Martha McSally

Independent Board Director @ Second Front

About

I’m Martha McSally, and I’m on a mission to help leaders and teams fuel their courage, agility, teamwork, and resilience to thrive and grow in a fast-changing world. Whether I’m delivering a keynote, coaching CEOs, serving on boards, or leading adventure retreats, my mission is simple: to equip people with actionable tools to overcome challenges and seize opportunities. As the first U.S. woman to fly an Air Force fighter jet in combat and command a fighter squadron, I bring hard-earned lessons from 325 combat hours in the A-10. Under my leadership, my squadron won the prestigious Air Force Association Schilling Award for contributions to national defense, and I was honored with the Bronze Star for combat leadership. In my keynotes, I share real-life Top-Gun stories with authenticity, vulnerability, and actionable insights. Every talk is tailored to address your team's unique challenges, inspiring them to embrace a growth mindset and tackle change head-on. All with a focus on exponential growth for your company. Beyond the stage, I authored Dare to Fly, a book about finding purpose through adversity. I founded an adventure retreat business where I help people confront fears and discover their true potential. As a corporate board director for three private companies valued at over $3.5B, I coach executive leaders to drive growth, build resilience, and create abundance. I offer keynote speaking, online group coaching, and immersive adventure retreats for organizations looking to inspire their teams and equip them to thrive in today’s complex environment. Let’s connect and turn challenges into opportunities for growth! Visit marthamcsally.com or DM me here on LinkedIn to learn more.

Country

United States

City

Tucson

Industry

Management Consulting

Skill

Leadership, Leadership Development, Motivational Speaking, Problem Solving, Strategic Planning, Cybersecurity, National Security, Mountaineering, Personal Development, Public Speaking, Executive Coaching, Military Operations, Federal Government, Writing

Experience

Independent Board Director

Second Front

2024-8 - Present · 2 yrs 2 mos

Chief Executive Officer

Martha McSally LLC

2021-1 - Present · 5 yrs 9 mos

Tucson, Arizona, United States

Inspirational keynote speaker, executive coach, consultant, and corporate board director. Martha brings her vast experience from her time as a military officer, professor, U.S. Congresswoman, and U.S. Senator to help your team and company excel and succeed.

Advisory Board Member

The Siegfried Group

2022-1 - Present · 4 yrs 9 mos

Member Board Of Directors

CRC Surface Technologies

2021-6 - 2025-5 · 4 yrs

Member Board Of Directors

CAES

2022-2 - 2024-8 · 2 yrs 7 mos

U. S. Senator

United States Senate

2019-1 - 2020-12 · 2 yrs

Washington, District of Columbia, United States

U.S. Senator for Arizona. - Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Energy And Natural Resources Committee where she was Chairwoman of the Water and Power Subcommittee. - Tied for #1 for the most bills signed into law her first year as a U.S. Senator - Member of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus - Expertise in national security/defense, cyber security, border security, health care, energy, water, and veterans issues

U.S. Congresswoman

U.S. House of Representatives

2015-1 - 2019-1 · 4 yrs 1 mo

Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Representative of Arizona Congressional District 2 (SE Arizona) - Member of the House Armed Services Committee and Homeland Security Committee where she chaired the Emergency Preparedness, Response and Recovery Subcommittee then the Border and Maritime Security Subcommittee - Rated the 9th most effective Member of Congress out of 435 as a Freshman Congresswoman - Vice Chairwoman of the bi-partisan Problem Solver Caucus - Chairwoman of the Women in the Workforce Working Group - Expertise in national security/defense, cyber security, border security, health care, and veterans issues

Professor of National Security Studies

George C. Marshall Center

2010-9 - 2012-1 · 1 yr 5 mos

Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bavaria, Germany

- Assistant course director for Program of Advanced Security Studies and Stability Operations Course - Professor and Seminar Leader for multiple courses attended by junior and senior security leaders in U.S. and over 40 partner countries in Europe, Africa, and Asia - Chief of Knowledge Management Working Group

Chief of Current Operations

U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM)

2007-7 - 2010-8 · 3 yrs 2 mos

Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

- Hand selected as initial cadre on leadership team to plan and stand-up AFRICOM from scratch in minimum time - Built Joint Operations Center. Emergency Operations Center and Time Sensitive Targeting Cell from nothing to fully operational including infrastructure, systems, teams, and processes operating at the Top Secret level - Led planning and execution oversight of multiple counter-terrorism operations in the horn of Africa - Led planning and execution oversight of all military operations in 53 countries in Africa

Commander

354th Fighter Squadron

2004-7 - 2006-7 · 2 yrs 1 mo

Tucson, Arizona, United States

1st female fighter squadron commander in U.S. history - Responsible for deploying 24 A-10 "Warthog" attack planes any where in the world in 24 hours notice - Led deployment to Afghanistan and commanded all operations and maintenance personnel in combat zone - Flew 225 combat hours in the A-10 in Afghanistan - Earned Bronze Star and 6 Air Medals - Under her command, the 354th Fighter Squadron won the Air Force Association David C Shilling Award for the best contribution to national defense in 2006