Matt Kuntz
Matt Kuntz was born and raised in
Helena,
Montana.
Matt received his bachelor’s degree from West
Point
and his law degree from the University
of Oregon.
Matt served as in infantry officer in the Army and was
recognized as Distinguished Member of the Thirty Fifth Regiment for
his service. Matt was
practicing corporate law in Helena
when his step-brother, a Montana National Guardsmen who suffered
from post traumatic stress disorder, committed suicide.
Spurred on by his step-brother’s death, Matt began advocating
for effective screening and treatment of post traumatic stress
injuries of our returning service members.
Senate Bill 711 is the culmination of these efforts.
It requires multiple, face-to-face mental health screenings
throughout America’s
fighting force. This
bill is attached to the Defense Authorization Act of 2010 and was
signed into law on October 8, 2009.
In June of 2008, Matt took on the role of the
National Alliance on Mental Illness for
Montana’s (NAMI Montana’s) Executive
Director in order to support, educate, and advocate for all
Montanans suffering from serious mental illness and their families.
Matt’s advocacy efforts on behalf of
Montana’s service members and their families
were documented in the book, Faces of Combat: PTSD & TBI by
Eric Newhouse. Matt was
recognized by President Obama in his inauguration festivities as one
of eighteen Ordinary Americans Who Have Made An Extraordinary
Difference. Matt was
also recognized as an Everyday All-Star by People Magazine and Major
League Baseball.
Matt's novel,
Sleeping Giant,
was released in November 2009. He is also the President of
Mean Monkey Sports, LLC,
an adventure sports equipment and apparel company. Matt is a
member of the Board of Directors of the
Uganda Rural Fund USA, Inc.
and Rocky Mountain Development
Council.
Matt lives in Helena with his wife. They spend their free
time trying to keep up with their two young daughters.
Contact info@namimt.org if
you would like to have Matt come meet with your community.
