By Kaleb Lundine 

For Casper College’s Daniel Gallegos, the journey from the front of a whiteboard had been  anything but direct. It was a long voyage that took him from the halls of Natrona Country High school to the frontlines in Iraq. Following medical complications that ultimately forced him out  of the military, Gallegos found new meaning, currently working with Wyoming Senator John Barrasso. Yet at every twist and turn, his journey led him back to where it all began; his  hometown of Casper where he teaches political science. Gallegos is driven by a mission not only  to teach but to encourage his students how to think and engage with the modern world. 

Gallegos, commonly known as “Mr. G”, is a political science instructor at CC. He teaches  classes like POLS-1000 and INST-2350, giving new students a chance to ponder the world  today. Gallegos said he particularly loves to teach POLS-1000 for that very reason. 

“And that’s what I absolutely love because in my mind, I’m like, this is the last moment in that I  can touch someone’s mind and get them to realize how important their civic duty and their civic  responsibility is and how government actually works” Gallegos said, reflecting on how his  political science classes are the last way a student can inform themselves before going into  society. 

Before teaching, Gallegos served as a sergeant in the military from 1998-2007. He deployed in countries across the Eurasian continent and served three tours. Ultimately, he left the military in  2007 due to unforeseen health complications, as Galleos was diagnosed with type 1 Diabetes. 

After Gallegos’ service, he went back to Casper College to pursue becoming a history teacher,  though he found his stride when it came to political science. His experience as a veteran made 

Gallegos a perfect candidate to teach political science. Gallegos showed his professor his “love me book”, a scrapbook detailing his service in the military. 

“The things you did, political science majors dream of,” Gallegos said, detailing what his professor  said reacting to his “love me book”.  

With this advice Gallegos scraped together the last of his GI benefits, and scholarship funding,  and secured his master’s degree in political science at Norwich University in Vermont and  bachelor’s degree at the University of Wyoming. Since then, Gallegos is active both on campus  teaching his classes and working with Wyoming Senator John Barrasso to address veteran  affairs. 

Gallegos is currently involved with many clubs and committees at CC such as the Honors Program, Native American Club, and the Veterans Service’s club. Gallegos’ involvement stems  from a diehard commitment to serve students and ensure their future success. As a result, Gallegos brought in some elements from his time in the military to try and garner new success  with the Honors program. 

“So, I took these ideas from my military background and kind of applied this kind of ethos to the  honors program”, Gallegos said, citing the training he endured with his time at the military and  applying it to the Honor program. 

With his new initiative, the Honors Program sees greater success with a higher number of honor  roll students every year. 

Gallegos also serves as the head of the newly created Native American Club. He said it’s  important for students on campus to connect with the Native American roots of the college,  pointing to the mascot of the CC thunderbird.

“We saw the mascot and they’re like; there’s no Native club, and so they approached and said,  hey, what? I was like, yeah, let’s do it,” Gallegos said. 

Since its inception the Native American club saw immense growth, with neighboring tribes  from across the region convening to celebrate native heritage and participate in club powwow’s. 

Gallegos’ die hard commitment to help students and promote thought largely stems from his  admiration of the iconic superhero Captain America, seen with Captain America memorabilia  scattered across his office. He became a fan after picking up a comic about the patriotic super,  and it changed Gallegos’s life. 

“I was small, I was puny. And then I came across a Captain America comic book, and it  fundamentally changed me. That you can be weak, you can be puny, but it’s your character that  you really get your strength from,” Gallegos said.  

From a self-described “puny” kid who had found his strength through Captain America to a  sergeant who led soldiers in combat and now a prolific professor who leads students through  civic thought. Gallegos’ life has been a testament to transformation; he has traded the battlefield  for the classroom, but his mission remains the same, to serve, to protect, and build those around  him. Gallegos’ commitment to students remains the same.

“I’m not going anywhere; they’ll probably find me dead at my desk. I love my students, I love what I do, and I’ll be here forever.”