Col (Ret) D. Strand

Col (Ret) Strand has been living with chronic pain and advocating for others since he sustained a neck injury in a duty-related accident in Iraq in 2005. Following that, he suffered a broken leg, which led to complications, including Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), often referred to as the “suicide disease” due to its extreme pain. He manages a Facebook group for military personnel and veterans with RSD/CRPS providing ongoing support to help them navigate the disability process. With 34 years of active duty, Col (R) Strand has served as a medical service technician and as an operations officer in four war zones: Saudi Arabia, Bosnia, the Republic of Georgia, and Iraq. Before being injured, he was an expert licensed skydiver with over 1500 jumps and participated with a canopy formation team that set several world records in one weekend in 2004. He is highly decorated, with his top honor being the Legion of Merit. He is a member of the VFW in Hampton, VA, where he values the camaraderie of fellow veterans. His primary caregiver is his wonderful wife, Van (Vivian).