About John

John grew up in good ol’ Iowa and joined the Army after failing out of community college. He’s a combat Veteran, serving as an infantry squad leader in the 101st Airborne division and a Harvard graduate.

John started veteran advocacy by speaking to congress and writing legislation as a legislative fellow for the VFW and Student Veterans of America. He wrote his first book Combat To College and developed programs for incoming student Veterans.

John is the author of 365 Days of Veteran Affirmations and Veterans in Paradise: The Veterans Guide To Moving Abroad. He’s also written the Student Veteran Semester Planner and the #FreedomChallenge, a 90 Day personal challenge written with former NFL Player Pat Angerer. His children’s book Brave Little Hearts is a book of affirmations, activities and puzzles for military kids with deployed parents.

John is the cofounder of Veterans in Paradise, the only international group of American Veterans abroad. He’s always seeking out new destinations, workouts, adventures and books. John’s taught internationally in Thailand and Cambodia and is an education ambassador for a nonprofit in Western Africa.

Follow the journey on Instagram and TikTok and check out his Veterans Living Abroad Blog and Veteran Mental Health Blog.

Use the contact form below for any questions, speaking engagement and interview requests or reach out on social media.