Before Chris was leading adaptive outdoor skills and mentoring fellow veterans at Project New Hope, he was a soldier adjusting to life after a combat injury and PTSD. At 36, this Iraq War veteran brings determination, honesty, and a powerful reminder to his peers: “We don’t climb alone… someone’s always got your six.”
Meet Chris
Chris is the kind of person who cuts straight to the truth. Determined, witty, and direct, he knows the struggles of coming home with visible and invisible wounds. Injured in combat with a below-the-knee amputation, Chris now uses a high-tech prosthetic leg — but what makes him stand out isn’t the technology. It’s the way he blends vulnerability and strength, encouraging other veterans to be honest about their own journeys.
A strong advocate for adaptive sports and mental health, Chris believes that fitness, nature, and peer connection are powerful tools for healing. He’s known around camp not just as a skilled outdoorsman, but as a mentor who listens deeply and motivates others through authenticity.
“I’ve learned that showing up as yourself, scars, prosthetics, bad days and all, is stronger than pretending you’ve got it all together,” Chris says, turning his custom-engraved challenge coin in his hand.
What Makes Chris Special
💪 Resilient & Real: Chris doesn’t hide his challenges with PTSD and recovery — he shares them, making it easier for others to open up too.
🤝 Peer Mentor: Whether it’s a new vet navigating prosthetic adjustments or a family member feeling overwhelmed, Chris is quick to step in with encouragement.
🌲 Nature Healer: From yoga by the pond to climbing the tower, Chris finds peace in the outdoors and helps others discover the same.
🪖 Community Advocate: He champions accessibility and inclusion at camp, ensuring every veteran and family member feels supported.
Chris’s World
🪙 Signature Items: Chris always carries his custom unit challenge coin as a grounding token, along with a hiking pole when the terrain calls for it.
🧗 Favorite Place: The Climbing Tower — not just for the physical test, but for what it symbolizes: facing obstacles together, with trust and support.
✨ Catchphrase: “We don’t climb alone… someone’s always got your six.”
Looking Ahead
Chris is more than a veteran camper — he’s a leader, teacher, and motivator who shows that growth comes from leaning on your community as much as your own determination. At Project New Hope, his journey is as much about helping others heal as it is about continuing his own.
🏕️ What happens when Chris brings his grit, honesty, and catchphrase to Project New Hope?
👉 Follow Chris’s Project New Hope Experience
Chris represents the resilience, authenticity, and brotherhood of countless disabled veterans learning to build new lives after service. His story reminds us that healing isn’t a solo climb — it’s something we do together, with someone always watching your six.