Military veteran, Liberty father recognized with 2026 George Rogers Champion of Freedom Award

In honor of his years of military service and impact on his local community, Richard Santos of Sanford, Fla., was officially recognized as the 2026 recipient of Liberty University’s George Rogers Champion of Freedom Award, presented during halftime of the Flames Football Military Appreciation Game on Saturday.

The annual award is a high honor recognizing individuals who have gone beyond the call of duty and continue to display dedication to their community. The award’s namesake is the late World War II veteran George Rogers, who narrowly survived the Bataan Death March after being held captive as a prisoner of war by the Japanese. Rogers, a Purple Heart and Prisoner of War Medal recipient, went on to work for Liberty University in various roles, including CEO for the Old-Time Gospel Hour and as Vice President of Finance and Administration before retiring in 1999.

Santos received the award alongside his wife, Connie, and daughter, Liberty sophomore and cheerleader Maddy Santos, who nominated him for the award.

Raised by his grandparents, Santos often heard his grandfather’s stories of serving in both the United States Army and Navy in WWII. He knew from the age of 5 that he wanted to serve in the military too.

In May of 1990, at 19 years old, he enlisted in the Army during a time of peace for the United States, but he was soon deployed into combat as part of Operation Desert Storm.

“Five months after I enlisted, I found myself in the desert,” he said. “It was a unique experience. I met a lot of good people, and I still maintain friendships with some of those leaders from that time period. What you learn in the military is that, while we love our country, you are really showing up for your brother, the person sitting right next to you. In the thick of things, in the heat of battle, in a crisis, even in a Christian walk, the team is the team, and it’s the brother beside you. I’ve kept that with me still to this day.”

Santos served eight years in the Army and, upon returning home to Florida, was hired by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office as a master deputy and detective. But then he remembered one of his grandfather’s last requests before his passing: that

Santos become a military officer. Santos began to pursue a commissioning into the Navy, mirroring his grandfather’s branches of service.

In 2010, he was commissioned as a naval intelligence officer. This made Santos a “Mustang Officer,” a term for a commissioned officer who began his military career in the enlisted ranks.

“I stuck with it, I had kids, went (to school) at night, but I was (saying), ‘I’ve got to finish this. The Lord’s put something in me.’ When the Lord puts something in you, you can ignore it at your own peril, but you won’t have whatever He has for you on the other side,” he said. “There’s so much more He has for you. It is not always easy, but it’s always good. I just felt that there was something God wanted to use me for, and I didn’t want to not live up to my potential.”

He went on to serve 14 years in the Navy, including both reserves and active-duty services, working in intelligence, counterterrorism, counterintelligence, and counternarcotics. At the same time, he maintained his career with the sheriff’s office.

Outside of the military, Santos continued his commitment to leading and mentoring young men as head football coach at The Master’s Academy in Oviedo, Fla., where he has coached for the last 16 years. Football had been a passion since his own high school playing days, and he continued to find occasional gridiron opportunities on base teams during his military service. Today, the sport has allowed him to impart his values of faith, camaraderie, and healthy ambition to his players at the Christian school.

“Like a friend of mine told me, ‘We’re in the ministry of creating godly men, and we’re using athletics as a platform,’” he said. “The Xs and Os matter, but that’s what matters more to me. One of the things that I try to impart on players is to do everything you can on the athletic field to give glory to the Lord. It doesn’t matter what you do or if you succeed or if you fail, but if you ultimately don’t give your whole effort, you’re cheating the Lord because He gave you potential and He gave you a gift. I don’t really remember wins and losses, but I remember relationships; I remember players.”

“When I’m on an athletic field or in that context, I know that’s my mission field right now,” he added.

Santos remembers a First Sergeant who became like a father to him and modeled the kind of leadership Santos has sought to emulate throughout his life.

“All those soldiers in his platoon became like his kids, and he cared for them like they were his, and it really got me thinking: when these young men, these sailors or soldiers, are under your charge, those are children of God,” Santos said. “You’re just stewarding them for such a very brief moment. When you adopt that perspective, it’s mind blowing. It’s mind blowing that the Lord puts you in these positions to witness to people, to lead them, to mentor them, and it’s not always easy.”

A point of pride for Santos is where his players have gone after graduating from his roster. One player has gone on to the NFL, several have played college football, and others have become doctors, lawyers, pastors, teachers, and coaches. A few have also followed in his footsteps into the military and law enforcement.

Santos expressed his humbled gratitude in being named this year’s Champion of Freedom recipient, particularly after learning about the service members honored before him who, like him, have sought to answer God’s call and excel where He’s placed them. He called the award the greatest civilian honor he’s ever received.

“I read some of those profiles (of past recipients), and I said, ‘Man, these are some great men,’” he said. “The common thread was that the Lord put them in places to be those great men, and they answered the call. I was so humbled to be even mentioned in the same breath as them. It blows me away that the Lord uses men like that, uses people like that. I’m just an imperfect person who God has used for His Kingdom.”