Army Veteran
Author
Gretchen Evans
Athlete
Speaker & Mentor
Honors & Recognition
ESPN Pat Tillman Award for Service at the ESPY Awards
Founder of Team UNBROKEN
U.S. Veterans Hall of Fame
U.S. Army Women’s Foundation Hall of Fame
No Barriers USA Ambassador
America’s VETDOGS Ambassador
Awards & Medals
Purple Heart
Bronze Star
Combat Action Badge
Meritorious Service Medals (4)
Presidential Unit Citation Medal
Global War on Terrorism Ribbons
Speaking Engagements
About Gretchen Evans
Texas native Command Sergeant Major Gretchen Evans entered the U.S. Army at 19 years old. Shortly after completing basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Evans became an intelligence analyst for commander in chief (Europe) before studying German and Italian at the Defense Language Institute as a counterintelligence agent.
Following her graduation from language school, Evans attended Basic Airborne Course at Fort Moore. A graduate of the Sergeant Majors Academy at Fort Bliss, she held leadership roles in multiple combat engagements including Grenada, Panama, Bosnia, Afghanistan, and other deployments throughout her 27 years in the Army for which she earned many medals and awards, including the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Badge, the Bronze Star, the Presidential Unit Citation Medal, and Global War on Terrorism ribbons, and Meritorious Service Medals.
During her final assignment, Evans was responsible for the security and personnel on Forward Operating Bases in Afghanistan, overseeing more than 30,000 ground troops.
In 2006, Evans was severely wounded by incoming fire while serving in Afghanistan. The rocket blast caused her debilitating injuries, including a traumatic brain injury, internal injuries, and the loss of all hearing. After her combat injury, PTSD diagnosis, and subsequent retirement from service, her transition from military life to civilian life was difficult.
With the help of her service dog, Rope Team of friends, and a healthy dose of grit, Evans navigated through a changed life and found her new passion and purpose in advocating for veterans of all services and serving as an ambassador for a number of nonprofits, including America’s VetDogs, the Dogtopia Foundation, No Barriers USA, Unbroken Spirit, and the U.S. Women’s Veterans Memorial.
Today, Evans focuses her efforts on improving the lives of her fellow veterans by actively serving as a mentor, coach, and community activist. In 2019, CSM Evans assembled a mixed-ability team of veterans and civilians with disabilities to compete in the “World’s Toughest Race” on Amazon Prime.
Team UNBROKEN inspired millions with their resolve to not let their injuries define who they are or what they could achieve in life. Today, Evans continues to lead Team UNBROKEN in races, adventures, and challenges across the world. Evans is the 2022 recipient of the Pat Tillman Award for Service awarded at the 2022 ESPYS.
Evans lives with her husband Robert, a retired Navy chaplain, and their three service dogs: Aura, Rusty, and Kermit.
