How 9/11 inspired this Stand-to Veteran Leadership Scholar to give back

Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your personal leadership project.

My name is Chris Meek, and I have spent my professional career in the financial services industry in New York City. I started as a floor trader, wearing the classic brightly colored jacket and navigating the chaotic trading floor. On Sept. 11, 2001, I was managing floor-trading operations for Goldman Sachs near the Twin Towers when tragedy struck. Like many who were there that day, I vividly remember the sounds, the smells, and the overwhelming confusion as we evacuated. However, the most profound image that remains with me is the hundreds of first responders running into the burning buildings while the rest of us were trying to escape. That moment instilled in me a deep desire to give back, though I did not yet know how.

Years later, a close friend and Marine veteran shared a letter with me that detailed the harsh realities faced by deployed service members. The letter, written by a soldier named Luke Converse, described the difficult conditions troops endured, including having to shower with baby wipes. This was my call to action. I co-founded SoldierStrong, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting deployed troops by providing them with essential supplies. Our efforts quickly gained national traction, and, through media partnerships, we were able to ship over 75,000 pounds of supplies to 73 units in Iraq and Afghanistan.

As the wars wound down and troops returned home, we recognized a new need: assisting veterans as they transitioned back into civilian life, particularly those with injuries. SoldierStrong evolved to focus on medical technologies that could help injured veterans regain mobility and independence. In 2013, we discovered exoskeleton devices that could enable paralyzed individuals to stand and walk again. We embarked on a fundraising journey and donated our first device to a veteran in December 2013. Today, SoldierStrong continues to expand its impact, providing cutting-edge medical devices such as prosthetic limbs, robotic arms, and exoskeletons to help veterans take their next steps – literally and figuratively – toward recovery.

My personal leadership project has been to ensure that veterans have access to the same level of advanced medical technology that our military invests in for combat effectiveness. I am committed to bridging the “Death Valley gap” – the disparity between what the Department of Defense provides for warriors on the battlefield and what the Department of Veterans Affairs provides for them once they return home. Through our public advocacy efforts, I am working with members of Congress to secure $33 million in federal funding to make these lifechanging medical technologies accessible to all injured veterans, without requiring them to depend on charity.

Please give us an update on what you have been working on since completing the Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program.

Since completing the Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program, my focus has been on expanding the reach and impact of SoldierStrong in three key areas:

1. Increasing medical technology donations
   • SoldierStrong has continued to donate exoskeletons and other rehabilitative devices to VA hospitals across the country. Most recently, we delivered our 17th exoskeleton device to the Tampa [Florida] VA, and we have additional donations planned for St. Louis [Missouri] and Dallas [Texas].
   • We have expanded our SoldierSuit program, which provides a full suite of advanced rehabilitation technologies, including robotic arms for those with upper-extremity mobility challenges and high-tech prosthetic legs that offer better propulsion and balance.
2. Advocacy for policy change
   • A major focus has been on advocating for systemic change in how the VA integrates cutting-edge medical technology into its rehabilitation programs.
   • Through our 501(c)(4) public advocacy arm, I have been working with policymakers to secure federal funding so that the VA can purchase these technologies for injured veterans. The goal is to eliminate reliance on nonprofit donations and ensure that all veterans receive the best possible medical care as a matter of policy.
3. Public awareness and fundraising efforts
   • We have leveraged national media platforms to spread awareness about the challenges veterans face and the solutions available.
   • Partnerships with private donors and corporate sponsors have enabled us to sustain and grow our impact.
   • Through these efforts, we continue to drive home the message that our veterans should not have to depend on charity to access lifechanging medical technologies.

Which lessons learned during the Veteran Leadership Program have stayed with you the most, and how have you put those lessons into action?

The Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program reinforced several key leadership principles that I have actively integrated into my work:

1. The power of storytelling in leadership
   • One of the most impactful lessons was understanding how personal narratives can mobilize support and drive change. Through SoldierStrong, I have learned that telling the stories of individual veterans – like Sgt. Dan Rose, who was paralyzed in Afghanistan but regained mobility with an exoskeleton – makes the need for action more tangible and compelling.
   • We now incorporate veteran testimonials into our advocacy efforts, allowing their voices to lead the charge in policy discussions and fundraising campaigns.
2. Strategic partnerships and collaboration
   • The program emphasized the importance of building cross-sector alliances to maximize impact.
   • I have actively strengthened relationships with policymakers, medical technology companies, and veteran service organizations to push forward our mission.
   • One example is our collaboration with DARPA-linked technology developers, ensuring that innovations designed for the battlefield can be repurposed for veterans’ rehabilitation.
3. Sustainable impact through policy change
   • A major takeaway from the program was that true change happens at the policy level.
   • While charitable donations are valuable, they are not a long-term solution. I have shifted significant energy toward legislative advocacy, recognizing that the ultimate goal is to institutionalize support for veterans’ medical needs within government policy.

By putting these lessons into action, I have strengthened SoldierStrong’s ability to make a lasting, systemic impact on the lives of post-9/11 injured veterans.

Can you tell us about how you started working with post-9/11 injured veterans and in what ways you hope to continue this work in the future?

My journey into working with post-9/11 injured veterans was inspired by my experience on Sept. 11, 2001, and my subsequent realization of the sacrifices that service members make every day. Initially, my focus was on supporting deployed troops through supply donations. However, as the wars wound down and service members returned home with life-altering injuries, it became clear that my mission needed to evolve.

The turning point came in 2013, when I discovered exoskeleton technology and realized its potential to restore mobility for paralyzed veterans. Seeing the transformative effect that this technology had on Sgt. Dan Rose, our first SoldierStrong exoskeleton recipient, solidified my commitment to helping injured veterans regain independence and dignity.

Looking ahead, this is my vision:

1. Expand medical technology access
   • Continue growing the SoldierSuit program, ensuring that veterans have access to the latest innovations in rehabilitation technology.
   • Secure federal funding to integrate these technologies into VA hospitals nationwide.
2. Strengthen advocacy efforts
   • Push for policy changes that ensure medical innovations developed for the military are also made available to injured veterans.
   • Work with legislators to close the gap between battlefield technology and veteran rehabilitation resources.
3. Enhance public awareness and support
   • Continue sharing the stories of injured veterans, emphasizing their resilience and the transformative power of advanced rehabilitation technologies.
   • Expand partnerships with corporate and philanthropic organizations to sustain long-term support for veterans’ needs.

Ultimately, my goal is to make SoldierStrong obsolete – not because the need disappears, but because our advocacy efforts lead to a system where every injured veteran has access to the best possible medical technology without relying on charity.

You recently launched a new nonprofit, the 9/11 Legacy Foundation, which is focused on elevating the events of the 25th anniversary of 9/11 in 2026. What impact are you hoping to accomplish with this nonprofit?

The 9/11 Legacy Foundation was established with the mission of ensuring that the events of Sept. 11, 2001, remain deeply embedded in the national consciousness, particularly as we approach the 25th anniversary in 2026. Given that over 100 million Americans are too young to remember the attacks, there is an urgent need to reconnect new generations with the significance of that day – both in terms of the tragedy itself and the unity and patriotism that followed.

Through a multifaceted approach, the Foundation aims to educate, commemorate, and inspire action. One of the primary goals is to enhance public awareness by curating stories of heroism, resilience, and sacrifice from survivors, first responders, and the families of those lost. By doing so, we hope to counter troubling trends, such as declining historical awareness and misinformed perceptions about the events and individuals involved in 9/11.

The Foundation is also committed to organizing and amplifying the 25th anniversary commemoration, ensuring that this milestone properly honors the lives lost, the service members who fought in the global war on terror, and the first responders who continue to suffer from 9/11-related health conditions. As this will likely be the last major anniversary where many survivors and loved ones can actively participate, our efforts will ensure that their stories are preserved and passed on to future generations.

Ultimately, our goal is to transform “Never Forget” into an enduring commitment to “We Remember.” By fostering connections between Americans and our shared history, we hope to restore a sense of national unity and collective responsibility that transcends political and generational divides.