Colonel Mickey Addison (USAF, ret)

Leadership isn't a framework. It's a practice built over decades of decisions that mattered -- in the field, in command, and in the boardroom. I spent 30 years in uniform leading Airmen in peacetime and war, then eight more years inside one of the world's largest consulting firms helping senior military leaders navigate bureaucratic complexity and organizational change. I've written nine books on leadership, character, and service. I've stood in front of officer candidates, senior executives, and civic audiences and told them the same thing: the fundamentals don't change, and most organizations fail for the same handful of reasons. What I offer isn't a motivational speech. It's a conversation grounded in real experience -- from squadron command during the OIF buildup to strategy consulting at the enterprise level -- about how leaders build trust, sustain culture under pressure, and make hard calls when there's no good option. I use history, storytelling, and direct challenge in equal measure, and I leave audiences with tools they can use the next morning. If you want someone who has actually led, and can tell you exactly what that looks like, I'm your speaker.