On May 19, John “Tig” Tiegen, veteran of the U.S. military and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and contributor to the New York Times bestselling book, 13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened in Benghazi, shared his intense story about saving lives, the ensuing mental challenges, and his journey back to stronger mental health. The lecture was generously sponsored by Fluor Corporation as part of a special Highland Capital Management Warrior and First Responder Reunion event.
A former sergeant and infantry squad leader, Tiegen applied his military training as a security protection contractor on missions in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq. He was an essential part of the rapid response to the terrorist attack on the American diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya on September 11, 2012, which left four Americans dead.
Tiegen participated in the Center for BrainHealth’s high-performance brain training program after transitioning back to civilian life. He knows firsthand the challenges faced by those who serve our country and communities in high-stakes roles.
Before the lecture, warriors and first responders were invited to a special reunion, with food and beverages, live music, and information from the Brain Performance Institute’s Veteran Service Organization (VSO) partners. This event, which was conceptualized by the Brain Performance Institute’s philanthropic partner, Highland Capital Management, aimed to bring awareness to the physical and emotional impact that first responders, law enforcement personnel, military veterans and many others experience.