#VeteranOfTheDay Army Veteran Clayton Hinchman

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran Clayton Hinchman, who served as an infantry officer from 2005-2009 before medically retiring.

Clayton Hinchman knew he wanted to serve as an airborne Ranger and fight Al-Qaeda after being in New York City the weekend before the 9/11 terror attacks. A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Hinchman commissioned into the Army May 28, 2005.

Hinchman graduated as honor graduate from the U.S. Army Ranger School. His tours and deployments include Operation Iraqi Freedom and Special Operations Task Force 17. On May 10, 2008, Hinchman lost his right leg after stepping on an improvised explosive device during a night raid to kill or capture Al-Qaeda members in Iraq. As a result, he medically retired as a captain in December of 2009.

Throughout his service, Hinchman received numerous awards including a Bronze Star Medal, a Purple Heart, a Combat Infantryman Badge, Airborne Wings and Air Assault Wings.

Hinchman earned a master of policy administration from Georgetown University as well as a certification in business excellence, business administration and management at Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management. He was the former founder, president and chief executive officer of a technology and engineering solutions provider, before it was acquired by a defense firm, where he now serves as chief executive officer. As the CEO, he is responsible for being the main decision maker for the defense firm as well as managing the team and its finances. He also owns a whiskey distillery. He currently lives in Huntsville, Alabama where he is married and has two daughters.

Thanks for your service!

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Contributors

Writer: Gabriella Stockett

Editor: Kelly Dooley

Fact checker: Hannah Bundschuh

Graphic artist: Brandi Muñoz