DJ Skelton

DJ Skelton grew up in Elk Point, South Dakota. He briefly attended the  University of South Dakota before embarking upon an unorthodox path of  serving our nation for more than two decades. His energy, leadership, and  sense of adventure has earned him both National and Global recognition. 

DJ enlisted in the United States Army in 1996. He served as an interrogator  after graduating from the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language  Center (DLIFLC). In 1999, he was nominated to attend the United States  Military Academy in West Point, NY. Upon graduation from West Point, in  2003, DJ was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. He went on to attend  and graduate from the Infantry Officer Basic Course and Airborne school. Shortly thereafter, DJ deployed to Iraq. In November of 2004, while leading a rifle infantry platoon in Charlie Company, 1-5 IN BN, 1st BDE of the 25th ID, in close combat in Fallujah, Iraq, DJ was severely wounded.  

During his recovery at Walter Reed Hospital, DJ dedicated himself to advancing the causes of  wounded veterans. He wrote, Our Hero Handbook, a comprehensive guide to assist wounded service  members and their families during recovery and rehabilitation. He then served as a Military Advisor to  Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England, providing advice on veterans' affairs and caring for  wounded service members. In 2008, DJ returned to Monterey, California, to command Echo Company  of the 229th MI BN at DLIFLC. He was also the Associate Dean for the Middle East School. In 2010,  DJ returned to the East Coast, to serve in the Pentagon. There, he was a Special Assistant to the  Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. During this assignment, DJ advised ADM Mike Mullen on  veteran transition issues, wounded warrior policy, and improving services to military families. DJ  concurrently served at that time, as a Non-Resident Military Fellow at the Center for a New American  Security. As a Fellow, DJ led the "silent wounds" project on post-traumatic growth for the Center.  

After six years of continuous surgery, rehabilitation, and recovery, DJ returned to the Infantry. He  completed the Infantry Captain’s Career Course at Ft. Benning, GA, and was assigned to the 2nd Cavalry Regiment (CR), in Vilseck, Germany. In 2011, DJ returned to combat as the Commander of  Comanche Troop, 1st Squadron, 2nd CR in Panjway, Afghanistan. The Army then selected DJ to serve  as a China Foreign Area Officer (FAO). After completing the Command and General Staff College, he  spent a year in Beijing, China, conducting in-region training as a FAO. DJ is fluent in Chinese.  

Among his other noteworthy accomplishments, DJ is one of the youngest graduates of Harvard's  Senior Executive Fellowship Program and a graduate of Stanford University’s GSB Ignite Program. In  addition to his military and academic achievements, DJ is the Founder of Paradox Sports and co founder of the US-Ukraine Veterans Bridge.  

DJ recently retired from active duty. He is a former Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary  of Defense for Health Affairs. He is a United States-Japan Leadership Fellow, helping to  develop a network of communication, friendship, and understanding among our next generation of  leaders. He was a term member on the Council on Foreign Relations, Chairman of the Defense  Language Institute Foundation, and President of Kairos Alliance Group, LLC. DJ frequently  speaks publicly. He has inspired audiences on topics such as leadership, resilience, and  motivation on more than fifty occasions.