Noah Galloway is a decorated U.S. Army Infantry veteran, Purple Heart recipient, author, extreme endurance athlete, and nationally recognized advocate whose journey has taken him from the battlefields of Iraq to the White House, Capitol Hill, national television, international sporting events, and stages across the country.

Galloway served as an infantryman with the 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). He deployed twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and participated in the initial invasion of Iraq in 2003. During his second deployment, an improvised explosive device severely wounded him, resulting in the loss of his left arm above the elbow and left leg above the knee.

Returning home presented a different kind of battle. Galloway struggled with depression, the loss of his identity, and the challenge of imagining a meaningful future beyond his injuries. His recovery did not happen all at once. It began when he made the decision to take responsibility for what came next and rebuilt his life through fitness, discipline, vulnerability, and purpose.

What began as a personal transformation soon became a national platform. In 2014, Men’s Health named Galloway its inaugural “Ultimate Guy,” making him the first veteran and amputee featured on the magazine’s cover. The following year, he advanced to the finals of Season 20 of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, finishing third. In 2016, he joined John Cena as one of four military Cadre leaders on FOX’s American Grit, leading Team Noah to victory in the show’s inaugural season.

His military distinctions include the Purple Heart, Master Infantryman Badge, recognizing his achievement of both the Combat Infantryman Badge and Expert Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, and Air Assault Badge. He was named a Distinguished Member of the 101st Airborne Division and inducted into the Order of Saint Maurice for his contributions to the United States Infantry. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the National Infantry Association.

Recognition for his service has extended to the state and national levels. Galloway was commissioned a Colonel Aide-de-Camp by the Governor of Tennessee and recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as its Veteran of the Day. In 2016, President Barack Obama selected him to serve as a member of the Presidential Delegation to the Invictus Games. In 2019, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey officially proclaimed October 28 “No Excuses Day” throughout the State of Alabama.

His civilian honors include being named the Alabama Broadcasters Association’s 2015 Citizen of the Year and receiving the Vulcan Community Award for Heroism. He was selected as an honorary co-captain of the 2014 U.S. Ryder Cup Team at Gleneagles, Scotland, and later served as an Honorary Co-Chair of The World Games 2022 in Birmingham. He was also a spokesperson for the Games’ One World, One Games disability inclusion and accessibility initiative.

As a nationally sought-after speaker, Galloway has addressed audiences ranging from championship locker rooms and university lecture halls to major corporations and Capitol Hill. Coach Nick Saban invited him to speak to the University of Alabama football team, while Coach Mike Tomlin brought him in to address the Pittsburgh Steelers. The University of Alabama at Birmingham also selected him to deliver the Donna J. Slovensky School of Health Professions Dean’s Endowed Lecture.

His national television appearances have included The Ellen DeGeneres Show, TODAY, Good Morning America, The View, Entertainment Tonight, and CNN. He has presented at the CMT Music Awards and served as a guest announcer for the Grand Ole Opry’s Salute the Troops.

Away from cameras and stages, Galloway has continually sought out difficult physical challenges. He has competed in marathons, obstacle races, and extreme endurance events, including the multi-day Spartan Death Race. His pursuits have taken him around the world, including an expedition through the remote jungles of Papua, Indonesia, where he spent approximately ten days traveling on foot alongside indigenous tribesmen. After earning their respect through his determination and independence, he was presented with a traditional ceremonial bone dagger—one of the most unique and meaningful honors of his travels.

Galloway is the author of Living With No Excuses: The Remarkable Rebirth of an American Soldier and founder of the No Excuses Charitable Fund, supporting organizations and causes serving veterans and others in need.

In recent years, his work has increasingly focused on mental health, veterans, and emerging approaches to treating trauma. His advocacy has taken him to Capitol Hill, where he has met with members of Congress to discuss veterans’ mental health and expanded approaches to treatment. In 2026, he appeared on CNN’s The Lead with Jake Tapper alongside Marine Corps veteran and Healing Breakthrough Executive Director Juliana Mercer to discuss psychedelic-assisted therapy, veteran PTSD, and access to new forms of care.

Beyond the military honors, athletic accomplishments, television appearances, and national recognition, Galloway is a husband and father of four. He and his wife, Amanda, are raising a family whose story of service is continuing into another generation, with one son serving in the United States Coast Guard and another following his father into the Army as an infantryman.

More than two decades after being catastrophically wounded in Iraq, Galloway has refused to allow that moment—or even his military service—to become his entire identity. His life since has crossed the military, athletics, television, philanthropy, advocacy, public service, and international adventure.

The defining part of Noah Galloway’s story is not what he lost.

It is everything he has built since.