Eric Greitens Eric Robert Greitens ( born April 10 , 1974 ) is a nonprofit leader , author , speaker and a United States Navy SEAL , who lives in St . Louis , Missouri . He is a former Rhodes Scholar and currently serves as the CEO of The Mission Continues . TIME Magazine named Greitens to its 100 Most Influential People in the World in April 2013 . Education . Greitens was born and raised in Missouri , the son of Becky and Robert Greitens . He was raised Jewish . Greitens attended Parkway North High School . He was named a member of the 1995 USA Today All - USA Academic Team . Greitens was an Angier B . Duke Scholar at Duke University where he studied ethics , philosophy , and public policy . After graduating in 1996 , he was selected as a Rhodes and Truman Scholar . Greitens attended Lady Margaret Hall , a constituent college of the University of Oxford where he earned a master ’ s degree in development studies in 1998 , and a Ph . D . in politics in 2000 . Greitens is a Senior Fellow at the Harry S . Truman School of Public Affairs at the University of Missouri . In the past , Greitens has taught classes at both the University of Missouri in Columbia and at Washington University in St . Louis . Humanitarian aid . As an undergraduate researcher , Greitens spent time in Croatia and Rwanda where he aided war refugees . His thesis at Oxford , entitled " Children First " , investigated the ways in which international humanitarian organizations can best serve war - affected children . Greitens has worked as a humanitarian volunteer , documentary photographer , and researcher in Zaire , the Gaza Strip , Albania , Cambodia , Mexico , Bolivia , and India . His photographs were featured in the publication , Community Strategies for Healing . Naval career . Greitens attended Naval Officer Candidate School in January 2001 , after graduating from Oxford . He began Basic Underwater Demolition / SEAL ( BUD / S ) and graduated with Class 237 in Coronado , California in February 2002 . Greitens is currently a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy Reserve , and he has deployed four times during the Global War on Terrorism : to Iraq , Afghanistan , the Horn of Africa , and Southeast Asia . He served as the Commander of a Joint Special Operations Task Unit , Commander of a Mark V Special Operations Craft Detachment , and as Commander of an al Qaeda Targeting Cell . His personal military awards include the Combat Action Ribbon , Joint Service Achievement Medal , the Navy Commendation Medal , the Joint Service Commendation Medal , the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Medal . White House Fellowship . In 2005 - 2006 , he was appointed by President George W . Bush to serve as a White House Fellow . As a White House Fellow , Greitens worked in the Department of Housing and Urban Development ( HUD ) and developed a new program to assist with the rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Katrina . The program , called the Universities Rebuilding America Partnership ( URAP ) , was a $ 5 . 6 million effort to engage architecture and engineering students in the continued effort to rebuild New Orleans . The Mission Continues . After returning from Iraq , Greitens used his combat pay and the disability pay of two friends to start The Mission Continues . The mission of the organization is to " challenge veterans to serve and lead in communities across America . " The organization ' s fellowship program places post - 9 / 11 wounded and disabled veterans in community - based nonprofit organizations for 14 – 28 weeks . The organization also matches each fellow with a mentor who assists the veteran in developing his or her professional and educational goals . Additionally , the Mission Continues facilitates volunteer - led service projects that encourage civilians and veterans to serve side by side through community service . Greitens currently serves as Chairman and CEO of The Mission Continues . Public speaker . Eric Greitens is a public speaker for law enforcement , universities , civic associations and corporations . His speech topics usually focus on leadership , service , and social responsibility . He is represented by The Leading Authorities Speakers Bureau . Author . " Strength and Compassion " is a collection of photographs and essays by Eric Greitens . Published in 2008 , it is Greitens ' first book and contains a foreword by Rwandan humanitarian , Paul Rusesabagina and an introduction by Bobby Muller , co - founder of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines . Greitens ’ second book , " The Heart and the Fist : The Education of a Humanitarian , the Making of a Navy SEAL " , was published on April 11 , 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt . " The Heart and the Fist " is Greitens ’ memoir of service , featuring stories of his humanitarian work , his training as a naval officer and SEAL and the military experiences that led him to adopt the paradoxical philosophy that you have to be strong to do good , but you also have to do good to be strong . Kirkus Review said of " The Heart and the Fist " : “ Clear - eyed account of a youth devoted to service as a warrior and a humanitarian . ” The book became a New York Times bestseller and debuted on The St . Louis Independent Bookstore Alliance Best Sellers list at # 1 for the week of April 17 , 2011 . " The Warrior ' s Heart " is a young adult adaptation of Greitens ' bestselling " The Heart and the Fist " , released October 9 , 2012 . Media appearances . Greitens has been a guest on various media outlets including " NBC Nightly News " , the " Today Show " , the " Colbert Report " , and The Daily Show where he spoke on topics including the Mission Continues , the rigorous training he received at Basic Underwater Demolition / SEAL ( BUD / S ) , and the death of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden . Awards and honors . On April 18 , 2013 , Time Magazine named Greitens to its 2013 100 Most Influential People in the World . Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , Admiral Mike Mullen , provided the narrative for Greitens ' selection as one of TIME ' s 2013 Pioneers . On May 20 , 2012 Greitens was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Tufts University when he gave the commencement speech at the school ' s 156th commencement . In June 2010 , Major League Baseball and People Magazine announced Eric Greitens as a winner in People Magazine ' s All - Stars Among Us competition . Eric was selected to represent the city of St . Louis and the Cardinals at the 2010 All - Star Game in Anaheim , California . On October 3 , 2008 , President George W . Bush personally awarded Greitens the President ' s Volunteer Service Award outside Air Force One at Lambert International Airport in St . Louis , Missouri for his work at The Mission Continues . Greitens also served as Grand Marshall and keynote speaker of the 2008 Veterans Day Parade in St . Louis , Missouri on November 8 , 2008 . He spoke alongside Francis Slay , Mayor of the City of St . Louis , and Congressman Russ Carnahan of Missouri ' s 3rd District . The City of St . Louis honored Greitens and the Mission Continues Fellows at a special ceremony at the City Hall Rotunda . As a student , Greitens won two Oxford Boxing Blues and the Gold Medal at the BUSA National Championships . He is also a sub - 3 hour Marathon Runner , and won the Shamrock Marathon at Camp Fallujah , Iraq in 2007 . Greitens was honored with the HOOAH Award , commissioned by the Major George A . Smith Memorial Fund in 2009 . Greitens was named the 2010 Reader of the Year by Outside magazine . Personal life . Greitens married Sheena Elise Chestnut on August 7 , 2011 .