Luis Santos was born on June 24, 2000, in Tampa, Florida. He enlisted in the Delayed Entry Program with the U.S. Army on August 22, 2019, and went on active duty beginning on September 3, 2019. He attended Infantry One-Station Unit Training at Fort Benning, Georgia, with Basic Training from September to November 2019, followed by Advanced Individual Training as an Infantryman from November 2019 until an injury during training re-classified him as a Shower and Laundry/Clothing Repair Specialist in January 2020. He then attended Advanced Individual Training as a Shower & Laundry Specialist at Fort Lee, Virginia, from January to March 2020, with cadre and holdover duties at Fort Lee during the Coronavirus Outbreak until November 2020. SPC Santos arrived at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, in November 2020, and then served with Headquarters Company, 586th Field Hospital, 531st Hospital Center, 44th Medical Brigade at Fort Campbell from December 2020 until he left active duty on March 3, 2023. He served with E Company, 1st Battalion, 398th Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 104th Division (Leader Training) at Paducah Armed Forces Reserve Center, Kentucky, from April to November 2023, and then with F Company, 1st Battalion, 398th Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 104th Division (Leader Training) at Naval Support Activity Mid-South, Tennessee, from November 2023 until he entered the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) in April 2024.

His Army Commendation Medal Citation reads:

For exceptionally superior achievement while serving as a Religious Affairs Specialist for Cadet Summer Training 2023 in support of Chapel Operations and Task Force Wolf at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Specialist Luis Santos's selfless service, and outstanding support made profound impacts on mission success. His exemplary performance and professionalism are in keeping with the finest of military traditions. Specialist Santos' dedication to duty reflects great credit upon himself, the United States Army Cadet Command, 104th Training Division, and the United States Army.