Eric's Story
Early Life and Education: Educated in Missouri public schools, Eric earned an Angier B. Duke Scholarship to attend Duke University where he studied ethics, philosophy, and public policy. Selected as a Rhodes and a Truman Scholar, he attended the University of Oxford, earning a master’s degree and a Ph.D. His doctoral thesis, Children First, investigated how international humanitarian organizations can best serve war-affected children.
Humanitarian work Abroad: Eric worked as a humanitarian volunteer, documentary photographer, and researcher in Rwanda, Cambodia, Albania, Mexico, India, Bosnia, and Bolivia. The focus of Eric’s work was on service to vulnerable children and families, and he worked with refugees, child survivors of landmines, children of the street, and in one of Mother Teresa’s Homes for the Destitute and Dying.
Photographer: A full exhibit of Eric’s Photographic work was carried in the The International Photography Hall of Fame. His first book, Strength & Compassion, was recognized as ForeWord Magazine’s Photography Book of the Year and was the Grand Prize Winner of the New York Book Festival.
US Navy Officer: Eric served as a United States Navy SEAL officer and deployed four times during the Global War on Terrorism to Afghanistan, Southeast Asia, the Horn of Africa, and Iraq. He served as the Commander of a Mark V Special Operations Craft Detachment, Commander of a Joint Special Operations Task Unit, and as Commander of an al Qaeda Targeting Cell. In 2005, Eric was appointed by President George W. Bush to serve as a White House Fellow, and in 2011 the Association of the United States Navy named him the Navy Reserve Junior Line Officer of the Year. His 18 military awards include the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, the Navy Achievement Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Purple Heart, and the Bronze Star.
Veteran Leader: After returning from Iraq in 2007, Eric donated his combat pay to found The Mission Continues, a national organization that challenges and inspires returning wounded veterans to serve in communities across America. As CEO, Eric was frequently recognized as one of the most innovative leaders in America. Major League Baseball and PEOPLE Magazine named Eric an “All-Star Among Us,” and the National Conference on Citizenship named him its “Citizen Soldier of the Year.” In 2008 President Bush personally presented Eric with the President’s Volunteer Service Award. For his work with veterans, Eric was named to TIME magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world for 2013. In 2014, Fortune magazine recognized him as one of the 50 greatest leaders in the world.
Author: Eric’s second book, The Heart and the Fist: The Education of a Humanitarian, the Making of a Navy SEAL, was a New York Times Bestseller. His third book, The Warrior’s Heart, was recognized as one of the Best Teen Books of 2012 by Barnes & Noble and Kirkus Reviews. Eric’s fourth book, Resilience, was also a New York Times Bestseller.
Athlete: Eric is a sub-3 hour marathon runner and the winner of the Shamrock Marathon at Camp Fallujah, Iraq. As a boxer, he won two Oxford Boxing Blues and the Gold Medal at the BUSA National Boxing Championships. He holds a 2 nd Dan Black Belt in Taekwondo, and was the USNTF National Black Belt Champion in Sparring. He is 1 st Dan in Hojutsu, the martial art of the firearm, and is a 3x Gold Medalist at the USA Track and Field National Masters Championships in the 4x100 and 4x400 Relay.
Public Service: Greitens was elected Governor of Missouri in 2016. For his leadership as Governor, he was inducted into the American Academy of Achievement.
