Jake Wood (veteran)

Jake Wood was born in Bettendorf, Iowa,[1] and played football for Pleasant Valley High School.[2] He then played as an offensive linemen for the Wisconsin Badgers, though had his career hampered by shoulder injuries. In 2004 he graduated with a double major in real estate/urban land economics and political science from the University of Wisconsin.[3]

Following his graduation Wood joined the Marines, and was sent overseas during the Iraq War in 2007 after his promotion to a lance corporal, and helped lead a squad of twelve infantrymen in al Anbar Province.[3] During his tour he wrote about his experiences in a blog, which brought him to the attention of local news.[4] Wood was deployed as a sniper to Afghanistan in 2008,[1] and was promoted to the rank of sergeant before his honorable discharge in 2009.[5] During his career he was awarded Navy-Marine Commendation Medal with valor distinguishing device for actions taken in combat.[6] He then began advocacy work for military veterans.[7]

In 2010 Wood co-founded Team Rubicon, which is a group of US veterans that went to Haiti following the 2010 earthquake to help in the rescue and recovery efforts. Between 2010 and 2018, the organization has been part of the response team for about 300 natural disasters.[8] For his work with the organization, he received the Pat Tillman Award for Courage at the ESPYs in 2018.[8] That year he was also awarded the Dungy-Thompson Humanitarian Award from the Big Ten Conference.[9] In 2015, he received the 20th Annual Heinz Award in the Human Condition with William McNulty.[10]

In 2014 Wood authored the book Take Command: Lessons in Leadership: How to Be a First Responder in Business, which outlines decision-making as being composed of four steps: prepare, analyze, decide, and act. Publishers Weekly reviewed the book stating that, “All lessons are illustrated with high-testosterone stories from the front lines of war and disaster zones, and each chapter ends with top-level advice (“mission briefs”),” writing further that the work added, “a new twist on accepted leadership wisdom.”[11] He is also the subject of the book Charlie Mike by Joe Klein.

• Appearances on C-SPAN