Rob Waldo Waldman Speaker Biography
Decorated Combat Air Force Fighter Pilot and Best-Selling Author, Never Fly Solo
Lt. Col. (Ret.) Rob “Waldo” Waldman is the embodiment of grit, resilience, and peak performance under pressure. A Hall of Fame leadership speaker and combat-tested F-16 fighter pilot, Waldo has transformed his military experience into high-impact leadership strategies for today’s business world. He is also the New York Times and Wall Street Journal best-selling author of Never Fly Solo, a book that challenges audiences to rethink how they lead, serve, and trust. Drawing from more than 2,650 flight hours, Waldo shares lessons from the cockpit to the boardroom. Known for delivering engaging and mission-ready keynotes, he has earned recognition as the best military motivational speaker for organizations looking to build trust and resilience in high-stakes environments.
Combat Veteran
Waldo’s military credentials are as real as they come. Over the course of his career, he flew 65 combat missions in high-risk zones, including Iraq and Kosovo. He enforced the “No-Fly Zone” over Iraq and played a critical role in Operation Allied Force in 1999. Despite the intensity of these missions, he delivered with precision, professionalism, and unwavering focus. His numerous decorations include five Air Medals, two Aerial Achievement Medals, four Air Force Commendation Medals, and two Meritorious Service Medals. Yet his story is not just about flight hours or medals—it’s about perseverance. Waldo battled personal fears like claustrophobia and a fear of heights. Against the odds, he became a top-tier fighter pilot. In doing so, he proved that mental toughness can be trained, and that courage often means pushing past internal barriers, not just external threats.
Never Fly Solo
As a keynote speaker and author, Waldo’s core message is both simple and profound: never fly solo. In business—as in combat—you need wingmen. Trust is not just a buzzword to him; it’s a survival skill. His message emphasizes the importance of connection, accountability, and mutual support in the face of adversity. He uses his personal battle with fear as a metaphor for change management and growth. By building a culture of wingmanship, leaders can foster loyalty and high performance, even in volatile environments. For companies undergoing transition or facing crisis, Waldo’s mantra of mutual trust and preparation resonates deeply. This philosophy reinforces his status as the best military motivational speaker for teams that must execute flawlessly under pressure.
Sales Management Expert
Waldo’s leadership credentials don’t end on the tarmac. A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, he also earned an MBA with a focus on Organizational Behavior. Following his military career, he entered the corporate world and quickly became a top-producing sales manager. His firsthand experience in managing high-performing teams gives him credibility with business leaders and frontline sales professionals alike. He knows that performance is personal—and that trust is the currency of high-functioning teams. By translating combat-tested lessons into sales success strategies, Waldo bridges two high-stakes worlds with remarkable clarity. His talks are grounded in psychology, leadership theory, and real-world results.
Hall of Fame Speaker
Waldo’s ability to connect with audiences has earned him the highest honors in the speaking industry. He is a member of the National Speakers Association’s Hall of Fame, an accolade reserved for less than 200 speakers worldwide since 1977. In addition, he holds the Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation, further underscoring his excellence on stage. His client list reads like a who’s who of corporate America—Verizon Wireless, Johnson & Johnson, PayPal, Siemens, Home Depot, and Hewlett-Packard, to name a few. Notably, he helped inspire and motivate the Denver Broncos on their path to the 2014 Super Bowl. Waldo is frequently booked by C-suite executives and leadership teams seeking the best military motivational speaker to energize their culture and align their vision.
Wingman Foundation
Beyond the spotlight, Waldo channels his passion into philanthropy. As founder and President of The Wingman Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, he supports veterans, soldiers, and their families through financial assistance and public awareness. His foundation embodies the same principles he shares on stage—courage, commitment, and service. Voted one of Georgia’s Top 40 Under 40 Business Leaders, Waldo’s impact extends far beyond the speaking circuit. His insights have been featured in INC. Magazine, Business Week, Harvard Business Review, and on major news outlets including CNN, MSNBC, and Fox & Friends. Even offstage, Waldo remains mission-focused, always working to lift others and build a community grounded in loyalty and action.
Rob Waldo Waldman Speaking Topics
Wingman Leadership
The key to building a high powered organization that encourages innovative thinking, loyalty to the mission, and a relentless commitment to excellence lies with its leadership. In this high energy workshop, I highlight the difference between managing people, and leading them to be responsible, empowered, and confident wingmen. As trusting and reliable wingmen, an organization that leads to win has four distinct characteristics: Shared Vision -- Each and every wingman in the organization knows exactly what they are fighting for. They are committed to the mission, and understand exactly how their unique role in the organization is essential to its success. Values Based Culture -- Integrity, accountability, mutual respect, and teamwork serve as the foundation for all relationships internally with co-workers, and externally with partners and clients. Effective Communication-- Leaders listen aggressively and communicate their vision with passion. They promote open communication and connect with the heart and soul of their wingmen. Train to Win Mindset--Successful leaders command flawless preparation, not flawless execution! They encourage their wingmen to expand their capabilities, and consistently reward high performers who take calculated risks and ‘push the envelope’ in order to grow.
Never Fly Solo!® : The Leader's Flight Plan to Win in Business and Life
Today in our super charged, highly competitive world of rapid and constant change, those who build trust and work as a team will dodge the missiles of business and win. Waldo’s keynote demonstrates you can win in highly competitive environments through disciplined training, dedicated teamwork, and courageous leadership. This program isn’t about combat and crushing the enemy. Rather, it’s about focusing on what really matters in business - unwavering trust in meeting the needs of your customer and most importantly, your co-workers. The key to building a culture of trust and winning lies with your wingmen — those trusted and reliable partners who passionately support the team and help you to overcome obstacles, adapt to change, and achieve success. When the mission really counts, you should never fly solo.
The Power of Trust
Amidst our constant struggle to adapt to increasing time constraints, limited budgets, and a relentlessly changing economy, we often forget to maintain a focus on what truly drives any successful business transaction — relationships. Today, managing these personal and professional relationships is often the most challenging part of our every day life.
The key to building and sustaining these relationships is to develop them based on mutual trust. Connecting with people on a human and emotional level, and developing a reputation as a trusted resource is one of the most important traits you can have in business. When you combine trusting relationships with a product or service that truly provides value, you win in business…and life!
Top Gun Sales Execution”Peak Performance Sales Strategies to Win in Business!
When it comes down to the execution of an aerial combat mission, second place is never an
option. Winning must be the primary objective, and every tactic and strategy has to support the
overall vision of the entire unit. Regardless if it is a training mission or real world combat, fighter
pilots plan, brief, execute, and de-brief each and every mission with the same commitment to
excellence and passion for success. We “Fight Like We Train,” and every mission counts!
In business, the same rules for success apply. Winning or losing a sale may not cost you your life,
but it can mean the life and death of a critical relationship with a key client or strategic partner that
directly impacts your bottom line. In business, your reputation means everything, and each
member of your sales force has to have the same dedication to the mission and train to win, every
single day. Each sales mission must involve detailed planning, relentless preparation, competitive
analysis, briefing, and de-briefing to maximize your chances for success in a rapidly changing
environment. This is not about flawless execution, but rather flawless preparation!
PUSH IT UP!
An engaging motivational keynote speaker, Waldo's high energy, customized, multi-media motivational keynotes are a perfect way to kick-off or close your annual sales meeting, partner conference, or association convention. The missiles of our economy are effecting us more than ever. The key is not to get shot down! Waldo puts you in the cockpit of a high performance jet and shows how you can overcome fear, adapt to change, build trusting relationships with your wingmen, and take action that leads to results in business and life.
Rob Waldo Waldman Books
Never Fly Solo: Lead with Courage, Build Trusting Partnerships, and Reach New Heights in Business
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Mission Possible!
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Wake Up…Live the Life You Love
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Rob Waldo Waldman Articles
Rob Waldo Waldman Speaker Testimonials
“Waldo’s knowledge of the company and ability to place our current challenges into context, showed how much time, research, and planning he put into his performance. He sounded like a seasoned UPS employee! His infectious attitude carried over to the audience and was undoubtedly the highlight of this year’s conference.”
- Curt Redden, Global Director of Talent Development | UPS Capital
“With recent changes in our leadership and organizational structure, Waldo’s “One Team, One Mission” message was a perfect way to emphasize collaboration between our territorial sales reps, managers, and account specialists. His focus on accountability, preparation and resisting complacency reinforced our focus on sustaining a high-performance culture.”
- Adam Goess, Director, Global Sales Training | Boston Scientific
“Waldo completely exceeded our expectations. We were familiar with his work with other Verizon divisions, and based on previous testimonials, expected him to deliver. Needless to say, not only was his message outstanding, but he also delivered a great experience for our leaders.”
- Andrea Balanta, Sr. Marketing Analyst | Verizon
“I’ve attended hundreds of meetings and I must say Waldo is one of the best speakers I’ve ever heard. Even though we gave him the challenge of an after dinner program and a day-worn audience, his speech was engaging, motivating, and very powerful.”
- Kevin Yates, President, LMV Division | Siemens
