FORMER SEAL TEAM SIX LEADER
Decorated Combat Veteran, New York Times Best-Selling Author, and Keynote Speaker
FORMER SEAL TEAM SIX LEADER
Decorated Combat Veteran, New York Times Best-Selling Author, and Keynote Speaker
Robert J. O’Neill is one of the most highly decorated and recognized combat veterans of our time. With over 400 missions across global theaters including Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, Rob spent eight of his 16 distinguished years at the legendary SEAL Team Six, the U.S. Navy’s most elite counterterrorism unit.
Rob served in critical missions that defined a generation—he was a Jumpmaster and the Lead Jumper in the rescue operation that saved Captain Richard Phillips from Somali pirates, supported the recovery of Marcus Luttrell during Operation Red Wings, and was a Team Leader on Operation Neptune’s Spear—the mission that killed Osama bin Laden.
Today, Rob is a sought-after keynote speaker and co-founder of the Special Operators Transition Foundation, which helps fellow Special Operations veterans transition into corporate leadership. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Operator and co-author of The Way Forward, written alongside Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer.
Robert J. O’Neill is one of the most highly decorated and recognized combat veterans of our time. With over 400 missions across global theaters including Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, Rob spent eight of his 16 distinguished years at the legendary SEAL Team Six, the U.S. Navy’s most elite counterterrorism unit.
Rob served in critical missions that defined a generation—he was a Jumpmaster and the Lead Jumper in the rescue operation that saved Captain Richard Phillips from Somali pirates, supported the recovery of Marcus Luttrell during Operation Red Wings, and was a Team Leader on Operation Neptune’s Spear—the mission that killed Osama bin Laden.
Today, Rob is a sought-after keynote speaker and co-founder of the Special Operators Transition Foundation, which helps fellow Special Operations veterans transition into corporate leadership. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Operator and co-author of The Way Forward, written alongside Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
400+ Missions
Over 400 combat missions across Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and global theaters of war
8 Years Service
Eight years at SEAL Team Six, the Navy’s most elite counterterrorism unit
53 Decorations
Including two Silver Stars, four Bronze Stars with Valor, and three Presidential Unit Citations
HONORS & RECOGNITION
Two Silver Stars
Four Bronze Stars with Valor
Joint Service Commendation Medal with Valor
Navy Commendation Medal with Valor
Three Combat Action Ribbons
Three Presidential Unit Citations
KEYNOTE TOPICS
The Mission That Changed the World
Inside Operation Neptune’s Spear and the lessons learned from the most consequential mission in modern military history
Courage Under Fire
Leadership and decision-making in chaos—how elite operators maintain clarity when everything is on the line
Transition & Triumph
Life after war, reinvention after uniform, and building a new mission in civilian life
Elite Performance
Operating with precision, accountability, and calm under the most extreme pressure
Brotherhood, Sacrifice & Legacy
What special operations teach us about trust, teamwork, and leading with purpose
CLIENT FEEDBACK
“Rob’s presence on stage is unmatched. He speaks with gravity, humility, and insight that only someone who’s truly been there can offer.”
Director of Leadership Programming
National Business Conference
“Our audience was riveted. Rob’s story is more than heroic—it’s deeply human. He left our entire team inspired to lead with purpose.”
SVP
Global Finance Group
“From elite missions to life’s toughest transitions, Rob delivers powerful, practical lessons for leaders at every level.”
CEO
Performance Leadership Institute
Bring one of America’s most decorated combat veterans to your next event.