(Virtual event) By the time we finished Martha's presentation, it was evident what type of skills and psychology is needed to succeed. Martha was able to demonstrate how to succeed despite any circumstances or what life might throw at you. She painted a picture of what success looks like and how all of us can continue building character to get there. This wasn't just a presentation but who she is.
Martha McSally
First female combat pilot in US history / US Senator
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Tucson, AZ, United States
Martha McSally
Biography
Short Bio
Colonel (Ret.) Martha E. McSally is a groundbreaking leader, author, and speaker, known for overcoming adversity to achieve historic feats. She made history as the first woman in the U.S. to fly a fighter jet in combat and command a fighter squadron. A Bronze Star recipient, McSally flew 325 combat hours and led her squadron on critical missions during six Middle East and Afghanistan deployments.
A tireless advocate for gender equality, she successfully challenged discriminatory military policies. McSally’s leadership and resilience, forged through personal hardships and military service, inspire audiences to reach their full potential.
She holds two master’s degrees, is a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, and is the author of Dare to Fly. An accomplished endurance athlete, McSally’s personal achievements include completing marathons, triathlons, and summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Blanc.
Long Bio
Colonel (ret) Martha E. McSally is a pioneering combat-proven leader, inspiring speaker, and celebrated author. Colonel Martha E. McSally is a pioneering combat-proven leader, inspiring speaker, and celebrated author. McSally is a compelling example of overcoming adversity and fear to achieve extraordinary feats. Losing her dad at the age of 12 and surviving sexual abuse and assault, she persevered to become the 1st woman in U.S. history to fly a fighter jet in combat and command a fighter squadron in combat. Along her journey, McSally had to overcome significant obstacles including U.S. law prohibiting women from flying combat jets. She persevered, held onto her dreams, continued to excel, and shattered glass ceilings.
In her speeches, McSally has the ability to take her lessons learned from combat, life, and extreme athletic endeavors and enthusiastically apply them in practical, memorable experiences propelling teams to excellence. Through humor, transparency, emotional connection, and powerful storytelling, she brings the audience into the cockpit, behind the scenes of high-stakes leadership moments in our nation’s history, and captures hearts along the way, all while imparting actionable take-aways that can immediately empower individuals and teams.
During her 26-year military career, McSally deployed six times to the Middle East and Afghanistan, flying 325 combat hours and earning the Bronze Star and six Air Medals. As a commander of her A-10 squadron, she oversaw $500M in assets and $40M in annual resources and was responsible for deploying her unit worldwide with just 24-hours’ notice. McSally was deployed to Saudi Arabia on 9/11 and became a key leader in planning and executing initial air operations in Afghanistan. As a Colonel, she was hand-picked as initial cadre to stand up U.S. Africa Command from scratch, building a complex organization with limited time and resources. She then led oversight of all African continent operations, including counterterrorism and disaster relief. This experience built on her expertise in strategic planning, process creation/improvement, knowledge management, logistics, and operations.
Colonel McSally is a values-driven trailblazer who demonstrates courage and integrity in her leadership, even when coming at a personal cost. She bravely took on the Pentagon in an 8-year battle to overturn discriminatory policies towards servicewomen deployed to Saudi Arabia—and won.
McSally knows how to build excellent teams founded in camaraderie, trust, and the ability to perform under pressure when the stakes are extremely high. She now takes these lessons from the cockpit and the skies of Afghanistan to equip your team to reach maximum potential as high performing individuals and significantly contributing teams within your organization.
McSally holds a Masters in Public Policy from Harvard University’s JFK School of Government, a Masters in Strategic Studies from the Air War College where she graduated #1 in her class out of 261 senior military officers, and is a distinguished graduate from the U.S. Air Force Academy. As a continuation of her service to our country and others and commitment to not walk by a problem, she served four years in the U.S. House of Representatives and two years as a U.S. Senator, which is not the focus of her speeches unless asked. (She often quips it was the least interesting thing she has done in her life!) She is the author of Dare to Fly—Simple Lessons in Never Giving Up, which motivates readers to overcome fear and adversity to achieve their full potential. McSally lives in Tucson, AZ where she enjoys hiking with her rescue Golden Retriever Boomer, running, and paragliding.
Through determination, discipline and grit, McSally has run over a dozen marathons, won three national military triathlon championships, and competed in two Ironman triathlons including the grueling Hawaii Ironman world championship where she won the women’s military division and placed 12th in the world in her age group. She also summited many peaks including Mt Kilimanjaro (highest mountain in Africa at 19,340 ft) and Mt Blanc (highest in Western Europe). She is a force of nature ready to inspire and equip your team.
Martha McSally
Featured Keynote Programs
Be Unbreakable
Lead With Courage. Adapt With Agility. Accelerate Growth.
Does your team need a battle-tested strategy to lead with confidence, adapt with agility, and turn uncertainty into unstoppable growth? Colonel Martha McSally has spent her life thriving in high-pressure, high-stakes environments—and she’s here to equip your audience with the mindset and tools to do the same.
In a world of economic volatility, industry disruption, and relentless change, hesitation can be the difference between success and failure. As the first American woman to command a fighter squadron in combat, McSally understands how to lead decisively, build trust-driven teams, and make bold moves—even in the most unpredictable situations.
A decorated fighter pilot, leadership strategist, and endurance athlete, McSally brings unmatched experience in overcoming adversity and making high-stakes decisions under extreme pressure. Beyond the cockpit, she has advised CEOs, competed in Ironman triathlons, and mastered the art of resilience—both in the battlefield and the boardroom.
McSally’s keynote is more than just inspiration—it’s a leadership game plan. She shares her WEDGE framework, a battle-tested roadmap to help leaders wake up, expand their capabilities, direct their focus, build trust, and execute with agility.
What to Expect:
Martha McSally delivers an electrifying, high-energy keynote that will have your audience ready to take action. Through powerful storytelling, humor, and real-world leadership lessons, she connects with each attendee’s challenges and provides them with a proven framework to thrive in uncertain times.
Audiences Will Learn:
• How to stay calm, focused, and confident in the face of uncertainty
• The decision-making strategies elite leaders use under pressure
• How to build trust-driven, high-performance teams that execute relentlessly
• A blueprint for shifting from reactive to strategic, agile leadership
• How to transform adversity into momentum and lead with courage
This is not just another leadership talk—it’s a call to action. No more hesitation. No more playing small. It’s time to lead boldly, adapt rapidly, and accelerate growth.
Soar Like a Top-Gun Pilot - Leadership Lessons
Inspirational | Motivational | Actionable
Does your audience need inspiration, motivation, and actionable takeaways to push through adversity, overcome fear, and kick productivity into afterburner? Colonel Martha McSally has proven she has the right stuff to survive and excel in high-pressure, high-risk, high-stakes environments.
In today’s world of uncertainty and constant challenges, setbacks are inevitable. When your team needs motivation and practical tools to push through obstacles with innovation and resilience, Martha McSally is the leader to guide them. As the first American woman to command a fighter squadron in combat, she knows firsthand how to persevere, excel, and inspire others to succeed—even in the toughest circumstances.
A Bronze Star recipient and pioneer in aviation, Colonel McSally brings unparalleled experience leading men and women in combat, thriving in adversity, and navigating complex, high-stakes operations. Beyond her military career, she’s also an endurance athlete, mountain climber, and survivor who overcame personal tragedy and trauma with strength and determination.
With a life filled with triumphs, setbacks, and powerful lessons, McSally authentically inspires audiences while equipping them with actionable strategies to thrive. She shares how vulnerability, courage, and resilience are the keys to pushing beyond limits and soaring to your full potential.
What to Expect:
Colonel McSally will have your audience on the edge of their seats, feeling like they’re in the cockpit of the A-10 “Warthog” on a complex combat mission. Through humor, transparency, and gripping storytelling, she connects with each attendee’s personal challenges and provides a realistic yet optimistic flight plan for success—both professionally and personally.
Audiences Will Learn:
How to face fear head-on and turn setbacks into fuel for growth
The leadership principles needed to thrive in high-pressure environments
Strategies for building resilience and staying mission-focused in times of uncertainty
How to create routines and decisions that align with core values and drive success
The power of vulnerability and authenticity in leadership and life
How to Overcome Adversity and Adapt to Reach the Next Level
Inspiration | Peak Performance | Leadership & Agility
In a highly competitive world, overcoming adversity and adapting quickly are essential for success. Greatness comes from learning that nothing can stop you. When you can move through obstacles with confidence and resilience, success becomes inevitable. It’s the role of leaders to teach, push, and empower their teams to reach this mindset and perform at their highest potential.
Today’s fast-moving business landscape—marked by constant change, technological advancements, and global disruptions—can feel like modern-day warfare. Imagine unlocking combat-proven strategies to systematically take risks, adapt, and thrive. Colonel Martha McSally, the first woman in U.S. history to command a fighter squadron in combat, knows exactly how to lead under fire.
As a decorated combat leader awarded the Bronze Star, Colonel McSally commanded 24 A-10 attack aircraft and hundreds of personnel. She was responsible for $500 million in assets and deployed her squadron worldwide with just 24-hours’ notice. Under her leadership, her squadron earned the prestigious David C. Shilling Award for the best contribution to national defense.
Fighter pilots are trained to assess risks, adapt in real time, and execute with precision in dangerous environments—skills that apply directly to business and leadership. In this gripping and practical keynote, Colonel McSally shares battle-tested peak performance and risk-management strategies that will help your teams innovate, collaborate, and execute with agility and confidence.
To thrive in today’s ever-changing world, teams must adopt an agility mindset. When you’re light on your feet, leaning forward, and ready to adapt, challenges become opportunities for exponential growth. McSally’s step-by-step approach helps your team develop this mindset, beat the competition, and soar to new heights of performance.
From leading initial air operations in Afghanistan after 9/11 to setting up the U.S. Africa Command from scratch—overseeing counterterrorism, disaster relief, and large-scale operations—McSally’s expertise in strategic planning, process improvement, and leadership under pressure makes her uniquely qualified to inspire and equip teams for peak performance.
If you’re seeking a speaker who can inspire and practically equip your team for success in a turbulent world, book Colonel McSally now.
Audiences Will Learn:
Combat-tested risk management and decision-making strategies for high-pressure environments
How to develop an agility mindset to stay competitive and adaptable in a fast-changing world
Leadership lessons on motivating and empowering teams to achieve peak performance
Innovative approaches to overcoming challenges and turning setbacks into opportunities
Step-by-step tools to improve collaboration, strategic planning, and execution under pressure
I AM… How to Soar as Your Best Self
Inspiration | Personal Growth | Authentic Leadership
In this powerful and deeply moving keynote, Colonel Martha McSally takes the audience on a transformative journey to discover their true identity—unlocking a life of authenticity, connection, and freedom in both their personal and professional lives. This keynote will have your teams inspired, energized, and ready to take off and take on the world.
“Who are you?” How you answer that question defines your core identity and shapes your decision-making, priorities, and overall life satisfaction. For many, the answer is tied to job titles, academic degrees, or roles in life (mother, father, executive, veteran). While these roles are important, they don’t define who you truly are.
When those roles are stripped away, it can leave us feeling lost or unsure of ourselves. Often, we mistakenly attach our identity to painful life experiences (I AM a victim, survivor, divorcee) or emotions (I AM anxious, I AM depressed), but those are experiences and feelings—not who we are.
Martha draws from her own journey of personal growth and healing, sharing how she initially attached her identity to external roles, titles, and traumatic experiences. She opens up about the courageous steps she took to shed false identities and reconnect with her true self. Now, she coaches others through a step-by-step process to break free from limiting beliefs and thrive as their authentic selves.
In this keynote, Martha combines powerful storytelling, life-changing insights, and interactive audience engagement—including hands-on worksheets and exercises—to guide participants in reconnecting with who they truly are. This clarity empowers them to show up and perform in their “Zone of Genius” at work while making life decisions that align with their core identity.
Audiences Will Learn:
* How to strip away limiting beliefs, false identities, and labels to connect with their true selves
* Practical steps to thrive authentically in both life and work
* The connection between identity and decision-making in leadership and personal growth
* How to develop resilience and self-awareness to lead with greater confidence and impact
* Techniques to cultivate alignment and clarity for better performance and life satisfaction
Martha McSally
Featured Book
Dare to Fly
by Martha McSally
"Like the A-10 aircraft she flew in combat, retired colonel and fighter pilot Martha McSally is a gritty individual who loves our Air Force and personified its core values of excellence, integrity, and service before self, while standing up to make it a better institution for everyone who serves. How to be resolute, do the right thing, persevere, find gratitude, and learn compassion are just some of the lessons in her inspirational life story." --Ron FOGLEMAN, General (ret.), U.S. Air Force; former Air Force Chief of Staff
Combining the soulful honesty of Make Your Bed with the inspiring power of You Are a Badass, America's first female combat jet pilot and Arizona Senator Martha McSally shows you how to clear the runway of your life: embrace fear, transform doubt, succeed when you are expected to fail, and soar to great heights in this motivational life guide.
Martha McSally is an extraordinary achiever whose inner strength and personal principles have helped her overcome adversity throughout her life. Initially rejected from Air Force flight school because she was too short, she refused to give up, becoming the first female fighter pilot to fly in combat and the first to command a combat fighter squadron in United States history. During her twenty-six-year military career, she fought to free American servicewomen stationed in the Middle East from restrictions requiring them to don full-body, black abayas and ride in the backs of cars - and won. McSally has continued to serve America, first in the House of Representatives, and now as a U.S. Senator from Arizona.
McSally is also a survivor. She shares how her experiences propelled her to become a fighter for justice in and out of the cockpit. In this powerful, uplifting book, McSally reflects on her successes and failures, shares key principles that have guided her, and reveals invaluable lessons to break barriers, thrive through darkness, and make someone proud in your life. "Courage isn't magic or genetics. It is a choice. By choosing to do things afraid, you discover your own power to overcome."
Filled with fresh stories and insights, Dare to Fly will help each of us find the courage inside to break our barriers, endure turbulence, and keep flying high.
Martha McSally
Featured Reviews
Martha McSally
Featured Articles & Resources
Colonel Martha McSally and Lieutenant General Jerry Boykin Debate Having Women in Combat
Article from FoxNewsInsider.com
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta lifted the ban on women in combat last week. His decision garnered both praise and criticism. American women in...
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