Veteran • Rescuer • Storyteller
David Burnell is the founder and voice behind Echo Valor, a platform where lived experience meets creative expression to honor warriors, rescuers, and survivors. A decorated U.S. Air Force veteran and humanitarian, David has spent his life on the front lines of conflict, catastrophe, and rescue—always mission-driven and guided by purpose.
With over a decade of honorable military service, David has led and supported operations in special tactics, search and rescue, counter-terrorism, and anti-human trafficking. From founding the Urban Warfare Center—a revolutionary training ground for real-world readiness—to serving as a public safety SCUBA instructor and high-risk protective agent, his career is defined by courage, care, and commitment.
David is also a National Taekwondo Champion, an accomplished filmmaker, and a seasoned storyteller. His creative works—over 16 commercial films and now a growing library of spoken ballads and musical tributes—transform raw experience into resonant narratives that inspire, heal, and remember.
Echo Valor is his mission reborn through music and media—where service is honored, stories are preserved, and the voices of the brave echo beyond the battlefield.