to transform the way government travelers experience temporary duty assignments. What started as a frustrating personal experience with TDY housing, turned into a purpose-driven venture to make extended stays feel less like deployments, and more like home.
At TDY Rentals, Steve and his team provide fully furnished tech-enabled housing solutions tailored for government agencies, defense contractors, and active-duty personnel. With a focus on comfort, reliability and logistics, the company helps clients reduce cost, streamline coordination, and vastly improve the TDY experience. As a veteran entrepreneur, Steve is not just building a business, he’s reshaping the standard for federal travel.
In this episode of the SABM podcast, Scott chats with Steve about:
From One Unit to Nationwide Reach: How a single TDY rental turned into a multi-million dollar business built by veterans, for veterans.
Logistics at Scale: The behind-the-scenes systems that allow TDY Rentals to furnish, service, and manage properties across the country.
Government Travel, Reimagined: What federal travelers really need, and why traditional lodging options fall short.
Lessons in Leadership: How military experience shaped Steve’s entrepreneurial journey and management style.
A Mission to Serve: How TDY Rentals is creating long-term opportunities for veterans through hiring, partnerships, and purpose.
Timestamps:
00:07 First Impressions of 10X Vets & Value of In-Person Connections
02:21 Introduction to TDY Rentals & Steve's Background
08:08 How TDY Rentals Started and Gained Traction
13:37 How the Business Works + Customer Experience
22:32 Lodging, Furnishing, and Creative Budgeting for TDY
24:07 2026 Goals, Revenue Growth, and Property Expansion
Connect with Steve:
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A special thank you to Steve for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA '01