Darren McBurnett.

Darren McBurnett (SEAL, Ret.) is a 24-year Navy veteran , elite operator, acclaimed visual artist, and nationally recognized speaker who brings powerful insight, grit, and humor to every audience he addresses. With deployments across Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, Liberia, and beyond, Darren served with SEAL Teams Two, Four, Eight, One, Three, and SDV (SEAL Delivery Vehicle), holding roles from platoon leader to instructor and senior enlisted advisor.

His distinguished military career includes developing military free fall training programs, serving on the U.S. Navy Parachute Team , and earning 53 personal, unit, and campaign awards-including the Bronze Star. He also instructed at the Naval Special Warfare Basic Underwater Demolition School (BUD/S), giving him a rare insider perspective on the world’s most grueling training pipeline.

Beyond the battlefield, Darren is a celebrated photographer whose work has appeared in campaigns for Nike, National Geographic, Rolling Stone, and CBS’s SEAL Team. He is the author of Uncommon Grit , a best-selling visual chronicle of BUD/S training that blends striking imagery with raw storytelling.

He is also the founder of the Uncommon Grit Foundation , a nonprofit dedicated to supporting military personnel, first responders, and their families. His photography has raised millions for charitable causes and helped fuel missions of service across the country.