Lt. Col. Waldo Waldman

Lt. Col. Waldo Waldman, known globally as The Wingman, is a Hall of Fame leadership speaker, executive coach, and New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Never Fly Solo. With more than 24 years of speaking experience and over 1,500 keynote presentations delivered worldwide, Waldo equips leaders and organizations to build collaborative cultures rooted in courage, excellence, and trust.

Drawing from his experience as a combat-decorated F-16 fighter pilot, corporate sales leader, and entrepreneur, Waldo delivers powerful lessons on leadership under pressure, resilience, and peak performance. His message is clear and compelling: you cannot reach your highest potential alone. Success requires trusted wingmen—teammates who help you win when adversity strikes.

Waldo’s signature Never Fly Solo keynote blends unforgettable storytelling with practical leadership strategies that inspire accountability, ownership, and collaboration. His insights are especially relevant for organizations navigating change, driving performance, strengthening safety cultures, and developing leaders who perform when it matters most.

Areas of Expertise

• Leadership and culture transformation
• Trust, collaboration, and accountability
• Change management and resilience
• Peak performance under pressure
• Safety culture and operational excellence
• Sales leadership and revenue-producing relationships

1. Never Fly Solo: Building Collaborative Cultures of Courage, Excellence & Trust

Waldo’s flagship keynote teaches leaders how to build trust-driven cultures that perform at the highest level, even during uncertainty and disruption.

Key Takeaways:

• Maintaining focus and confidence during change
• Building resilience and courage under pressure
• Strengthening trust, accountability, and teamwork
• Growing influence with customers, partners, and colleagues

2. Top Gun Safety: Accelerating Safety Cultures of Courage & Trust

This high-impact keynote focuses on creating ownership-driven safety cultures that empower employees to protect themselves, their teams, and the mission.

Key Takeaways:

• Driving accountability and ownership for safety
• Motivating operational excellence and growth mindset
• Leveraging change and innovation to enhance resilience and mental health

3. Never Fly Solo for Sales

Designed for sales teams and revenue leaders, this keynote shows how trust, preparation, and collaboration drive consistent sales success.

Key Takeaways:

• Building sales resilience during change
• Preparing and briefing for every sales mission
• Leveraging internal partnerships to win complex deals

Professional Highlights

• 24+ years of professional speaking experience
• Delivered 1,500+ keynote presentations worldwide
• Inductee, Professional Speakers Hall of Fame (CPAE)
• Certified Speaking Professional (CSP)
• MBA with emphasis in Organizational Behavior
• Graduate, United States Air Force Academy
• Founder, The Wingman Foundation (501c3)
• Former President, NSA Georgia Chapter

Books & Programs

Author of Never Fly Solo (New York Times & Wall Street Journal Bestseller), Mission: Possible (co-author), and creator of the ACE Academy Video Leadership Series.

Notable Clients & Media

Waldo has delivered keynotes for organizations including Marriott, American Express, AT&T, Procter & Gamble, The Denver Broncos, and The Home Depot. He has been featured on Fox & Friends, CNN, MSNBC, Inc. Magazine, and Harvard Business Review.

Travel Availability

Available for national and international speaking engagements.

Contact & Representation

For booking inquiries, keynote availability, and media requests, please contact TMG Speakers Bureau.