Dan Bellis was born and raised in Bergen County, New Jersey where he had an uneventful childhood and excelled in mediocrity. After 12 years as an award-winning broadcaster, photographer, and journalist in the US Air Force, he majored in paramedicine, nursing, speech and hearing, and even briefly considered culinary school.  Luckily, he married above his station and is now a full-time stay-at-home dad.  He lives in Minneapolis with his beautiful wife, and two amazing children, who patiently listen to his repeated stories about his tours in Afghanistan and travels to more than 30 countries on four continents. He is an active member of Team Red, White, and Blue, an organization dedicated to enriching the lives of America's veterans by connecting them to their community through physical and social activity. He enjoys CrossFit, fishing, running, and complaining about Minnesota winters.