³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ

Dave Owen, Chairman of the David C. Owen Leadership Institute at ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ presented its Annual Leadership Award to Lt. Colonel Mark Nutsch today in recognition of his heroic leadership of Special Forces A Team (ODA-595), a group of 12 Green Berets who were the first responders to the 9/11 attacks on the United States. This group became known as the Horse Soldiers and were forever memorialized in the movie 12 STRONG. Their mission was to unite with Afghan warlords and resistance fighters of the Northern Alliance to orchestrate a large-scale offensive against the Taliban. They had to ride horses to navigate the rugged mountainous terrain and Col. Nutsch, a rodeo cowboy, was the only one experienced with horses. Their mission struck a blow for freedom in a perilous time!

Mark is a native of the Kansas Flint Hills and a graduate of Kansas State University where he was a member of the rodeo team. He served in the Army in active and reserve capacities as an Infantry, 75^th Ranger Regiment; and Special Forces officer with unique combat and leadership experience.

He is currently involved in efforts to evacuate American citizens and his team’s Afghan allies, aiding their resettlement.

Mark and his business partners, operate a nationally growing, craft whiskey distillery brand, American Freedom Distillery, featuring their premium award-winning Horse Soldier Bourbon. Mark and his wife Amy, and the 595 team are featured in the movie “12 Strong” and the documentary film “ Legion of Brothers”.