Spencer Milo
Director of Strategic Development & External Relations
Spencer Milo is a medically retired, post-9/11 U.S. Army combat veteran and Purple Heart recipient, who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan as a Staff Sergeant. A passionate advocate and spokesman for veterans and veterans’ issues, he mainly focus on the transition back into civilian life, Traumatic Brain Injury and Mental Health maintenance. An Airborne Infantryman who was recognized as an exceptional leader in combat, Spencer held a number of command and control roles in military assignments the United States, Europe and Asia, in addition to the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts.
In 2008, during a 16-month tour in Iraq where he saw action in Baghdad and Mosul, Spencer suffered a concussion and other minor injuries when a routine convoy of U.S. Humvees encountered small arms fire. It was while evading enemy contact that he got tossed around inside the turret, and his vehicle crashed. One year later, he was told by doctors stateside this his injury had caused a brain tumor and was given a 6-month terminal diagnosis. Heavily medicated and bedridden for months, he started having seizures.
Heavily medicated and more or less bedridden for months, he started having seizures. After his family fought for a second opinion, he was sent to the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), where he spent 3 months in and outpatient where he was eventually told he had been misdiagnosed. Cleared back for duty in January 2010, Spencer chose to continue following his passion for military service and he deployed soon after to Afghanistan. Less than a year later, in January 2011, he was on combat patrol in Spin Boldak, a district in Kandahar Province. That’s when an Afghan boy, who stood just feet away from Spencer, detonated himself as a suicide bomber. Thrown 15- 20 feet by the blast, he charged back into the smoke to find his wounded platoon buddy and drag him to safety. Among his injuries: small amounts of shrapnel to his left side and his face; injuries to his spine; hearing loss; Post Traumatic Stress; and, Traumatic Brain Injury.
Spencer was returned to the states for medical treatment at Fort Bragg and, after 6 months, he was transferred to the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE) at Walter Reed Bethesda, where he underwent four weeks of intensive treatments. Spencer was medically retired as a result of his injuries.
Today, he lives in Castle Rock, Colorado with his two children Zoey and Gunnar, where he continues to serve the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces along with First Responders. He served as an Area Manager for Hire Heroes USA for 4 years, a national nonprofit that empowers U.S. military members, veterans and military spouses to succeed in the civilian workforce. For the past 6 years he has served as the Director of Veteran Programs, Communications and Strategic Development, Interim Director of Finance and Administration and is currently the Director of Strategic Development and External Relations for the Marcus Institute for Brain Health at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, MIBH is medical institute focused on serving Military Veterans with mild to moderate traumatic brain injuries(TBI) and the co-morbid Psychological health issues. The MIBH is now the TBI lead in the Avalon Action Alliance which is a national network providing trans-formative care to Veterans and first responders afflicted with TBI, PTS and Substance Abuse.
Spencer serves on the Board of Trustees for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, He also sits on the Warrior Canine Connection Board of Directors. His work with veteran service organizations also includes: The George W. Bush Institute’s Military Service Initiative (MSI) and Warrior Wellness Alliance (WWA); Combined Arms: Student Veterans of America; Boulder Crest Foundation; Team Red, White and Blue; Team Rubicon; and, many others.
He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Strategic Communications from the University of Colorado, in Colorado Springs and an Executive Masters of Business Administration from the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver.
I believe that the Post 9/11 generation is capable of being the NEXT greatest generation! My intent is to do everything in my power to assist in that belief becoming a reality. The struggles we have gone through in life and as a nation must be turned into strengths. We are stronger together! "Never Below You, Never Above You, Always With you"