A true patriot, raised on the farmlands of Kansas, early on Dan knew he wanted to serve his country. Upon graduating high school, he was accepted at the U.S. Naval Academy and spent the next four years relentlessly pursuing selection for SEAL training. One of only 16 members of his class given the opportunity to enter Basic Underwater Demolition / SEAL training as officers, Dan successfully completed the grueling process in the fall of 2003.
Over the next six years, Dan was deployed multiple times to Iraq and Afghanistan and rose in rank to become the officer-in-charge of an 18-man SEAL platoon.
In 2009, Dan was deployed to Afghanistan, into an area of heavy combat. There, on a night mission in the mountains, he stepped on an IED, losing both legs in the blast. He would later be awarded a Purple Heart and Bronze Star with Valor.
For the next two years Dan fought for his life, enduring over 40 different surgeries, while readjusting to civilian life. It was during this time, as part of his rehab, that he was introduced to the sports of cross-country skiing and biathlon. Never one to shy from a challenge, he eventually earned a spot on the 2014 U.S. Paralympic Team.
In 2015, Dan returned to graduate school, earning two degrees from Harvard University.
At the 2018 Paralympic Games Dan stole the show, remarkably winning one gold, four silver and one bronze medal over a period of eight days earning the honor of Best Male Athlete of The Games.
If you’re looking for a keynote speaker to share a astonishing story of survival, grit and resiliency in the face of seemingly insurmountable adversity, Dan’s personal journey from the battlefields of Afghanistan to the podium at the Paralympic Games is sure to inspire your audience to confront any challenge head-on.
“You CRUSHED it at our event last week. Our group clearly couldn’t get enough and would have enjoyed more time with you, as evidenced by them lining up to meet you. The only downside is I have NO idea how I can top you as a speaker at our next annual meeting…and everyone acknowledged that. You were super comfortable, well spoken, genuine, and detailed…and most of all, really brought your unique and special life stories back to lessons to take away (perspective, one step at a time, goal setting, having a plan, etc.)….all of which resonated great with our crowd.”
“Wow, wow, wow! Dan was an amazing person to feature, and what an inspiration! A true patriot and a warrior in every sense. I hung on every word – incredible! Thank you for putting this program together and the time and energy you’re spending on it – what a wonderful way to spend time.”
“I just wanted to pen a quick note of appreciation and let you know how impactful I find your presentations. Beyond your inspiring stories of perseverance, your insights on improving human performance vis a vis preparation and execution is pure gold. Our prospects would be wise to heed any and all advice you provide. Implementing even one of your recommendations would mean improving as both an athlete and as a person.”
