Carlos Garcia hails from Cuba. Following high school, he enlisted in the Reserves, deploying to Iraq in 2003. Confronting mortality at a young age, he grappled with the traumatic aftermath of war, contending with PTSD in silence.

Transitioning to civilian life, Garcia served in the fire department, choosing to internalize the harrowing experiences of combat. His resolve to confront and understand the psychological toll of such experiences led him to pursue higher education. Presently, he is enrolled in the Department of Psychology at NOVA Southeastern University, pursuing a PhD focused on elucidating the protective psychological mechanisms employed by both firefighters and veterans.