Bryan "Doc" Pieschel
USA (Ret.)
Executive Director

From 2004 to 2009, Bryan “Doc” Pieschel honorably served as a U.S. Army medic during the Iraq War. 

 

In 2005, while assigned to the 5th Engineer Battalion, a mechanized combat engineer unit, he faced the intensity of front-line combat in route clearance operations. The "Fightin' Fifth" lost four of their brothers during the yearlong deployment and would send numerous more home wounded. Bryan shares their names with us to ensure they are remembered:  

 

SGT Dominic Coles 

SSG Gavin Reinke 

SPC Bryan Quinton 

PFC Caleb Lufkin  

 
Bryan highlights the exceptional leadership demonstrated within the battalion, which played a pivotal role in enabling many acts of heroism among its members. The experience and guidance of these leaders were instrumental in saving lives.  

 

In his own act defining act of courage, Bryan rendered lifesaving aid to a severely wounded Iraqi police officer while under direct enemy fire—an extraordinary display of valor that earned him the Army Commendation Medal with Valor. 

 

On September 17, 2006, he came to understand the cost of freedom on a deep personal level when his vehicle was struck by a powerful roadside bomb known as a, Explosively Formed Penetrator (EFP), resulting in injuries for which he was awarded the Purple Heart. Upon returning home, Bryan confronted the invisible wounds of war with the same determination that carried him through combat. 

 

Upon redeployment, Bryan experienced and confronted the invisible wounds of war with the same determination that carried him through combat. Once again, great leadership from his unit displayed unwavering support as Bryan fought the “demons” he, like so many others, face after experiencing combat.  

 

In 2009, after being medically retired from the Army, he redirected his commitment to service and leadership through his passion for volleyball. Bryan served for over a decade as the Boys Program Director for one of the nation’s largest youth volleyball organizations, High Performance-STL. During his tenure, he transformed his personal experiences in resilience and teamwork into lessons used to mentor coaches as well as coach thousands of young athletes to become future leaders—both on and off the court. 

 

On July 5, 2023, Bryan joined the Dogs For Our Brave team as the organization’s first Director of Veterans Services.  

 

Today, as Executive Director, Bryan continues his lifelong mission of service. He leads the organization’s strategic vision and represents its voice in the community, ensuring that veterans receive the support, companionship, and healing they deserve. 

 

Bryan Pieschel stands as a living testament to courage, resilience, and the enduring power of service—proving that the mission to make a difference continues long after the uniform comes off.