Joe Worley
Joseph Worley joined the Navy in 2003, just before he turned 22 years old. “Everyone, I think feels the pull to serve their country. I wanted that. I wanted to see the world,” he says.
He became a Navy corpsman, and was the medic attached to a Marine unit. In 2004, as his medical convoy was heading back to base in Fallujah, Iraq, the first vehicle in the convoy hit an improvised explosive device. Worley jumped out to aid his wounded comrades, ran a few yards, and was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade. It did not explode, but it took off his left leg. He was then shot six times. For his actions, he was awarded the Bronze Star for valor and a Purple Heart.
Worley lost his left leg above the knee, and suffered severe damage to his right leg and ankle. He spent almost two years at Walter Reed Army Medical Center recovering from his injuries. He was among the veterans who attended the first on-campus America’s VetDogs class in October 2008.
His first service dog Benjamin, a Golden Retriever, was trained to help with balance and stability while in harness and retrieval for when Worley uses his wheelchair. “Benjamin was a constant, nonjudgmental companion who didn’t treat me differently based on how I looked. I am grateful for the difference he made in my life – not only for me, but for my family,” he says.
After he was teamed with Benjamin, Worley became one of America’s VetDogs’ most popular veteran ambassadors. He joined the staff of America’s VetDogs as its veterans relations liaison.
After a long and outstanding career, Benjamin retired to live with the Worley family. Worley trained with his new dog Galaxie in April 2017. There was never a question, he says, that he would come to America’s VetDogs when it was time to get another dog.
“My life is so far beyond where I thought I would be in 2008 when I got Benjamin that I cannot begin to express the love and appreciation I have for America’s VetDogs and for the people here. I feel like I left the old me in the dust. I’m doing things I never thought possible,” he says.
More MCON Guest Speakers
Sebastian Junger
#1 New York Times Best Selling Author, Journalist and Co-Founder of Vets Town hall
Kevyn Major Howard
Justin Melnick
Actor, CBS hit show SEAL Team, Former Indiana Police Officer
Cindy McNally
President & CEO, Irreverant Warriors
John Wayne Troxell
Army Command Sergeant Major and Former Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Michelle Black
A mother of two boys, a Gold Star wife, and the author of Sacrifice
Michael "Rod" Rodriguez
Army Green Beret, President and CEO of the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation
Honorable Patrick J. Murphy
Army Veteran, Producer, Former Congressman, and 32nd Under Secretary of the Army and Chief Management Officer
Brigadier General (Retired) Andy Preston
Director of Military Banking for ROGER Bank
Phyllis Wilson
MPA, BSN, RN - US Army Chief Warrant Officer 5(Retired) President, Military Women's Memorial
Richard Titus aka Titus
Executive, Board Director, Entrepreneur
Scott A. Huesing
Bestselling Author | Echo in Ramadi
General (Retired) Scott Miller
PrairieFire Executive Chairman
Jen Nam
Meta Strategy and Operations Manager, Army Veteran
John Miller
President and CEO, America’s VetDogs
Ryan Scalmanini
Coast Guard Veteran, Veteran Benefits Guide
Peter O'Rourke
President, National Association for Veteran Rights
Terrence Hayes
Press Secretary for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Tiffany Daugherty
Head of Military & Veteran Affairs and Specialty Strategies, Johnson & Johnson
Samantha Domingo
MBA, Staff, Critical Programs Talent Strategist, Lockheed Martin
Marcus “OHLEY” Ohlenforst
Lead Military Talent Strategist, HR Chief of Staff Office
Tom Downs
leads the Diversity Talent Acquisition and Talent Pipeline Programs efforts at Booz Allen Hamilton
Christian Meyers
Chief Product Officer & Host of the MEDEVAC Podcast
David Reid
Owner & CEO Terra Arma
Austen Alexander
Founder and Host Battle Bunker
Jon Simkins
Senior editor and writer with Military Times
Craig Bryan PsyD, ABPP
Director, Division of Recovery and Resilience Stress, Trauma Program Director, Suicide Prevention Program, The Ohio State University
Waco Hoover
Co-Founder & Partner, MCON - USMC Veteran
Eric Eversole
Vice President, U.S. Chamber of Commerce President, Hiring Our Heroes
Chase Millsap
Small Town Strong Director/Executive Producer
Dale King
Small Town Strong Executive Producer
Dean Stott
Tier 1 Special Forces Operator & 2x World Record Breaker
JImmy Anderson
Former White House Director of Veterans Engagement
Ben Smith
fitness and nutrition coach, entrepreneur, Army Veteran
Alana Stott MBE
Security specialist, Author & Anti Human-Trafficking consultant
Brandt McCartney
Founder and Executive Director The 38 Challenge
Melissa Hawkins
Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation Professional Human Performance Optimization Advocate Marine Corps Veteran
Amy Forsythe
Author, Public Affairs Officer, US Navy
Erik Bartell
Co-Founder, Echelon
Dr. Tiffany Tajiri
Founder of Freedom Rhythm
Richard Casper
Co-Founder & Executive Director, CreatiVets
Jon Dalton
Co-Founder, Nevada Coalition for Psychedelic Medicines
Rob Boeckmann
Army Veteran & Sports Marketer
Zachary Bell
Author & Veteran With A Sign