Army’s 1st Active-Duty Blind Officer to Speak in Hudson Valley

The U.S. Army’s first blind active-duty officer, who has motivated many gold medal winning Olympians, is scheduled to speak in the Hudson Valley.

Retired U.S. Army Major Scotty Smiley will headline this year’s Orange County Leadership Prayer breakfast on Nov. 10 at Anthony’s Pier 9 in New Windsor.

Smiley, a West Point graduate, was blinded by a suicide car bomber in Iraq in 2005.The attack left him severely wounded and totally blind. After extensive rehabilitation, he went on to become the first blind, active-duty officer in the Army.

“We are honored to have Major Smiley as our featured speaker this year. He is a true American hero and I know the audience will be touched and moved by his story,” Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus stated.

Smiley, a recipient of the Bronze Star and Purple Heart, has taught military leadership classes at West Point and commanded the Warrior Transition Unit, which provides personalized support to wounded, ill and injured soldiers who require at least six months of rehabilitative care and complex medical management.

Smiley has also competed in the Ironman Triathlon, climbed Mount Rainier, earned a Master of Business Administration at Duke University, and wrote a best-selling book titled “Hope Unseen”.

Smiley lives in Spokane, Washington with his wife, Tiffany, and their three children. He often speaks with corporations, educators and church groups about his experiences.

In 2008 and 2012 he addressed the U.S. Men’s Olympics Basketball “Dream Team” before their gold medal wins. This summer he spoke with the 2016 team before they departed for the Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics.

“I’m looking forward to speaking at Orange County’s prayer breakfast and sharing my experiences serving this great country,” Smiley said. “I’m honored and humbled to have been given this opportunity. We must live each day looking past barriers that may be in our way and focus on our end goal, which is to always give our best and serve with greatness.”

For more information on how to attend the event send an e-mail requesting a registration form to prayerbreakfastoc@gmail.com or call 845-393-4805.