APPEARANCES ON
"Hard-won lessons that resonate with every audience" - JB "Insight that inspires action - grounded in Real-World Experience" - SC
What Sets Michael Apart as a Speaker & Media Contributor
1
EOD/IEDD & Mine Action Authority
Michael Montoya brings almost two decades of experience in EOD, IEDD, and Humanitarian Mine Action. As a U.S. Marine Corps EOD Technician and later as an international advisor, he has trained and certified hundreds of military and police personnel across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe to International Mine Action Standards. His work includes doctrine development, stockpile reduction, counter-IED operations, and quality management in some of the world's most complex environments. This depth of expertise positions Michael as a trusted authority for policymakers, humanitarian organizations, and security professionals seeking practical, field-tested insight.
2
Firsthand Perspective
In June 2023, while volunteering to clear mines in Ukraine, Michael experienced the life-changing event of stepping on a landmine, resulting in the traumatic amputation of his right foot. This life-altering experience gives him a unique, survivor-informed perspective on the world's most urgent landmine crisis. Unlike secondhand analysis, Michael speaks from direct involvement - combining technical understanding with lived reality. He offers audiences rare insights into how landmine contamination devastates communities, challenges clearance teams, and requires innovative international partnerships. His testimony is not just about survival but about shaping solutions that protect civilians and operators alike.
3
Resilient Leadership & Nonprofit Innovation
Refusing to let his injury define the end of his service, Michael transformed it into a new beginning. Along side his wife and best friend, he co-founded Invictus Global Response (IGR), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and Invictus Global Response Ukraine, committed to affordable, accountable mine action and training. As Executive Director, he oversees survivor-informed training programs, capacity-building initiatives, and community-driven recovery efforts. Michael's leadership demonstrates how resilience can be translated into organizational strength - inspiring audiences with lessons in perseverance, partnership, and purpose. His journey from battlefield to nonprofit boardroom embodies the power of turning hardship into global impact.
ABOUT MICHAEL
"EVERY DEVICE DEFEATED MEANS A FAMILY SAFE, A COMMUNITY RESTORED, AND A BETTER FUTURE"
My name is Michael Montoya, everyone calls me Monty. I am a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, EOD Technician, and Co-Founder & Executive Director of Invictus Global Response (IGR). My career has taken me from leading combat operations to developing international EOD training programs, serving as a senior trainer for military & police forces, and supporting humanitarian clearance efforts across multiple continents.
In 2023, while volunteering in Ukraine, I survived a PMN-4 landmine blast that cost me my right foot. That moment reshaped my life but did not end my mission. With my wife and best friend, I co-founded IGR to turn survivor experience into meaningful action - creating safer clearance operations and building pathways for countries and communities affected by conflict.
In 2025, I was honored to be named Survivor of the Year by the Marshall Legacy Institute, an award that recognizes individuals who have transformed personal tragedy into advocacy and global impact.
Today, I not only contribute to this mission in the field but also as a speaker and humanitarian leader - sharing the lessons of resilience and responsibility to ensure others can live, work, and thrive without fear beneath their feet.
Looking ahead, my goal for IGR is to expand capacity building in countries like Ukraine and to continue growing our organization in a way that delivers cost-effective mine removal that prioritizes those in need over those in charge.
HEAR FROM THOSE WHO'VE TRANSFORMED THEIR LIVES
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JAMES SAHLEW, MN
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