Military Veterans will talk TED in Tacoma this weekend.

TED - Technology, Entertainment and Design - has its origins in the Silicon Valley tech world. It has evolved into an international series of talks and lectures that bring together experts in everything from science and economics to poverty.

The Tacoma event is part of TEDx, independently organized events under the brand umbrella of TED.

Given the heavy concentration of military installations and veterans in the Puget Sound area, it's perhaps no surprise that veterans are playing a huge role in Saturday's event at the Theatre on the Square in downtown Tacoma. Two speakers in particular will discuss how they use their military experience to better the world as civilians.

At the Pentagon, Gen. Peter Chiarelli, the U.S. Army's 32nd vice chief of staff, supervised many of the Army's research and development programs and was also responsible for overseeing implementation of recommendations tied to the Army's behavioral health programs - particularly its Suicide Prevention Program.

In 2012, a retired Chiarelli became the CEO of ONE MIND, a Seattle-based nonprofit that advocates for people suffering from brain disease - especially PTSD and traumatic brain injury - by fighting the social stigma against mental illness and spreading awareness.

In 2013, Chiarelli received the Patriot Award, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society's highest honor, for his work advocating for veterans and their families.

Chiarelli has deep ties to the Pacific Northwest, having earned his bachelor's degree from Seattle University and Master of Public Administration from the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington.

Another featured veteran is Combat Flip Flops founder Matthew "Griff" Griffin. A West Pointer who deployed four times to Iraq and Afghanistan with the 2nd Ranger Battalion as a Company Fire Support Officer, Griffin worked in the defense industry after leaving the military. The job brought him back to Afghanistan, and on his return, he saw the positive effects of economic development and investment.

After seeing what entrepreneurship can do for people in combat zones, Griffin co-founded Combat Flip Flops with a fellow veteran. The company produces nearly all of its products in conflict zones like Afghanistan, bringing opportunity to the local populations. Griffin told The Ranger that Combat Flip Flops tries to spread peace and prosperity to war zones through "business, art and music instead of bullets."

Veterans bring a lot to events such as TEDxTacoma, Griffin said, pointing out that the military is a fairly representative sample of America that brings together people of all races, religions and socioeconomic backgrounds and forces them to work side by side.

For more information or to buy tickets, visit http://www.broadwaycenter.org. Theatre on the Square is at 915 Broadway in downtown Tacoma.