Press Fact Sheet

Chase Skylar DeMayo is a U.S. Air Force veteran, near-death experiencer, speaker, and advocate based in Central Florida. He shares his 2008 near-death experience to help veterans, families, care professionals, and communities talk about these experiences with more honesty, respect, and support.

Chase Skylar DeMayo is a U.S. Air Force veteran, near-death experiencer, speaker, writer, and advocate. In 2008, at age 20, while serving at Langley Air Force Base, he experienced cardiac arrest and what he describes as a profound near-death experience. He kept the experience largely private for about 12 years. He now speaks about joy, purpose, love, military NDEs, veteran support, identity, and returning to ordinary life after an extraordinary experience. Chase the Light is his invitation to find joy, spread laughter, live with purpose, and carry more love into the world. He is not a medical doctor or licensed mental health provider.

Chase Skylar DeMayo is a U.S. Air Force veteran, near-death experiencer, speaker, writer, and advocate based in Central Florida.

Military service: U.S. Air Force Public Affairs journalist, stationed at Langley Air Force Base. He began SERE training, which was interrupted by a knee injury, then served in Public Affairs. He was medically retired in 2008. Do not describe him as Army or Navy.

2008 medical event: In 2008, at age 20, while serving at Langley Air Force Base, Chase experienced cardiac arrest and what he describes as a profound near-death experience of light, love, peace, and Jesus. Documented fact: cardiac arrest while stationed at Langley. Recollection and spiritual interpretation belong to Chase's testimony, not to medical claims.

Disclosure: He kept the experience private for approximately 12 years. In October 2020 he attended a Wounded Warrior Project Project Odyssey retreat, which he has described as a turning point in sharing the story.

Work: Chase speaks at conferences, veteran groups, churches, and podcasts. He was the keynote at the IANDS 2024 International Conference in Phoenix. He was a featured speaker at the IANDS 2025 International Conference, including a military and veteran experiencers discussion. Do not describe him as a 2026 IANDS keynote. Professionally, he is Senior Audio Strategy Lead at Audacy Orlando (started October 2025). Audacy is his civilian career and should not dominate NDE positioning.

The title Dr. refers to an earned academic degree. Chase is not a medical doctor, physician, psychologist, therapist, or licensed mental health provider. His NDE descriptions are personal testimony and spiritual interpretation; they are not medical or mental health advice. He does not diagnose, treat, or replace medical or mental health care.

Use: In 2008, at age 20, while serving at Langley Air Force Base, Chase experienced cardiac arrest and what he describes as a profound near-death experience.

Do not use unsupported superlatives, award-winning without naming the award, world's leading, healing-as-treatment language, or invented statistics about veterans and NDEs. Use age 20. Some third-party pages have incorrectly used 19 or 21. Do not say he died as a documented medical fact.