Motivational keynote speaker for hire J.R. Martinez is a retired U.S. Army veteran, actor, NY Times bestselling author and motivational speaker. While serving as an infantryman in Iraq in 2003, J.R.’s Hummer drove over an IED that caused severe burns to over 34% of his body. He spent the next 34 months of recovery at the Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) and underwent countless plastic surgeries and skin grafts. Today, J.R. is one of the most engaging and uplifting motivational speakers for hire, using his own personal tragedies and life experiences to inspire others to adapt, overcome and face adversity head on.

J.R. enlisted in the Army in 2002 and was deployed to the Middle East in March of 2003. Just 2 months later he was involved in that fateful IED accident that would change his life forever. J.R. was driving the Hummer when the front left tire drove over an IED, ejecting his 3 fellow officers from the vehicle and trapping J.R. inside. After what probably seemed like hours, medical help arrived to rescue J.R. from the burning vehicle and he was airlifted to a local hospital. During his long grueling recovery at BAMC in Texas, J.R. was asked to speak with other burn patients who were having a tough time accepting reality. J.R.’s words moved patients in a positive way and he decided he wanted to use his story on a larger scale to positively impact as many people as possible.

In 2008, J.R. was cast in the popular ABC soap opera All My Children as Brot Monroe, an Army veteran who was injured in combat. In 2012, J.R. published his NY Times bestselling memoir titled Full of Heart: My Story of Survival, Strength and Spirit. A year later in 2013, J.R. was cast in a new syndicated action-drama series called SAF3 in a recurring role he still portrays today. That same year, J.R. won over the American public as the season 13 winner of ABC’s hit dance competition series Dancing with the Stars.

J.R.’s message as a motivational keynote speaker is centered around making the most of every situation and using resilience and optimism to face life’s challenges head on. He has spoken at a number of military bases as well as universities, Fortune 500 companies, non-profits and other major organizations such as the Clinton Global Initiative and the Red Cross.

Would your organization like to hire J.R. Martinez to speak or make a personal appearance at your next event? Contact Celebrity Speakers Bureau today to hire J.R. Martinez or another top keynote speaker to entertain and engage your audience at an upcoming corporate conference, speaker series, trade show or special event.