DECEMBER 2022 BAR BULLETIN DECEMBER 2022 | Page 14

PBCBA ' s 100 th Annual Membership Luncheon

with Special Speaker & Veteran Dr . Damon Friedman

Keynote Speaker Dr . Damon Friedman and Clide
You could hear a pin drop in the ballroom as our members listened to Dr . Damon Friedman speak during a recent Membership Luncheon honoring Veterans Day . Dr . Friedman is a retired Lieutenant Colonel and Squadron Commander in special operations . As a former USMC officer and USAF Special Tactics Officer , he has been instrumental in the eradication of extreme terrorist networks around the world .
In 2010 , he returned home from the Korengal “ Death ” Valley . Seven days of heavy combat in one of the most dangerous places on earth changed his life . After 10 years of service , multiple deployments , numerous conflicts and explosions , he was suffering from a traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress . He was in a dark place .
As a juvenile delinquent from the mean streets of Los Angeles , he found a way to survive . Dr . Friedman holds a Doctorate in Intercultural Studies from Fuller and is currently pursuing Executive Education in Public Leadership at Harvard University . His current mission in life is helping prevent suicide by our veterans .