AS SEEN ON

Cited from C-Span.org:

Captain O’Grady Homecoming General Shalikashvili, Secretary Perry and President Clinton welcomed home Captain O’Grady and paid tribute to his courage and that of those who rescued him. Captain O’Grady also spoke briefly. He encouraged citizens to thank their friends and family members who are currently in the armed forces for their service.

To book Scott O’Grady for your conference or event, contact any reputable speakers’ bureau.

Scott O’Grady

Air Force Veteran / F16 Pilot, Author “Return with Honor”

Captain Scott O’Grady was born in Brooklyn, New York on October 12, 1965. He moved with his family to Long Beach, California in 1970, then to Ridgewood, New Jersey in 1972, and finally to Spokane, Washington, in 1974. He graduated from Lewis and Clark High School in 1984 and attended the University of Washington for one year before transferring to Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, Arizona. Captain O’Grady earned a bachelor of science degree (aeronautical) in 1989 and was commissioned through the Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps program, April 1989.

Following college, Captain O’Grady attended the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, from November 1989 to December 1990. He was then assigned to F-16 pilot training at Luke Air Force Base until December 1991 when he began his first operational assignment flying the F-16 at the 80th Fighter Squadron, Kunsan Air Base, Korea. In April 1993, Captain O’Grady was reassigned to the 526th Fighter Squadron, Ramstein AB, Germany, until assuming a position in May 1994 with the 555th Fighter Squadron in Aviano, Italy. In October 1995, he was assigned as an F-16 pilot with the 466th Fighter Squadron at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. In July 1998, he was assigned to a joint survival agency at Fairchild Air Force Base, Spokane, Washington. After 12 years of military service Captain O’Grady entered inactive reserve status in February 2001. Shortly after, he enrolled at Dallas Theological Seminary and graduated with a masters degree in the spring of 2007. Scott also was awarded an honorary doctorate in public service by the University of Portland in Oregon.

Captain O’Grady was helping enforce the NATO no-fly zone policy in the skies over Bosnia when a Soviet-made anti aircraft missile slammed into his F-16. Capt. O’Grady tells his incredible story of how he survived in hostile territory for six days before being rescued by the US Marines in his book, Return With Honor, which spent six weeks on The New York Times bestseller list. He has also published Basher Five-Two, a children’s edition of his original story. His courageous story has also been documented on the Discovery Channel presentation, Behind Enemy Lines. In addition, Scott O’Grady has been featured on CNN’s Voices of the Millennium, and Then and Now, series that focus on the most influential personalities of the past 25 years.

Captain O’Grady has accumulated more than 1,300 military flying hours including over 1,000 in the F-16.

Scott's Story

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To book Scott O’Grady for your conference or event, contact any reputable speakers’ bureau.

SPEAKING

Scott has delivered hundreds of speaking engagements. See below for a sectional listing of organizations with whom Scott has worked to elevate their event and company profiles.

Mississippi Hospital Association

Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce

Texas Association of School Administrators

Harris Trust and Savings

Heritage Group

Marriott International, Inc.

Marriott Corporation

Siebel Systems, Inc

Cohn & Wolfe

Robert W. Baird & Company, Inc

Prudential

Retail Industry Leaders Association

Bureau of Worker’s Compensation

The Claremont Institute

Greater Bluefield Chamber of Commerce

League of California Cities

Kansas City Life Insurance Company

American Architectural Manufacturers Association

Golf Course Superintendants Association of America

National Association of Chain Drug Stores

Boy Scouts of America

Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America

Drury Design Dynamics

National Business Education Association

Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association

New York Association of Convenience Stores

Allegheny Valley Chamber of Commerce

West Virginia Healthcare Financial Management Assoc

MetLife Broker-Dealer Group

Family, Career and Community Leaders of America

Tennessee Hospital Association

Georgia Pacific

Dell Computers

Baxter Health Care

American Red Cross

Tennessee Health Care Management Association

California Park and Recreation Society

Gulf Power

Schering Plough Pharmaceuticals

Southwestern Bell

CBL Association Management Incorporated

Michigan Gas & Oil

Cincinnati Insurance Company

Texas 4H

Sports Executive Leadership Conference

California Mid-State Fair

Sysco

Farmers Insurance Group of Companies

Microsoft

Coca-Cola Company

Nebraska Cattleman’s Association

State Street Research & Management Company

American Cancer Society

Ameriprise Financial

Clinton Chamber of Commerce

Georgia Hospital Association

Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC

National Cotton Council of America

The Builders Association

North American Logistics

Cassidy & Fishman

Lumbermens Merchandising Corporation

Elizabeth City Chamber of Commerce

International Council of Shopping Centers

Retail Industry Leaders Association

Indiana State University

Sports Marketing & Entertainment, Inc

Equanimity, Inc

Pacific Rim Consultants

Access Point, Inc

J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc.

Greater Buffalo – Building Owners & Managers Assoc

New Jersey Association of Health Underwriters

CB Richard Ellis

Cassidy & Fishman

YPO – Young Presidents Organization

Oregon Bankers Association

Maine Hospital Association

Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

Corinthian Colleges, Inc

Abilene Independent School District

Cowen & Company, LLC

State National Bancshares, Inc

Illinois Hospital Association

Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association

West Virginia Hospital Association

Bunzl Distribution, USA

National Automatic Merchandising Association

Council of Educational Facility Planners International

California Association of Pest Control Advisers

Kansas Hospital Association

Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association

Town Hall of Cleveland

Commonwealth Health Corporation

California Agricultural Leadership Alumni

New England Regional Turfgrass Foundation

Toledo Town Hall

Geospatial Information Technology Association

Hibernia National Bank

Thomas Kinkad Group

Avaya

Tennessee Grocers Association

Iowa Utility Association

American Society of Consultant Pharmacists

Kentucky Hospital Association

Special Olympics

Arizona Credit Union League

Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce

Prelude Systems

Wells Fargo Bank

League of Kansas Municipalities

Adventist Health Care

American Program Bureau, Inc

Monsanto

Service Management Group

Cablevision Lightpath

Bracco Diagnostics

Clark Consulting, Inc

Microtune, Inc

CONTACT Counseling and Crisis Line

Erie County Bar Association

Nationwide Financial

Health Future, LLC

New York Association of Convenience Stores

National Imagery Mapping Agency

National Association of Health Underwriters

Davidson Marketing Group

The Allen Agency, Inc

University of Mississippi

BOHAN

Merrill Lynch & Co, Inc

Self Regional Healthcare Foundation

Clear Channel Communications

Genesis Health Systems

National Association of Elementary School Principals

Western Wireless

Delaware Valley Regional High School

Alabama Hospital Association

Pennsylvania State Association of Borough’s

Veritas Software

Professional Independent Insurance Agents of Illinois

Mechanical Service Contractors Association of America

Eisai Pharmaceuticals

North Island Credit Union

Flagstar Bank

Raytheon Management Club

Jackson National Life Insurance

American Association of Collegiate Registrars

The Salvation Army

Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore

Mutual Service Corporation

Florida Association of Insurance Agents

Colorado Mortgage Lenders Association

International Association of Fire Chiefs

Texas Credit Union League

Hershey Foods Corporation

Construction Users Roundtable

University of Virginia

Gems Insider Circle and Dental Platforms

National Automobile Dealers Association

CIGNA Corporation

1st Midwest Bank

National City Corporation

Associated General Contractors of America

College of the Ozarks

The V Foundation

Conference of State Bank Supervisors

NET Marketing Alliance

Lockheed Federal Credit Union

Pennsylvania Association of Student Financial Aid

American Program Bureau, Inc

Acosta Sales and Marketing Company

Department of the Navy CIO

CNA National Warranty Corporation

National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative

Family Health Center

Obion County Distinguished Speakers Foundation

United Planners Financial Services of America

McGraw-Hill Construction

FTI Consulting, Inc

Six Degrees, Inc

Veterans Outreach Center, Inc

GameStop

Kellogg Brown & Root

Presbyterian Healthcare Services

NBT Bancorp, Inc

Guaranty Bank

Northwestern Mutual

National Association of Independent Lighting

Munich Reinsurance America, Inc

IBM

Regional Education Service Agencies

University of Pittsburgh

Texas Banker Association

Forging Industry Association

University of Phoenix

Kaseya

Association of Independent Corrugated Converters

Junior Achievement of South Florida

The Governor’s Occupational Safety & Health

Riverbend Retreat Center

National Renderers Association

Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association

Pennsylvania State University

Associated Equipment Distributors, Inc

Fort Worth Public Library Foundation

NorthMarq Capital

Baker Commodities

Bowling Proprietor’s Association of Americas

Deloitte & Touche

Northwest Medstar

Skillset Enterprises

New York Life Insurance Company

LeadingAge Florida

Gases and Welding Distributors Association

Cottingham & Butler

EaglePicher Technologies, LLC

United Bankers’ Bank

Providence Hospice & Home Care

Bergstrom Inc

Electrical Generating Systems Association

Minnesota Safety Council

NC Local Gov’t Information Systems Association

Healthcare Financial Management Association

American Trucking Association

APCO International, Inc

Quanta Services

Foodservice Sales & Marketing Association

Taxware

Stewart Title

Texas City Management Association

Citation Pilots Association

AXA Distributors LLC

National Business Aircraft Association

University of the Southwest

Deloitte Consulting

Cenergistic

Ericsson Inc

The Greater Johnstown Chamber of Commerce

Airline MRO Parts

SIFMA Securities Industry Financial Management

Utah Association of Counties

Pennsylvania National Guard Association

PepsiCo

Leoni Meadows Camp

Crystal Cruises

Chicago Office Leasing Brokers Association

Lipscomb & Pitts Insurance, LLC

Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin

Georgia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co

SI International, Inc

Lenovo Americas

Health Industry Distributors Association

NuStar Asphalt Refining

San Antonio Academy

Interstate Battery

American Rental Association

Gallagher Benefit Services

Ryan, Inc

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University

Affiliated Computer Services

National Center of Policy Analysis

Broder Bros Co

The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation

Vizient, Inc

To book Scott O’Grady for your conference or event, contact any reputable speakers’ bureau.

TESTIMONIALS

Scott O’Grady was the guest speaker at our annual all-employee meeting.  His powerful account of his six days behind enemy lines is truly riveting.  He made our people feel like they were right there with him.  His description of how teamwork made a successful extraction possible resonated with our folks in terms of how it takes a team to accomplish a mission.  I would absolutely recommend him for your next speaker engagement as over 88% of our meeting attendees responded to a post meeting survey with an “extremely satisfied” rating for our guest speaker – Scott O’Grady. His message is motivational, uplifting and unforgettable.

Jeffrey A. Stopko

President & Chief Executive Officer

AmeriServ Financial, Inc.

Many thanks again for joining NAPT for our 40th Annual Summit and Veteran’s Day celebration. Here is some very positive feedback.

Captain Scott O’Grady joined us for our Veteran’s Day Keynote presentation and delivered a phenomenal speech, capturing the audience’s full attention for over an hour. His message was tailored to our group from beginning to end, always bringing us back to the connection between pupil transportation and service to your country. As our closing keynote Captain O’Grady certainly helped us end on a positive and uplifting note; and for many, the highlight of the entire program was when he led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.

NAPT – Megan Geroux

He (Scott O’Grady) was awesome. Everybody loved him. What a great guy.

Would have liked to have spent a few hours with him.

Chris Blakeslee

Vice President of Sales

Broder Bros., Co.

We at ITC Safety appreciate the opportunity to have received a high caliber speaker that provided a think positive response to our employees. Thank you Scott for a never give up, think positive attitude!

GARY S. SCHNABEL, SAFETY COORDINATOR – ITC

Scott O’Grady’s presentation was right on target for what we were looking for — inspiring, moving, and demonstrated what focus, perseverance and teamwork can achieve. I think that the entire group was completely engaged which was demonstrated by the number of individuals who approached Scott personally to thank him for his service to our country, commend him on his bravery, and reiterate how truly moved they all were by his story.

Vicki Raspino

Deloitte Touche

Please accept this letter of appreciation for a job well done by Scott O’Grady, at all 4 of our ITC Safety Summit Presentations. Scott received a standing ovation at each of the presentations and everyone found Scott to be interesting as well as educational with a bit of humor.

Gary Schnabel

ITC Holdings Corp

We had a great evening with Scott. Our customers and employees thoroughly enjoyed hearing him speak and spending a little time talking with him. I am certainly pleased that we selected Scott, and that he could be with us.

Justin Anderson

Associated Equipment Company

Feedback from PepsiCo

“Scott O’Grady came to speak at PepsiCo’s North America Beverages Headquarters and Global Headquarters for our Veterans Day event. His powerful speech captivated the audience as he talked about his life-changing experience. Scott’s passion and enthusiasm was contagious, and I would highly recommend him as an inspirational speaker.”

Jim Farrell, Vice President – Logistics

Feedback on my speech for Bergstrom Inc,

“Scott was a wonderful speaker – everyone was completely transfixed during his talk.  Such an inspiration!”

Xan Guzik / Bergstrom Inc.

The event was unbelievable. You could have heard a pin drop once Scott O’Grady started his story. I had heard him speak in November and was as much enthralled as everyone. His story is so moving that even some of the guys were emotional. He made us all so proud to be American. Everything was handled in a proficient and professional manner. Thank you for providing the wonderful speaker and for making my job so much easier.

NorthMarq Capital

Scott O’Grady tied the presentation into our industry, specifically talking about how we take care of our clients. Even though it happened to him years ago, you could still feel the emotion. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

JENNIFER TEAGER – PROSPERA FINANCIAL SERVICES

If leadership, courage, integrity, family, or faith matter to you or your organization, Captain O’Grady consistently commands standing ovations. I have worked with him on many occasions, and every time he spell-binds his audience, positively changing their world view. He’s just that good.

Rich Kylberg

Past YPO Education Chairman

Scott couldn’t have been a better fit for our group and couldn’t have done a better job. Talk about inspirational! Wow.

I’ve been coordinating this meeting for 13 years now and Scott was my all-time favorite speaker ever. I received so many positive comments and pats on the back for getting him on our program.

Jennifer Dempsey

Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives

If Captain O’Grady is not speaking more and more to people across this great nation, something is wrong. He is one of the most compelling speakers I have heard relay a personal life and death incident in my lifetime. We had one of the largest crowds in years come to hear Captain O’Grady speak. His speech was compelling, gripping, tear jerking and truthful. The crowd was utterly silent when he was talking about having Serbs walk within feet of him in his hiding place. You could have heard a pin drop in the room with 600 people in it. He is a great motivational speaker relaying what it means to be an American and to fight for America and to survive to tell his story.

Jeff Sayre

Nez Perce County Central Committee

We like hiring keynote speakers that have an instant connection with our members – even before they meet.  Scott couldn’t have been more perfect! His story has been out there for a time, but our members remembered it well and got the chance to relive almost every detail and moment as Scott re-inspired them with his miraculous tale of survival, acts of courage, and evident devotion to God, family and country.  Scott embodies what’s great about our country and what we can all strive to accomplish and become when we prepare, work hard, and stay focused.

Doug Perry

Communications Director

Utah Association of Counties

Scott-

Thanks for doing a great job for the Salvation Army recently.  I spoke to the client and they love hosting you and said your message was perfect for their event.

Thank you!

Salvation Army

Captain O’Grady captivated our audience. They were on the edge of their seats as he shared his story in a way that captured every heart, stimulated our faith and stirred us to focus on the things that are important in life.

PAUL M. SALDANA, PRESIDENT & CEO – ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Scott’s story of how he was shot down and managed to elude the local militias was truly riveting. Just as inspiring, was how he sustained himself over those long days by thinking of his family, faith and love of country. Scott did a great job relating his experience in Bosnia and how it can apply to our daily lives, especially in business. Scott is an American hero. I am grateful for his service and sacrifice for our country.

Regards,

Michael J. Bradley

PolyOne Distribution

Dear Scott:

While the dust has not formally settled on the EGSA Fall Conference, our team wanted to reach out and tell you of the value that you brought to the table for our annual event.

Your presentation took our EGSA audience through all that you endured during those 6 days. There wasn’t a “phone watcher” in the crowd, as you had them riveted and receptive to your underlying message about relying on your training and focusing on the right things to keep you positive and alive.

Finally, when we asked you in our first conversation to “give everyone something they could take away with them,” we wanted you to know that you hit the mark when it came to providing a relevant and timely message.

Great job, Scott!

Jalane Kellough

EGSA Speaker Team

I want to thank you (Scott) for the excellent presentation you gave.

 

Tom Purkey

Tennessee Electric Assoc

He was fantastic! People were riveted by his story. Loved it!

Sarah

Stewart Title

To book Scott O’Grady for your conference or event, contact any reputable speakers’ bureau.

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