Steve joined the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program at Illinois State University initially as a means to pay for his college education. Following the events of September 11th, 2001, he realized the US Army was the path he was meant to follow. After graduation and completion of the Military Police Officer Basic Course at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, Steve was quickly mobilized and met his platoon, “The Hogs,” before deployment to Iraq in early 2003.
While supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom I, Steve’s platoon was responsible for zone reconnaissance, mapping routes throughout the greater Baghdad Area of Responsibility and eventually working with several Iraqi police stations within the city to train and develop local police into a force that aimed to serve the population.
Days prior to Christmas 2003, Steve led a squad-sized element out of the compound to serve as that day’s Quick Reaction Force (QRF). What began as a normal day, quickly turned into a life changing series of events. An improvised explosive device (IED) struck a sister patrol and Steve’s QRF immediately responded. During the response, Steve attempted to sprint down a roadway to assist the downed patrol when a second IED detonated danger close. After two years and multiple surgeries, Steve lost his left leg below the knee.
After retiring medically from the US Army, Steve was recruited to work as a Special Agent within the US Intelligence Community where he has spent the past 19 years. On the road to recovery, Steve has participated in numerous adaptive sports ventures that include triathlons, skiing, biking, running and boating. He also dabbled part-time as an amateur stand-up comedian, co-starring in a feature length documentary alongside other wounded veterans and celebrities in the business.
Steve is the proud husband to Nicole. They keep busy boating on the Chesapeake Bay and chauffeuring their three daughters (Hayden-13, Kendall-10 and Lincoln-7) to all of their various sporting events. Steve and Nicole enjoy traveling, spending time with their friends and entertaining at their home in Maryland.
