OCEOLA TOWNSHIP, Livingston County, Mich. ( WLNS ) — The leader of a Michigan nonprofit agency working with veterans has misled his volunteers, donors, clients and the media about his military service record – including embellishing his rank and claiming to have been a special operator for the United States Air Force.
Kirk A. Lanam, 52, is the executive director, president and founder of Veteran Service Dogs Organization (VSDO) and has claimed since at least 2017 to have been a special operations member with tours in combat zones all over the world. He’s also claimed to be a brigadier general and a two-star general, also known as a major general—appearing at promotional and fundraising events wearing a camouflage uniform bearing those ranks and patches from USAF Special Operations.
On April 19, 2023, Lanam, in civilian clothing and with one of his service dogs at his side, walked up to the podium at the Hamburg Township Planning Commission. “Good afternoon, my name is Brigadier General Kirk Lanam,” he said. “I am 34 years on paper with the United States Air Force and 22 years active combat.”