Michael J. Durant is the best-selling author of In the Company of Heroes and the inspiration for the movie Black Hawk Down. He was the sole survivor of the helicopter crash caused by a Somali-fired grenade and held as a prisoner of war for 11 days. Prior to his time in Somalia, Durant had participated in combat operations in the Persian Gulf, Panama, and Kuwait. A highly-decorated soldier, his awards include the Purple Heart and the Distinguished Service Medal. He addresses leadership, teambuilding, growth, and his experience as a soldier and as a hostage.

With a distinguished and highly decorated career spanning more than three decades of service to his country, Lieutenant General Scott Dingle stands as an embodiment of resolute leadership and an unyielding commitment to excellence. In 2019, Dingle was appointed as the 45th Army Surgeon General and Commanding General of US Army Medical Command (USAMEDCOM), becoming the first African American male to serve in these roles, and spearheading the development and execution of the Army’s medical programs while leading complex teams through even more complex environments and advancing military healthcare infrastructure for the millions of people who depend on it.