Ed Hiner Speaker Biography

Elite Former Navy SEAL Commander, Bestselling Author, and Authority on Leadership Under Pressure

Lieutenant Commander Ed Hiner (Ret.) is a highly respected Navy SEAL keynote speaker with more than 20 years of elite military service. Ed Hiner thrived inside one of the world’s most demanding team environments. He completed nine major combat deployments across Iraq, Afghanistan, the Philippines, and other global hotspots. Ed Hiner led hundreds of high-risk missions requiring precision, trust, and decisive leadership. His actions earned two Bronze Stars with “V” for valor. During the Battle of Ramadi, Ed Hiner became the first Navy SEAL spot-promoted for combat command in Iraq’s “Triangle of Death.” As a SPECAT Officer, Ed Hiner held above-Top-Secret clearance supporting national-level operations. Today, event planners seek Ed Hiner as a Navy SEAL keynote speaker who delivers real-world lessons on leadership, accountability, and performance under pressure.

Elite SEAL Training, Joint Special Operations, and Global Command Experience

As the Navy’s Training and Readiness Officer, Ed Hiner designed and led the SEAL Teams’ elite combat-training pipeline. Ed Hiner helped institutionalize the SEAL Ethos that still guides culture, discipline, and operational excellence. His leadership extended into joint special operations with Britain’s Special Boat Service. Ed Hiner served two years as Executive Officer and Team Leader under U.S.–UK Task Force Black within JSOC. He integrated multinational tactics, intelligence, and leadership standards during sustained combat operations. These experiences shaped Ed Hiner’s practical frameworks for trust, adaptability, and mission clarity. Organizations hire Ed Hiner as a Navy SEAL keynote speaker to translate battlefield-tested leadership into scalable business results.

Purpose-Driven Leadership, Youth Development, and Social Impact

After military service, Ed Hiner transitioned his operational rigor into purpose-driven civilian leadership initiatives. Ed Hiner founded SEALpreneurship, a mental toughness and leadership curriculum grounded in Navy SEAL principles. He also launched the 23 Evolution initiative focused on education reform and juvenile justice transformation. Through contracts with San Diego County Juvenile Court and Community Schools, Ed Hiner teaches the “PHD in ME” model. This framework empowers at-risk youth to build ownership, confidence, and self-efficacy. Ed Hiner’s work demonstrates how disciplined leadership systems drive measurable change. His keynote programs resonate with organizations seeking resilience, motivation, and sustainable performance.

Bestselling Author, Executive Educator, and Navy SEAL Keynote Speaker

Ed Hiner is a Los Angeles Times bestselling author and trusted thought leader. Ed Hiner wrote First Fast Fearless: How to Lead Like a Navy SEAL and GUTS: Greatness Under Tremendous Stress. His books translate elite combat leadership into practical frameworks for executives and teams. Ed Hiner holds a Master of Science in Executive Leadership from the University of San Diego. He is a sought-after Navy SEAL keynote speaker on leadership, teamwork, culture, risk mitigation, and motivation. Through The Hiner Group, Ed Hiner delivers customized training programs for corporations worldwide. Event planners can book Ed Hiner for keynotes, workshops, and executive sessions tailored to organizational goals, availability, and fees.

Corporate Board Leadership, Strategic Clarity, and High-Stakes Execution

Drawing on SEAL-forged discipline, Ed Hiner now serves on multiple corporate boards and advisory teams. Ed Hiner champions rigorous compliance, operational excellence, and strategic alignment. His experience navigating uncertainty helps leaders make clear decisions under pressure. Ed Hiner is known for translating complex challenges into actionable strategies. Organizations hire Ed Hiner to elevate leadership performance in volatile environments. As a Navy SEAL keynote speaker, Ed Hiner delivers clarity, confidence, and accountability. To inquire about Ed Hiner’s availability, speaking fees, or bookings, contact Speakers.com for a customized quote.

Ed Hiner Speaking Topics

F4: First Fast Fearless Focused

F4 is The Hiner Group's corporate learning, training and leadership program. SEALs have a simple mantra: It pays to be a winner. F4, or First Fast Fearless Focused, exists for this purpose. Ed Hiner is pleased to partner with companies and leaders to provide consulting and analysis of organizational challenges, to determine the best approach to meet their goals. Every engagement is customized to the organization's specific issues, needs and corporate culture. Solutions may encompass a number of approaches. F4 is the Best-selling book First Fast Fearless, How to Lead Like a Navy SEAL, brought to life at the company to turn ideas into action, and theory into practice. Extracting leadership principles from his book, Ed Hiner and his partners work side-by-side with companies to co-create mission-based learning, training and leadership programs for their teams. The process involves addressing specific corporate challenges with laser focus, to achieve the simple goal of winning. F4 will help to make your company First Fast Fearless Focused!

SEALpreneurship

Ed experienced extreme adversity during his childhood, and shares his story to help others. His experiences led him on his current path, and gave him the desire to help children and young adults overcome hardships and become successful in their lives. He recently founded SEALpreneurship, which is a mental toughness program based on Navy SEAL principles, developed to help today's youth. He is using his 23 Evolution Program to tackle the world of public education and prison reform. Ed is contracted with Juvenile Court and Community Schools, San Diego County Office of Education. He is currently working with San Pasqual Academy, a local residential education campus designed specifically for foster youth. This school serves as a placement option for dependents of the Juvenile Court, ages twelve to nineteen. He teaches his principle of "PHD in ME," and uses the concept of self-efficacy to help the students gain confidence in themselves, and their ability to own the outcome of their lives.