My Why: Christopher Zdunowski

I was born in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, on October 20, 1972. As a military (Coast Guard) brat, I had the opportunity to live in diverse and exciting places. From Alaska in the north to Puerto Rico in the south, I’ve experienced living in a variety of locations. After graduating from high school in Maryland, I immediately joined the Army. I started as a Military Police transitioned to Transportation, and spent the last 13 years of my military career as a Flight Engineer on CH47-D model helicopters. During my time in the Army, I went on three overseas deployments: Iraq in 2003-2004, Afghanistan in 2007-2008, and 2012. During my tour in 2012, I was medevacked back to Fort Belvoir in the States, where I served the remainder of my time in the Army. I retired in January of 2014 after 23 years of service.

My Why:

In 2021, I returned to school and completed my bachelor’s degree in Human Services. I also obtained certification as a Peer Recovery Specialist. In 2023, I earned the designation as a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor Supervisee and Qualified Mental Health Professional in Training. Currently, I am enrolled in a master’s program to become a Licensed Professional Counselor. Apart from my professional pursuits, I am passionate about Off-Roading and spending time with my son. I am married, and we have a nine-year-old son named Martin, along with two dogs, Maddie and Freddy Bacon.