Dan Rooney
WSB Exclusive Speaker
Motivational Speaker; Fighter Pilot; Patriotic Philanthropist; PGA Professional; Golf Course Developer; Author, A Patriot's Calling: Living Life Between Fear and Faith and Fly Into the Wind
Lt Col Dan Rooney, decorated F-16 fighter pilot and Founder of Folds of Honor, shares the leadership principles that help elite teams perform under pressure, build cultures of accountability, and unite around a mission that matters.
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Lt Col Dan Rooney’s leadership story was shaped in the cockpit of an F-16 fighter jet and through his commitment to honoring the families of America’s fallen service members.
A highly decorated fighter pilot who flew three combat tours in Iraq, Rooney is the Founder and CEO of Folds of Honor, a nonprofit organization that has provided more than 73,000 educational scholarships to the spouses and children of fallen or disabled military service members and first responders since 2007.
Rooney’s career sits at a rare intersection of service, sports, and leadership. He is the only individual who is both a combat fighter pilot and a PGA Professional, and he has served as the motivational speaker for two United States Ryder Cup teams.
He is also the bestselling author of Fly Into the Wind and host of the television series of the same name. Through powerful storytelling drawn from combat aviation, elite sports, and building a national movement, Rooney shares lessons on leadership, resilience, and purpose.
Audiences leave with:
• A clearer understanding of how high-performing teams operate when the stakes are highest
• Practical leadership lessons from environments where discipline, trust, and accountability are essential
• Perspective on how a shared mission can unite people and strengthen culture
• Real-world stories that illustrate resilience, service, and commitment
• A renewed sense of responsibility to lead with purpose in their organizations and communities
Featured Videos
Dan Rooney
Lt Col. Dan Rooney on How High Performers Overcome Self Doubt
Dan Rooney’s Speech Topics
CAVU: Living and Leading with Clear Purpose in Turbulent Times
Lt Col Dan Rooney, fighter pilot, PGA professional, and founder of Folds of Honor, delivers a high-impact keynote built around the aviation concept of CAVU: “Ceiling and Visibility Unlimited.” He shares a practical framework for navigating change and uncertainty with clarity, conviction, and faith.
Blending riveting cockpit lessons, servant leadership principles, and deeply personal stories, Lt Col Rooney challenges audiences to rise above life’s storms with purpose, resilience and faith. He connects high-performance leadership to service, showing how resistance builds strength and how purpose drives results. Audiences leave with renewed focus, deeper alignment, and the mindset to lead with impact, no matter the turbulence ahead.
What other organizations say about Dan Rooney
Major Dan's remarks made a huge impact on the group. His story is so meaningful and inspirational. He was very well received and so many of our group got a chance to speak with him and thank him for his service. He made us all so proud to be Americans! I believe there are several interested in becoming involved with Folds of Honor as well. He is the best speaker we have had in some time. We are honored to have met him and heard his story.
Utility
Works by Dan Rooney
Dan Rooney
Fly Into the Wind
Dan Rooney
A Patriot's Calling
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