January 21st, 2024
We are thrilled to announce that CW2 Nick Lavery, a distinguished and resilient individual, will be gracing our 4th Annual Banquet as the keynote speaker. Hailing from Massachusetts, Nick is not only an active-duty member of the United States Army Special Forces, but he also embodies the spirit of determination and courage. His journey is a testament to his unwavering commitment to duty, as well as his remarkable resilience in the face of adversity.
Nick, born and raised in Massachusetts, is an active-duty member of The United States Army Special Forces. Commonly known as the Green Berets, the Special Forces perform critical missions including direct action, counterinsurgency, foreign internal defense, special reconnaissance, and unconventional warfare.
In 2013, while deployed to Afghanistan, he and his Detachment fell victim to an insider attack ultimately resulting in the loss of his leg. Following a year of surgeries and initial recovery including the use of a prosthetic at Walter Reed National Medical Military Center, he returned to his unit. Refusing a military medical retirement, Nick set his sights on returning to operational status.
In 2015, at the conclusion of a challenging, comprehensive assessment designed to evaluate Nick’s abilities to operate, he returned to his Detachment and was subsequently deployed once again to Afghanistan conducting full spectrum combat operations. Nick is considered the first Special Forces operator to return to combat as an above-the-knee amputee.
Nick is currently serving as a Special Forces Warrant Officer and is widely recognized as an experienced subject matter expert in special operations, intelligence fusion, mission planning and complex problem solving across all operational continuums. He is also the first amputee in military history to complete the Special Forces Warrant Officer Technical and Tactical Certification course, the Special Operations Combatives Program Instructor course, and the Special Forces Combat Diver Qualification course.
Nick’s awards include the Silver Star, three Purple Hearts, two Bronze Stars, Bronze Star with “V” for valor, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, two Meritorious Service Medals, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, two Army Commendation Medals, Army Achievement Medal, the OSS Society Peter Ortiz Award, the Bruce Price Leadership Award, and the Special Operations Command Excalibur Award.
Nick is a warrior, leader, speaker, author and most importantly a husband and father of two young boys.
To discover more about our upcoming banquet and explore ways to attend, support, or engage with this remarkable event, please visit our website by clicking here.
For inquiries and further details, feel free to contact us directly.
Shannon Hegwood, Director of Development
Cell: 256-496-8865
Email: shannon.hegwood@southernprepacademy.org
We look forward to your participation in an evening filled with inspiration, camaraderie, and the impactful message that CW2 Nick Lavery is sure to deliver.
