Author, former F-16 pilot Rob “Waldo” Waldman will speak to delegates following new intermission.
The agenda for the opening session of the 107th American Legion National Convention in Louisville, Ky., on Tuesday, Sept. 1, will look a little different than usual. Greetings will still be given, and the Legion’s youth champions and Spirit of Service recipients will still be honored. But rather than the traditional emcee or performer addressing the audience throughout the morning, an intermission from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. will be followed by a guest speaker: Air Force retired Lt. Col. Waldo Waldman, better known as “the Wingman.”
Waldman is a leadership speaker, executive coach, and author of the New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller “Never Fly Solo.” He is also a highly experienced combat veteran with over 2,650 flight hours and 65 real-world combat missions, having flown in Iraq enforcing the no-fly zone and in Yugoslavia during Operation Allied Force in 1999. Some of his military honors include five Air Medals, two Aerial Achievement Medals, four Air Force Commendation Medals and two Meritorious Service Medals. He is a graduate of the Air Force Academy and holds an MBA with a focus on organizational behavior.
In addition, Waldman is an inductee into the Professional Speaker Hall of Fame – a prestigious award that honors speakers who have reached the top echelon of platform excellence and has been bestowed on less than 190 people worldwide – and founder/president of the Wingman Foundation, a 501(c)(3) whose mission is to build funds and awareness for soldiers, veterans and their families in need.
Waldman overcame massive claustrophobia and a fear of heights to become a fighter pilot and believes the key to building a culture of trust lies with your wingmen – the men and women in your life who help you overcome obstacles, adapt to change and achieve success. In business and life, you should never fly solo.
Quick lunch options for attendees abound, whether in the Kentucky International Convention Center itself, at the many restaurants within walking distance or at food trucks that will be parked alongside the convention center on 4th Street. Catch this dynamic speaker when you get back to your seats for the session’s resumption.
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