Hope Conference Speakers

LCPL Christopher O’Connor (ret.), BSW, CNP

Christopher O’Connor enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 2004. He attended the School of Infantry and completed the Machine Gunner’s course at Camp Geiger in North Carolina. Mr. O’Connor was deployed to Fallujah, Iraq and one day before his 20th birthday, Mr. O’Connor was struck by a remote detonated improvised explosion device (IED) while on foot. He was told that his leg might have to be amputated and was flown to Balad, Iraq. Mr. O’Connor was medically retired by the Marine Corps and is a recipient of the Purple Heart.

Dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Mr. O’Connor, initially, did not readjust well into society. He reached out to the Orlando Vet Center and was referred to the Traumatic Brain Injury Clinic at James A. Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa. Because of the treatment he received at these facilities, he realized he wanted to help veterans in the same way that he was helped. After being discharged from the clinic, Mr. O’Connor decided to enroll into the University of Central Florida to pursue a degree in Social Work and complete a fellowship through The Mission Continues. Mr. O’Connor has been selected as a Next Generation Leader by the Non-Profit Leaders Alliance and was featured in an article for the Orlando Sentinel. Mr. O’Connor graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work.

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