Jeff "Odie" Espenship

Jeff "Odie" Espenship Biography

Jeff “Odie” Espenship began flying at 14 years old, soloed at 16, and earned his private pilot license at 17, the youngest age allowed by the FAA. He attended the University of Georgia, where he was awarded a full academic scholarship by the Air Force ROTC, which also secured him a slot in USAF pilot training. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in political science, Espenship was assigned to pilot training at Vance AFB in Enid, OK. There, he earned his USAF silver wings and won the coveted “Commanders Trophy” as the overall top graduate in pilot training. He also received the T-38 Talon “Hard Charger Award” for his dedication to excellence and training.

Espenship went on to become a fighter pilot, flying the venerable A-10 Thunderbolt, affectionately known as the “Warthog.” He was stationed with the 18th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Eielson AFB in Fairbanks, AK, becoming one of the youngest 4-ship flight leaders in his squadron. He was also combat search and rescue qualified and won numerous Top Gun awards for air-to-ground bombing and gunnery. Espenship’s outgoing personality earned him the callsign “Odie,” named after the cartoon character Garfield’s sidekick.

After six years in the Air Force, Espenship was hired in 1992 as an airline pilot with Delta Air Lines, where he currently flies as an international Captain on the Airbus A350.

Espenship also flew a 1943 WWII vintage fighter/trainer T-6 “Texan” on the airshow circuit. In 2005, a tragic accident involving that aircraft took the life of his older brother. This significant event ignited the spark that led to the creation of Target Leadership, a company dedicated to inspiring personal leadership and impeccable safety in the workplace.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 06/16/2025.

Jeff "Odie" Espenship Speaking Topics

Leading Indicators: It's the Little Things

Jeff "Odie" Espenship is a former USAF fighter pilot and one of the most sought-after safety speakers in the industry today. As a flight leader, he knows what it takes to operate safely in high-risk and sometimes dangerous work environments. In this dynamic presentation, Odie shares his experiences and relates them back to common workplace situations.
Lead with Excellence

Maintaining a high level of performance means paying attention to the little things. Jeff “Odie” Espenship, founder of Target Leadership, personally knows the impact when leadership fails to execute safety fundamentals. By sharing his lessons learned as a United States Air Force fighter pilot, an air show performer, and an international airline pilot, his message in human behaviors has become one of the most sought after by companies worldwide. Odie gives an interactive, entertaining, yet powerful message on getting back to basics in life and leadership. It’s the little things that can take an organization from the cellar to stellar. Odie discusses setting high expectations, speaking up, listening to what is NOT being said, overcoming complacency (the silent killer), never assuming, and communicating to understanding, to achieve new heights in life and leadership.

Jeff "Odie" Espenship Videos

Jeff "Odie" Espenship - Safety . Leadership . Excellence Video

Uploaded by Jeff "Odie" Espenship on 2025-05-13.
Workplace Safety ZOOM Virtual Inspirational Keynotes by Jeff "Odie ...
"Workplace Safety - No Short Cuts” ZOOM sample by Motivational ...

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Jeff "Odie" Espenship Books

Target Leadership - Managers Manage - Leaders Influence - Target Leaders Inspire

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FAQs on booking Jeff "Odie" Espenship

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What are the speaker fees for Jeff "Odie" Espenship

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What topics does Jeff "Odie" Espenship speak about?

Jeff "Odie" Espenship is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Adventure, Change Management, Corporate Culture, Human Resources, Inspirational, Leadership, Military, Motivational, Overcoming Adversity, Peak Performance, Personal Growth, Resilience, Sales, Veterans.
Where does Jeff "Odie" Espenship travel from?

Jeff "Odie" Espenship generally travels from Atlanta, GA, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
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Jeff "Odie" Espenship is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Leading Indicators: It's the Little Things and Lead with Excellence. The estimated speaking fee range to book Jeff "Odie" Espenship for your event is $10,000 - $20,000. Jeff "Odie" Espenship generally travels from Atlanta, GA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Amelia Rose Earhart, Jim Davidson, Libby Gill, Mike Abrashoff and Patrick Houlahan. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Jeff "Odie" Espenship for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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