Chris Purdy is the Director of Veterans for American Ideals and Outreach at Human Rights First. He’s worked on the VFAI project first as a volunteer and then on staff since 2016. Prior to joining Human Rights First, Chris worked as a Special Education teacher for many years. Chris also served for eight years as a Combat Engineer in the Army National Guard where he deployed to Iraq in 2011 as part of a convoy escort team. He is also a member of the Truman National Security Project, the Pacific Council, and serves on the Welcome Council on Welcome.US.

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from the State University of New York College at Fredonia, a Master’s of Education, Inclusive Education from Nazareth College of Rochester, and a Master’s of Public Affairs from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin.