Defying the Status Quo | James Byler | TEDxPurdueU

Former Marine captain and Wall Street trader James Byler was injured in Afghanistan in 2010 and then did something statistically unlikely – he went back to school and got a good job. James discusses what happened when his military career abruptly ended and why he believes people with physical disabilities can have brighter futures.

Upon graduation from Purdue University, James Byler was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. Following Officer training in Quantico, Virginia he was stationed in Camp Pendleton, Southern California where he was given charge of an Infantry platoon in the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine regiment. In 2010 his battalion deployed to Sangin District in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. While conducting combat operations in Sangin district he was struck by an I.E.D. and critically wounded, subsequently losing both of his legs. James spent the next year and a half in recovery at the Walter Reed National Military Medical center located outside of Washington D.C. Upon completing rehabilitation and recovery he attended NYU Stern School of Business where he attained a Masters in Business Administration. He currently works at Barclays in New York City as an Equities Trader.

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