The South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations is excited to welcome Gretchen Evans as this year’s Opening Keynote Speaker for the 2024 Annual Convention.
Gretchen is a retired US Army Command Sergeant Major who began serving the U.S. military at age 19 in 1979. After completing basic training, Evans would serve in Italy, Central America and the Middle East as a counterintelligence soldier conducting counterterrorism operations. In 2004, she was promoted to Command Sgt. Maj. and served next to Lt. Gen. Karl Eikenberry in her final deployment to Afghanistan. In this role, she managed the safety and security of all the military security, personnel and 30,000 ground troops across the U.S. military bases in Afghanistan.
In 2006, her career was cut short when a mortar round’s detonation left her with severe brain injuries and completely deaf. She was honorably discharged from the military and began recovery at home, where she channeled her grief into running, hiking and writing a compilation of other Veterans’ stories and experiences she titled, “Leading from the Front.” The success of this book inspired her to become a motivational speaker for Veterans and large organizations. She and her hearing service dog, Aura, have toured the country inspiring others for almost 17 years.
Throughout her work, she has also continued her love of running and adventure pairing with other Veterans and civilians with disabilities to form Team Unbroken. She trained this team and led them to compete in World’s Toughest Race: Eco Challenge Fiji, hosted by Bear Grylls which premiered on Amazon Prime. Her group was the first team of individuals with disabilities to ever compete in and complete the race. Evans continued to train the team with goals of participating in more marathons, cycling challenges and even two “Ironman” triathlons.
Now, after moving 27 times, receiving 27 awards and decorations as well as 27 years of active-duty service, Evans has settled in Maine with her husband, Navy Captain and Chaplain Robert Evans. In 2022, she was presented with the ESPY’s Pat Tillman Award along with induction into the Veteran’s Hall of Fame and the U.S. Army Women Veteran Hall of Fame.
Join us to hear Command Sgt. Maj., Gretchen Evans share her inspiring story during the 2024 SDAHO Annual Convention, titled “Moving Mountains Together”. To learn about Sgt. Maj., Evan, watch here.
Click here to learn more about the 2024 SDAHO Annual Convention.
