Marine Cpl. Aaron Mankin will give the opening keynote at Employment Law and Legislative Affairs (ELLA) Conference, coming Sept. 18-19.
Corporal Aaron Mankin, United States Marine Corps retired, is an Arkansas native. He served in Fallujah, Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom as a combat correspondent. While conducting combat operations near the Syrian border in 2005 his vehicle was attacked by an improvised explosive device. Six of his fellow Marines were killed in action. He was awarded the Purple Heart and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with combat distinguishing device for Valor.
Since then, Cpl. Mankin has endured nearly 65 surgeries. He was the first patient to participate in a trailblazing initiative at UCLA's Ronald Reagan Medical Center called Operation Mend and became a spokesperson for the program. More surgeries are slated for him this Fall.
He has been featured in news programs and articles around the world. In 2008 the USO recognized Cpl. Mankin as the Marine of the Year, People Magazine named him one of their 2010 Heroes of the Year and in 2012 President Barack Obama invited him to attend a State dinner at the White House.
Cpl. Mankin continues to serve as he travels the county and speaks on behalf of Veterans and the unique issues they face while deployed or transitioning home. His advocacy work has taken him from Wall Street to Capitol Hill and in 2013 his leadership and testimony in the Arkansas General Assembly was essential to the passage of Act 598, the Voluntary Veteran’s Preference Act for private employers.
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) recognize him as “one of the Veteran community’s single most powerful advocates."
Oliver North wrote of Cpl. Mankin in his book American Heroes where he says, "Aaron is a hero worth hearing."
He now resides in Rogers, AR with his two children. Madeline Paige just started first grade and Hunter Radek turned 5 on September 11.
Don't miss out! ELLA is only a few weeks away, so if you haven't registered yet, do it now!
