Warrior Games Profile - Mitchell Kieffer

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(Editor's note: More than 40 athletes will represent the Air Force during the 2014 Warrior Games from Sept. 28 to Oct. 4, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. This is a profile of one of those athletes, providing a behind-the-scenes look at who they are and the sport they will participate in.)

WARRIOR GAMES: PLAYER PROFILE

Name: Capt. Mitchell Kieffer

Team: Warrior Games
Sports: Ultimate Champion, Sitting Volleyball DOB: 08 Jan 1985
Birthplace: Omaha, NE
Hometown: Apple Valley, MN
Current Residence: Virginia Beach, VA Injury: TBI, PTSD

Personal Profile:

Capt Mitch Kieffer is currently active duty Air Force stationed at Langley AFB, Virginia serving as an Operations Research Analyst for Air Combat Command. He started his career at Eglin AFB, Florida serving as an analytical scientist for the Air Force Research Lab (Munitions Directorate, 2007-2009), then as a Test Engineer – Air to Ground Munitions (780th Test Squadron, 46th Test Wing, 2009-2011). He volunteered for an Iraq deployment in a joint assignment (US Army Corps of Engineers, 2010-2011) in efforts to rebuild the country. Once in Iraq, he volunteered to be the operations officer and lead outside the wire project site missions. With over 40 missions under his belt, his team came under attack in a complex ambush while returning from a site near Baghdad and was injured. Approximately six months following the attack, he started a Master’s Degree in Operations Research/Applied Mathematics at the Air Force Institute of Technology, ultimately completing the 18-month program with a 3.7 GPA. He is married to Ana Maria Lemire with two step daughters Ana Paula and Ana Cristina Lemire.

Personal/Professional Achievements:

Purple Heart Recipient
2013 Warrior Games Ultimate Champion (1st ever USAF Recipient)
Four year team member and 2 year coach of the All-Air Force Triathlon Team Air Combat Command Marathon Team
US Nationals Triathlon, placing in top 3 overall
Boston Marathon Qualifier