LUIS CARLOS MONTALVÁN is the New York Times bestselling author of Until Tuesday: A Wounded Warrior and the Golden Retriever Who Saved Him (Disney-Hyperion).
From issues relating to service members, veterans and their families to those pertaining
to Americans with disabilities, Capt. Montalván is a vocal public advocate. He has
written for numerous publications including the New York Times, Washington Post, San
Francisco Chronicle and Military Review, and regularly appears on local, national, and
global media. Among the outlets that he and his faithful service dog, Tuesday, have been
featured on are NPR, CNN, CSPAN, National Geographic and The Late Show with
David Letterman.
In January 2013, Until Tuesday hit the New York Times bestseller list for the third time in three consecutive years. In 2012, the inspirational memoir earned the USA Best Book
Award in the Autobiography/Memoir and Audiobook Non-fiction categories and was an
International Latino Book Award finalist. Also in 2012, for narration of Until Tuesday,
Montalván was a finalist for an APA Audie Award beside four other nominees including
Tina Fey and Michael Moore. Luis is also the recipient of a 2011 Voice Award and the
2011 Invisible Hero Honors Award (IDA) for his efforts to educate the public about
trauma and the real experiences of veterans and people with disabilities.
On September 11, 2007, Capt. Montalván honorably departed the U.S. Army after 17
years of military service. Before joining the officer corps in 2003, Montalván spent over
a decade as a communications specialist, military policeman and infantryman in the
enlisted ranks, having joined the U.S. Army in 1990.
In addition to his years in Iraq, which earned him the Combat Action Badge, two Bronze
Stars, the Purple Heart, and Army Commendation Medal for Valor, among other awards
for meritorious service and valor, Montalván has mentored and trained officers at Fort
Benning and served on policy development teams in Washington, D.C.
After personally witnessing the tragic attack on the Pentagon on September 11, Luis
volunteered to perform security missions around the D.C. metropolitan area. By then, he
was enrolled in the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) programs at Georgetown
University and the University of Maryland, College Park. At the latter, he contributed to
the founding of the college’s first Army ROTC program since World War II.
In 2003, after graduating college and completing the Armor Officer Basic Course (with
Honors) at Ft. Knox, KY, Montalván deployed to Iraq as a member of the 3d Armored
Cavalry Regiment (3d ACR). Luis served as a Tank and Scout Platoon Leader from
September 2003 to April 2004 in the Al Anbar Province. He was responsible for securing
and developing the Al Waleed port-of-entry, one of the largest border crossings in Iraq, in
addition to patrolling the vast Iraqi desert along the strategically important Syrian border.
In March 2005, he deployed to Iraq again with the 3d ACR and served there until March
2006. During his second tour, he worked in a myriad of assignments including leading
a Military Transition Team (MiTT) in the volatile South Baghdad region and as the
Regimental Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) Operations Coordinator in Nineveh Province.
During “Operation Restoring Rights,” a successful clear and hold operation conducted
in the city of Tall Afar, Luis established and developed the Joint Coordination Centers
for the western Nineveh Province. Additionally, he was responsible for coordinating ISFdevelopment along the Syrian-Iraqi border. Promoted to Captain, he was assigned as the
Regimental Adjutant for the 3d ACR.
Later in 2006, he was assigned to Ft. Benning, Georgia, to train and mentor newly
commissioned Army officers at the Basic Officer Leadership Course II (BOLC II) as
well as coordinate resources and administration for the 1-11 Infantry Regiment. In 2007,
Luis was invited to participate in the American Enterprise Institute’s Iraq Planning Group
(IPG) where he contributed to the development of new national strategic policy.
Luis holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from the University of Maryland,
College Park, and a Master of Science degree in Journalism from Columbia University
in New York City. His military education includes the Armor Officer Basic Course,
Airborne, Air Assault, and Pathfinder Courses.
In addition to his decorations for service in Iraq, Luis has also been awarded the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal among other awards and decorations. He is a
qualified military parachutist and has conducted airborne jumps with the Czech, Thai,
and Slovak armies.
Luis is presently a graduate student at Columbia University working on a second Master
of Science degree in Strategic Communications. He is a member of the Council for
Emerging National Security Affairs (CENSA), a former Senior Vice Commander of the
Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) -- Brooklyn Chapter #405, and is an active
member of several veteran service organizations (VSOs).
A major motion picture based on Until Tuesday is in production and an independent
documentary, titled Buried Above Ground, in which Luis is co-featured, is currently in
post-production scheduled for release in late 2013.
Luis resides in New York City with his faithful service dog, Tuesday. Together, they
frequently travel and lecture about their written work and advocacy, and are touring in
2013-14. For more information about Luis & Tuesday or to book an event, please visit www.until-tuesday.com |
