About Lee Bagan
Lee Bagan is an advocate for disabled students, a U.S. Army Special Forces veteran, and a financial technology professional. He is known for his work at the University of Texas at Austin, where he helped establish a scholarship fund for economically disadvantaged students with disabilities. After earning degrees from UT Austin and Stanford University, he served 15 years in the military, deploying to Iraq, Afghanistan, and other conflict zones. Today, Lee continues to make an impact by combining his military experience with his legal and financial expertise.
Early Life and Education
Lee’s story begins with his early years in Highland Park, Illinois. Lee faced his first major challenge at a young age when he was diagnosed with a learning disability. Navigating school was not easy for him; he struggled to understand certain subjects and keep up with his peers. Lee’s personal experiences with his learning disability would later play a role in his advocacy for students facing similar obstacles.
A Strong Advocate for Disabled Students
In 2002, Lee Bagan began his studies at the University of Texas at Austin. He quickly made a name for himself on campus, not only because of his academic achievements but also due to advocating for disabled students. During his time at the university, he joined the President’s Committee for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accessibility. This role allowed him to work closely with university officials to ensure that the needs of disabled students were being met. He also joined the Austin Mayor’s Committee for Disability Policy, where he expanded his efforts beyond the campus and into the broader community.
Lee became a strong voice for students with disabilities, particularly those who were economically underprivileged. He believed that no one should be held back in their education due to a lack of financial resources or proper support for their disabilities. With this belief in mind, Lee spearheaded a campaign to raise funds for disabled students in need. He spoke to student organizations, launched a letter-writing campaign, and worked tirelessly to bring attention to the issues faced by these students.
Thanks to his hard work, Lee raised $25,000 with the help of the University’s Department of Disability and Access. In 2008, the department honored Lee’s efforts by naming the scholarship fund he helped create, the “Lee Bagan Endowed Scholarship Fund.” This fund provides financial assistance to students who need psychological testing to access federal educational benefits. As of 2024, the fund has grown to over $100,000 and has helped many students who otherwise would not have been able to afford the testing and support they needed.
A Green Beret in the U.S. Army
After completing his education, Lee took on another incredible challenge: serving in the U.S. Army as a Special Forces Officer, also known as a Green Beret. During his 15 years of service, Lee deployed extensively to some of the world’s most dangerous conflict zones. He spent 18 months in Iraq, 13 months in Afghanistan, and 7 months along the Syrian-Lebanese border. His deployments were not limited to U.S. Army Special Forces units — Lee also worked alongside Navy SEAL teams during certain missions.
During his military service, Lee also continued his education. In 2018, the U.S. Special Operations Command gave him special permission to enroll at Stanford University while still serving in uniform. Lee took on the challenge of pursuing both a law degree and a Ph.D. at the same time. What made this achievement even more remarkable was that he completed his law degree in just two years, something no other student at Stanford had ever done.
Life After the Military
After 15 years of military service, Lee Bagan decided to retire from the U.S. Army. However, he did not slow down. Instead, he transitioned into the financial technology industry. Lee’s work in financial technology involves understanding the intersection of geopolitics, economics, law, and finance. In 2025, Lee was appointed to the Green Beret Foundation’s Board of Directors.