Drew Thomsen

US Marines MARSOC,
US Army 3/75th Ranger Regiment, SSG

Drew Thomsen originally joined the US Marine Corps in 2001, drawn by the events of 9/11. He was discharged from the Marines after 6 years to pursue a college degree and followed that degree by enlisting in the US Army in 2014 to pursue a career in the military, fulfilling what he calls his greatest accomplishment of his life by leading men into combat. In June 2015, while stationed in Korea, Drew was completing airborne training when he was impaled during a jump by a metal pole, resulting in a colostomy for months, and was told he would never do many things again. Despite the odds, Drew excelled in his recovery and returned to duty within 18 months, deploying two times to Afghanistan. During his 2nd deployment to Afghanistan, Drew suffered severe nerve damage to the brachial plexus nerve root affecting his left arm, chest, shoulder & back, as well as several herniated disks in his spine, when a flight crewman dropped a 200-pound crate on his head. After realizing that, due to his injuries, he was more of a liability rather than an asset, he made the hardest decision of his life to walk away from a career in the military. Drew relocated with his family to Arizona and was accepted to Sentinels of Freedom while he attended Arizona State University W.P. Carey School of Business for an eMBA. Drew received mentorship, guidance, and assistance to relieve the financial strain caused by attending school full-time while supporting a family. While completing his education, Drew also worked full-time with Aurora Behavioral Health as a Community Business Liaison, visiting hospitals, police and fire departments, and local bases to talk about TBI & PTSD and the services ABH can provide. Following graduation, he accepted a position with Ewing Irrigation & Landscape Supply as a Senior Project Manager. He spends his spare time with his wife, Rayla, and their two children.