Keynote Speaker: John Wayne Walding

John Wayne Walding is a retired U.S. Army Sergeant First Class who served nearly 12 years in the military, including seven years with the 3rd Special Forces Group, and completed combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. During the 2008 Battle of Shok Valley, he lost his right leg to sniper fire but continued fighting for four more hours, earning the Silver Star and Purple Heart for his extraordinary bravery. After his injury, he became the first amputee to graduate from Special Forces Sniper School and serve as a Green Beret sniper.

Walding also excelled as an endurance athlete, competing in major marathons and completing the challenging Bataan Death March while carrying a 45-pound rucksack. Following his military career, he became an entrepreneur, founding several businesses and organizations dedicated to supporting veterans, first responders, and their families.

Today, he is a leadership speaker, veteran advocate, and family man who lives in Texas with his wife Amy and their four children.