FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SPRINGFIELD, VA — Special Strong, a leading Adaptive Fitness franchise dedicated to serving individuals with mental, physical, and cognitive challenges, today announced the launch of Special Strong Springfield under franchise owner Derrick Draper, a retired U.S. Army Infantry Officer whose career has been defined by leadership, service, and resilience.
During his distinguished 22-year military career, Draper led soldiers through numerous deployments and demanding assignments around the world, developing a leadership philosophy rooted in discipline, accountability, empathy, and putting people first. A 100% disabled veteran and Purple Heart recipient, Draper sustained a traumatic brain injury and significant inner-ear injuries from an IED attack while serving in Iraq in 2006.
“This is about much more than exercise. It is an opportunity to provide coaching, mentorship, encouragement, and a community that helps individuals develop the skills and confidence to pursue more independent and abundant lives.”
— Derrick Draper, Franchise Owner, Special Strong Springfield VA
Rather than allowing those injuries to define what was possible, Draper made physical fitness a central part of his recovery — a commitment reflected in the detailed record he has kept of every workout, weight, and performance time since 2009. That experience gave him a unique appreciation for adapting to challenges, recognizing individual capabilities, and refusing to let limitations define a person’s potential.
From the Military to the Sidelines
Following his retirement from the Army, Draper transitioned his passion for leadership and fitness into coaching and athlete development. Since 2023, he has served as a Strength and Conditioning Coach and Head Freshman Football Coach at West Springfield High School, as well as a Strength and Conditioning Coach for iMpact Dance Project, a competitive dance program in Springfield. In 2025, he completed an internship with the United Football League (UFL), gaining professional experience in both Strength and Conditioning and Football Operations.
“I chose Special Strong because its mission brings together the things that have been most meaningful throughout my life: leadership, service, fitness, and the opportunity to make a lasting difference in the lives of others,” Draper said.
Draper and his wife, Courtney, have been married for 23 years and are the proud parents of two children, Joe and Annabel. Joe recently graduated from Oberlin College, where he played four years of collegiate football, and Annabel, a lifelong competitive dancer, is beginning her freshman year at Michigan State University.
About Special Strong
Founded in 2016, Special Strong provides adaptive fitness training for children, adolescents, and adults with mental, physical, and cognitive challenges. Through its rapidly growing franchise model, Special Strong empowers communities to offer inclusive fitness programs that improve health, build confidence, and promote independence. With a foundation built on faith and service, Special Strong continues to expand nationwide, making a lasting impact one life at a time.
