Combat-Proven Fighter Pilot, Former U.S. Senator & Fortune 500 Executive Coach
Martha McSally Biography
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.
Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Martha McSally and other top speakers and celebrities.
Martha McSally Speaking Topics
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Be Unbreakable: The Leadership Edge in Uncertain Times
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.
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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
Martha McSally Videos
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How do I book Martha McSally to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Martha McSally for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Martha McSally, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Martha McSally or any other speaker of your choice. -
What are the speaker fees for Martha McSally
Speaking fees for Martha McSally, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Martha McSally are $30,000 - $50,000 for live events and $30,000 - $50,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Martha McSally, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent. -
What topics does Martha McSally speak about?
Martha McSally is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Adventure, Adventure, DEI, Gender Equality, Geopolitics, Government, Inspirational, Leadership, Military, Motivational, Overcoming Adversity, Peak Performance, Personal Growth, Political, Resilience, Veterans, World Affairs -
Where does Martha McSally travel from?
Martha McSally generally travels from Arizona, 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. -
Who is Martha McSally’s agent?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Martha McSally for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Martha McSally for your next private or corporate function. -
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Martha McSally or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us. -
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
Martha McSally is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Be Unbreakable: The Leadership Edge in Uncertain Times, Soar Like a Top-Gun Pilot: Leadership Lessons, How to Overcome Adversity and Adapt to Reach the Next Level and IAM…How to Soar as Your Best Self. The estimated speaking fee range to book Martha McSally for your event is $30,000 - $50,000. Martha McSally generally travels from AZ, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Carey Lohrenz, Rob Waldo Waldman, Justin "Hasard" Lee, Col. Nicole Malachowski, USAF (Ret.) and Allison Massari. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Martha McSally for an upcoming live or virtual event.
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