David Burnell is an author, veteran, and humanitarian whose work is built on real-world experience in military operations, search and rescue, and global disaster response. From underwater recovery operations in the American Midwest to earthquake zones in Haiti, conflict regions in Burma, and tsunami recovery efforts in Japan, his life has been shaped in places most people never go—and moments most never see.
Those experiences forged a deep understanding of resilience, suffering, faith, and the quiet strength that emerges in chaos. Through his writing, Burnell brings those moments to life with clarity, honesty, and purpose.
He is the founder of Echo Valor, a storytelling platform dedicated to honoring warriors, rescuers, and humanitarians through books, music, spoken word, and media. He is also the host of multiple podcasts and the author of several works, including Built by Fire, The Quiet War, After the Wave, and Bad Gods: Haiti.
Burnell writes with a deep reverence for faith, service, and the unseen hand that guides us through life’s hardest moments. His work is ultimately about one thing: helping others find strength, meaning, and light—even in the fire.