08/28/2023
Sept. 8th Speaker Highlight: “Dealing with Demons You Didn’t Know You Had” - Lance Santiago, Ret. Law Enforcement, US Marine Corps Veteran, former Veteran’s Service Officer, Veteran’s Court Mentor, Save A Warrior - "SAW" Shepherd & Alumni (Cohort #143). Lance will go over the things he didn’t know he didn’t know- how his adverse childhood experiences shaped who he was and the career paths he took. He will examine how Complex PTS impacted his life, until he was unexpectedly and quite suddenly suicidal. He will discuss his ‘whales in the water’ that led him to Save a Warrior and the contrast between who he was and who he is.
Register NOW (Only $22 - $1 for every veteran lost per day to su***de). Together, let's "Just Save One." In-person or online attendance available: https://courageoussurvival.org/mental-health-symposium
Bio:
Lance Santiago was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay area and joined the United States Marine Corps in 1983 serving in the Infantry and as a F.A.S.T. (Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team) Team Leader until discharge in 1990. Lance then served in law enforcement in the east San Francisco Bay area from 1995 to 2012 with the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office and the San Ramon Police Department. Lance served in patrol, high crime specialized patrol, as a Field Training Officer and worked as a detective specializing in gangs, narcotics and homicide. Lance was sworn in as a Special Federal Officer with the FBI and conducted a 3 year federal investigation into a prolific street gang using wiretaps and undercover narcotics buy programs resulting in the arrest and prosecution of over 40 gang members and the clearing of 7 homicides. Lance was a certified Police Academy Instructor and taught at the academy in various subjects and conducted scenario training. Lance retired in 2012 and moved to Idaho where he got heavily involved in the veteran community and served in the Ada County Veterans Court as the Mentor Coordinator for 18 months assisting veterans in recovery. Lance then went on to conduct background investigations for the Boise Police Department for 18 months and then went on to serve as a State Service Officer with the Idaho Division of Veteran Services and assisted thousands of veterans in obtaining VA benefits they were eligible for.
In March of 2021, Lance became suddenly and severely, suicidally depressed and discovered the Save a Warrior Program. Lance attended that program in August of 2021 and he credits it with saving and fundamentally changing his life. Lance has continued as a volunteer for Save a Warrior since his experience and acts as a sponsor for men who have applied for the program. Lance has also returned to Warrior Village in the role of “Shepherd” where he has assisted men in four different cohorts through their 72 hour intensive experience.
Lance has been married to the love of his life, Allison for the last 25 years and has 5 children and four grandchildren.
