The AI Skills Employers Want
with Tauri StClaire
Beyond Companionship: How Service Dogs Strengthen, Heal, and Empower the Military Community
Mar Leifeld
January 20, 2026 01:00 PM EST
January 20, 2026 01:00 PM EST
Virtual
Join us for an inspiring fireside conversation with Mar Leifeld, Assistant Director of MBTR Programs at Warrior Canine Connection, as we explore the remarkable ways service dogs are transforming the lives of veterans, transitioning service members, and military families.
Mar will unpack the science, heart, and humanity behind WCC’s mission, showing how the act of training service dogs becomes a powerful pathway to connection, resilience, and healing. From reducing symptoms of PTSD to rebuilding confidence and purpose, Mar will share real stories of how these canine partners help veterans reclaim independence and restore a sense of self.
Whether you're a veteran, currently transitioning, a military spouse, or an ally eager to better support this community, this discussion offers meaningful insight into how service dogs do far more than assist: They open doors, rebuild trust, and change lives.
Meet The Speaker
Mar Leifeld
Assistant Director of MBTR Programs at Warrior Canine Connection
Mar Leifeld is Warrior Canine Connection’s Assistant Director of Mission Based Trauma Recovery programs. He began training future service dogs in a volunteer capacity in 2004 and later went on to train service dogs in a professional capacity in 2016. Mar’s primary motivation for working in this industry has always been the desire to serve individuals with disabilities through highly skilled service animals. When Mar first came to WCC in 2020, they were blown away by the organization’s unique mission model; using service dog training as an animal assisted therapeutic intervention for all members of the military community. Mar knew immediately that Warrior Canine Connection’s program was where he wanted to be and joined the team as a Service Dog Training Instructor, with a primary focus on delivering MBTR training sessions to veterans and active duty. Mar began overseeing WCC’s MBTR programs in 2022, and they now have the honor of supporting WCC’s No-Fail mission nationwide.
