GALLOWAY – J.R. Martinez, a motivational speaker, war hero and 2011 champion on “Dancing with the Stars,” will speak at Richard Stockton College 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16.

Martinez was 19 and serving as a driver for the U.S. Army in Iraq when his Humvee hit a landmine. The passengers were ejected and escaped serious injury, but Martinez was trapped in the vehicle and suffered burns over 40 percent of his body.

He has since undergone numerous surgeries, and his story was presented to the nation during the “Dancing with the Stars” program and picked up by national media. He now has career as a speaker.

Martinez will give a presentation and answer questions in the Performing Arts Center in M-Wing on Stockton’s main campus.

The event is free, but tickets are required. They can be picked up at the Performing Arts Center box office 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday.

The event is sponsored by the college’s First Year Experience, Office of Veteran Affairs and the Political Engagement Project.