SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY

John has spoken to some of the Highest Performing organizations such as, Microsoft, Hitachi, Intel, Cisco, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Goodyear, Chevron, Lowe’s, Marriott, Wyndham Hotels, Hilton, Penske Racing, Rawlings, LA Kings, Sprint, Motorola, Merrill Lynch, Mass Mutual, Capital Group, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, GE Capital, American Hospital Association, Merck, Sunovion, Reach Air, Adecco, Gillette, McDonalds, and Million Dollar Round Table.

​John’s presentations provide a contagious attitude of thankfulness that he calls Glad To Be Here®. His energizing delivery inspires high performance through a focus on a purpose larger than self. John shares the Blue Angels’ practical model for living out his message that works in organizations outside the elite flight squadron.

John consistently performed in an extreme, high-stakes environment, flying at speeds of more than 500 miles per hour and in formations as close as 18 inches. To survive those circumstances, he relied on a culture of high trust and leadership that turned inherently unforgiving flights into extraordinary experiences. He employs those intense realities as a metaphor to motivate teams to reach for their highest potential and empower organizations to sustain excellence under dynamic change.

John’s post-Naval experiences as an entrepreneur and a Sloan Fellow at the Stanford Graduate School of Business put him in a unique position to reverse-engineer the culture of excellence and teamwork found in the Blue Angels. He has created a framework and a methodology that inspires greatness while propelling others on their own journey to high performance.

John graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with a degree in mechanical engineering. He was a defensive back for the Midshipmen, playing in two bowl games and helping Navy to one of the best four-year records in football history. As a pilot, John was a “Top Ten Carrier Pilot” six times before becoming a Marine instructor pilot and a Blue Angel. He holds master’s degrees in business management, from the Stanford Graduate School of Business (as a Sloan Fellow); in international policy studies, from Stanford University; and in strategic studies, from the Naval War College.

In 2011 John founded the Glad To Be Here Foundation. John donates 10% of his net speaking fees to charities through the foundation, working with every client to donate 5% to charities of their choosing. Through the Foundation, more than 100 global charities have received $1M in donations. It’s part of John’s mission to connect a shared “purpose larger than self” with every organization.