Pete Quintanilla is a US Army veteran who medically retired after serving ten years in the 2nd Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment at Ft. Lewis, Washington.
In 2009 as an amputee, Pete began venturing out climbing mountains and working with injured service members across the country as a mentor. 2011 he began working for U.S Special Operations Command (USSCOM) Care Coalition as a Recovery Care Coordinator and advocate; taking care of wounded, ill or injured service members that are assigned to the United States Special Operations Command. Pete’s outdoor adventures was noticed by a group that was attempting to climb the seven highest peaks on each continent—the “Seven Summits” and in 2011 he joined the Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge team; as a team member he signed on to be tested and evaluated in different research and case studies for prosthetics in austere environment during their seven summits bid.
As a private pilot (obtained as an amputee) he is currently pursuing ratings as a Certified Fight Instructor (CFI) and eventually getting his ATP (Airplane Transport Pilot) rating… time will tell.
He wishes to be part of the Angel Flight network providing much need transportation services to children and military personal to specialized care across the United States (and bush pilot stuff in far away places).
Pete current lives with his family in the Pacific Northwest, where you can usually find him with his son and daughter (or anyone willing too) wander with a purpose around the Puget Sound area or up high on Mt Rainier
Pete’s participating in research, case studies and mentorship events has taken him across the United States, South America, Africa and into Europe. His challenges and mentorship accomplishments to date:
- Warrior Games; Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Bionic Warrior’s team; Olympic training Center, Colorado Springs, CO—2011
- Army 10 Miler in Washington DC–2011 to 2014
- Numerous multi-day mountaineer evaluations and training across Denali National Park, Alaska–201 to 2015
- Numerous SCUBA diving research evaluations and new mentorship with new divers Key West, Florida–201to 2015
- Mt Kilimanjaro Mountaineering Challenge; Tanzania, Africa –2013 (Explorers Club Flag Expedition. Flag #93)
- Grand Canyon Challenge – 2013
- Nordic Cross Country Skiing Challenge; Boundary Waters Canoe area wilderness, Duluth, MN – 2014
- Mountaineering Challenge training, Sheldon House, Ruth Glaicer, Denali National Park, Alaska – 2014
- Alaska Mountaineering Challenge, 13 Day North to South Trek, Denali National Park, Alaska – 2014
- Aconcagua Mountaineering Challenge, Argentina; Mendoza Province, Argentina-2015
- Grand Canyon North to South Rim, Operation Canyon Rising, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ–2016
- Allied Forces Foundation, Cataran Yomp; Bronze Medal–2015 & 2016
- Summit of Kilimanjaro in 2017 with Chris Long Foundation and Waterboys.org