Lt. Col. (ret) Waldo Waldman – “The Wingman” Speaking Fee: $30,000 to $50,000

Lt. Col. (ret.) Waldo Waldman—known worldwide as “The Wingman”—is a decorated combat fighter pilot, New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, and National Speakers Association Hall of Fame keynote speaker who helps organizations build cultures of trust, courage, and peak performance. In the cockpit, a fighter pilot’s life depends on trust in their wingman. Waldo learned that lesson firsthand while flying 65 combat missions over Iraq and Serbia, where split-second decisions, teamwork, and trust determined mission success. Today he brings those powerful lessons from the skies into the business world—helping leaders and teams perform under pressure and win in today’s rapidly changing environment. Waldo’s story is as compelling as his message. Despite battling a crippling fear of heights and claustrophobia early in his career, he earned his wings as a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot and rose to become a highly respected combat leader. His journey embodies the courage, resilience, and trust he now teaches organizations around the world. Known for his engaging storytelling and actionable insights, Waldo’s keynote presentations challenge audiences to break through fear, build trusted relationships, and embrace the mindset that success is never achieved alone. His signature message—Never Fly Solo—reminds leaders that sustainable success requires commitment, accountability, and the courage to rely on others when the stakes are high. A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy with an MBA in Organizational Behavior, Waldo is the New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Never Fly Solo. He has delivered more than 1,500 keynote presentations for organizations including Cisco, Verizon, Hewlett Packard, GE, ExxonMobil, Merck, Johnson & Johnson, and the Denver Broncos. Because in business as in combat, we may survive solo, but we win together.