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About Warrior's Alpha
Warrior’s Alpha is a veteran-led, grassroots initiative dedicated to helping disabled military veterans access accurate and lawful information about service dogs. Purposefully built as an educational platform and blog, it draws on lived experience, professional training, and a practical understanding of life after military service.
Founded by a medically retired U.S. Air Force veteran with a bachelor of social work and certified peer support credentials, Warrior’s Alpha provides ADA-compliant guidance on service dog laws, corrects misinformation, and helps veterans make informed, responsible decisions. The focus is on reliable, lawful, and practical knowledge—not service dog placement or certification.
Warrior’s Alpha honors tradition while staying forward-focused. It protects veterans’ rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), promotes lawful access, and supports independence through informed service dog partnerships. Every element is built with care, transparency, and accountability, prioritizing trust and substance over scale and speed.
Veterans, advocates, ethical service dog organizations, researchers, and community partners are invited to contribute. Together, Warrior’s Alpha works to elevate standards, reinforce integrity, and ensure veterans have access to guidance they can trust.
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Derek Wilson—Founder of Warrior’s Alpha
Derek Wilson is a retired U.S. Air Force veteran and former military working dog handler, bringing hands-on experience and deep insight into the human-animal bond. He serves as a Student Success Coach at Arizona State University, guiding veterans and service members toward academic and personal success.
Derek holds a Bachelor of Social Work and credentials in peer support, success coaching, and criminal justice. Drawing on his military experience and professional training, he founded Warrior’s Alpha, a veteran-led initiative empowering disabled veterans with education and guidance on legitimate service dog support.
Loki — Psychiatric Service Dog
Loki is the founder’s psychiatric service dog and a central part of Warrior’s Alpha’s mission. He supported the founder through four years of college and the transition back into civilian life and now works full-time alongside him. Recognized as a staff member at ASU’s Pat Tillman Veterans Center and part of the ASU Pet Ambassador program, Loki also appears on the Warrior’s Alpha logo, symbolizing the transformative impact a trained service dog can have on a veteran’s well-being and community connection.
Guiding Principles and Personal Insights
Derek’s approach to Warrior’s Alpha is grounded in veteran-centered empowerment, practical guidance, and holistic, evidence-based strategies. He believes that every veteran deserves clear information, respectful support, and access to the resources they need to succeed. He also believes in the unique enhancement that service dogs bring to veterans’ lives, both emotionally and practically.
Outside of his professional work, Derek enjoys spending time in the outdoor wilderness and with animals, passions that reflect his commitment to resilience, discipline, and the human-animal bond—values that directly inform his work with service dog education and advocacy.
