Colton Carlson

Background

About Colton Carlson

Colton studied applied mathematics at Dartmouth College. He graduated with a degree in mathematics in the spring of 2021. Prior to attending Dartmouth, Colton served in the United States Marine Corps as an Infantry Team Leader with 2nd Battalion 5th Marines. During his time as a Marine, Colton received three meritorious promotions and attended four schools including Infantry Squad Leader's Course and Corporal's Course where he honed his abilities as a young leader. Colton deployed aboard the USS Essex in 2011 and participated in Operation Tomodachi where his battalion provided humanitarian relief to Oshima Island, Japan following the magnitude 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami that struck the coast of Japan. In 2012, Colton deployed to Afghanistan as a Team Leader. After three months of successful operations, he was injured by an Improvised Explosive Device. As a consequence of the blast, Colton lost both legs and was awarded the Purple Heart and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with a V for valor for his actions following the blast. Colton recovered from his injuries and relearned how to walk, run, and snowboard with the use of prosthetic limbs. Additionally, Colton has completed a marathon, a "Tough Mudder" obstacle race, and summited multiple mountains including 22,850' ASL Mount Aconcagua in Argentina.