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Thomas Pat Payne at the 2025 Inauguration
Thomas "Pat" Payne
Medal of Honor Recipient, Elite Special Operations Leader
- Highly decorated combat veteran with experience across multiple global conflicts
- Shares leadership strategies that inspire resilience, adaptability, and high-performance execution in any environment
- Provides gripping firsthand accounts of leadership from 18 combat deployments, translating tactical and strategic experiences into lessons for high-performing teams
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Sergeant Major Thomas “Patrick” Payne is a distinguished U.S. Army veteran, Medal of Honor recipient, and an elite special operations leader with an extraordinary record of courage, leadership, and resilience. After being wounded in Afghanistan, which nearly ended his military career, Payne embarked on a challenging journey of recovery and triumph. Through sheer determination and resilience, he emerged victorious as champion in the military’s most grueling competition of endurance and skill, The Best Ranger Competition. With unwavering work ethic and strength of will, Payne defied the odds of his injury and seized victory.
Exclusively represented by Leading Authorities speakers bureau, Payne solidified his legacy during a high-stakes hostage rescue mission in Iraq. He played a pivotal role in rescuing over 70 hostages from an ISIS-controlled prison. Under intense enemy fire, amid a burning building, and at great personal risk, Payne repeatedly exposed himself to hostile gunfire to cut the locks and lead hostages to safety. He was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Trump in September 2020 for this heroic act. His gripping stories of courage, sacrifice, and teamwork provide invaluable lessons relevant to audiences seeking success in their own lives.
In addition to the Medal of Honor, Payne has received numerous other awards during his decades of military service, including the Bronze Star Medal with Valor, Purple Heart, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal with Valor, and the Combat Infantryman Badge, among many others. Throughout his career, Thomas was involved in both strategy and tactical execution, demonstrating leadership and expertise at multiple levels of operation.
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Thomas Pat Payne Hall of Heroes Speech
Leading Under Fire: Decision-Making in Life-or-Death Situations. Sergeant Major Thomas P. Payne has led elite teams through some of the most dangerous missions in modern warfare, including a high-risk hostage rescue operation in Iraq, where he had to make split-second decisions under intense enemy fire. Whether directing special operations forces in the chaos of battle or pushing through adversity in the Best Ranger Competition, Payne has demonstrated the power of clear-headed leadership under extreme pressure. His ability to assess threats, adapt strategies, and inspire his team to act decisively has been the key to mission success in 18 combat deployments. Drawing from experiences in some of the world’s most volatile regions, he shares invaluable insights on staying composed, making critical decisions, and leading high-performance teams when failure is not an option. Payne’s lessons are not just for the battlefield—they apply to executives, first responders, and anyone facing high-stakes leadership challenges.
Applying Special Operations Principles to Business and Life. Sergeant Major Thomas P. Payne’s career in U.S. Army Special Operations Command has been defined by an unwavering commitment to mission success, a principle that extends beyond the battlefield into business and everyday life. His extensive, high-pressure experiences offer powerful lessons in goal-setting, strategic thinking, and resilience in high-pressure environments. He teaches audiences how the mindset of elite soldiers—clarity of purpose, accountability, and relentless perseverance—can drive success in corporate leadership, entrepreneurship, and personal growth. Payne’s insights inspire audiences to align their actions with their mission, embrace challenges with confidence, and execute at the highest level, no matter the obstacles.
