New York Times bestselling author, U.S. Air Force legend and aviation historian Dan Hampton is one of the most decorated fighter pilots since the Vietnam War. Over a 20-year career, Colonel Hampton flew 151 combat missions, fought in both Gulf Wars, secured U.S. airspace on 9/11 and flew the first plane over the border during the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq.

Dan’s New York Times bestselling “Viper Pilot: A Memoir of Air Combat” gives a rare look into the elite world of fighter pilots through gripping, heart-racing accounts of contemporary air combat. His other bestsellers include “The Flight: Charles Lindbergh’s Daring and Immortal 1927 Transatlantic Crossing,” “Lords of the Sky,” “The Hunter Killers,” “The Mercenary” and “Chasing the Demon: A Secret History of the Quest for the Sound Barrier.”

As the most lethal F-16 “Wild Weasel” pilot in American history, Colonel Hampton Is credited with 21 hard kills on surface-to-air missile sites with 726 hours in combat. Among many other combat decorations, he was awarded four Distinguished Flying Crosses with Valor, and a Purple Heart.

A graduate of the elite USAF Fighter Weapons School, USN Top Gun School (TOGS) and USAF Special Operations School, Dan logged more than 4,000 hours flying the F-16 and F-22. Following the military, he spent three years in the private military sector, becoming a station chief for Southern Iraq before retiring.

An expert on security and counterterrorism, Dan has consulted for both U.S. and allied governments. He has appeared on Newsmax, CNN, Fox News, BBC and MSNBC discussing foreign affairs, geopolitics, military, aviation and intelligence issues and has been a guest analyst for Sean Hannity, and Bill O’Reilly. He has appeared on the shows “The Cycle” and “Anderson Cooper 360.” Dan’s work has been featured in TIME, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Parade, Forbes, People and Newsday.

Dan has lived in all corners of the world, including Germany, Spain, Turkey, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Iraq. He speaks French and Arabic and has served as an exchange officer in the Egyptian Air Force. He has studied at Oxford, holds a Masters of Aeronautics and is currently a Master of Arts candidate at Dartmouth University.

TOPICS

“Lessons From the Cockpit: Leadership, Teamwork and Peak Performance”

From the cockpit to the boardroom, optimum performance and successful campaigns require a range of elements, from confidence and the right mindset to proper preparation.

A celebrated fighter pilot and CEO of a private military company who has led elite teams on missions behind enemy lines around the world, Dan Hampton delivers practical, memorable lessons invaluable to organizations and industries. Dan Hampton will inspire you with shared insight that can change your life.

“Global Terror and Security Challenges: An Assessment of Risks and Strategies”

In this speech, Dan Hampton analyzes security challenges, military conflicts, and terror threats around the world and how to deal with them. Drawing from his experiences in combat and consulting for the US Government on counterterrorism and security, he provides an up-to-date look at the risks and developments that could impact your organization.

“Lords of the Sky: The Past, Present and Future of Combat Aviation” 

In less than a century, humans went from Wilbur and Orville Wright to Neil Armstrong, from firing flare guns over trenches in World War One to remotely piloting drones from thousands of miles away.

Dan Hampton delivers a comprehensive and action packed 100-year history of combat aviation, from World War I to today. The exhilarating stories of aviation’s most legendary warriors will leave audiences in awe of both the technology and the pilots.

ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS AND TOPICS

• “Water: The Next War”
• “Viper Pilot: A Memoir of Air Combat”
• “Military Affairs” (Current and Otherwise)
• “Technology and Innovation vs. Combat Threats”
• “Arab/Muslim Insights”
• “Geopolitics”
• “Leadership in the Military and in Business”
• Military History
• Motivational Speaking

SELECTED TESTIMONIALS

“Hampton’s one of the most decorated pilots in Air Force history … we may never see his like again.”
– The New York Post

“Viper Pilot is a rare, riveting memoir of a highly decorated fighter pilot that’s packed with grit, swagger and great humor.”
– W.E.B. Griffin, New York Times bestselling author

“A gifted speaker who skillfully mixes humor, inspiration and compelling first-hand tales … Dan Hampton delivers!
– Azalea Festival Executive Committee