DeDe Halfhill

Renowned Leadership Expert and Colonel, USAF (Ret.)
Speaker DeDe Halfhill
  • 25-year military commander who is inspiring organizations with her candid approach to vulnerable leadership
  • Described by Dr. Brené Brown as “one of her leadership heroes and a total badass” - featured in her NYT bestseller and on 60 Minutes
  • Advised the military’s highest-ranking officials on navigating challenging, high-risk environments
  • Powerful, authentic storyteller who moves audiences with her lessons on leading with humanity in today’s evolving workplace

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Colonel DeDe Halfill, USAF (ret.), is a sought-after international keynote speaker, strategic advisor, and leadership expert who transforms how organizations navigate today’s relentless and complex challenges. Drawing on her extraordinary 25-year military career, she delivers unmatched insights into building trust, addressing hidden dynamics, and fostering resilience—all grounded in what she calls Everyday Courage™.

DeDe’s career placed her at the heart of some of the most historically impactful and high-stakes moments of our time. As a principal advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staf, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, and the Commanding General of Multinational Forces Iraq, she shaped decisions during pivotal combat operations and periods of profound uncertainty. But the lesson that shaped her most is this: the courage that defines great leadership isn’t found in dramatic moments—it’s forged in the small, daily choices to confront fears, hold tough conversations, and address the emotional undercurrents that quietly determine whether teams thrive or falter.

In addition to her advisory roles, DeDe led large, diverse teams in Iraq and directed installation support for the Air Force’s nuclear enterprise, proving time and again that addressing what goes unspoken is not just a strength—it’s a strategic advantage. Her leadership philosophy, Everyday Courage™, empowers leaders to act with clarity and purpose in the face of chaos, unlocking trust, innovation, and sustainable success.

Today, DeDe partners with organizations to develop leaders who thrive amidst uncertainty and change. Through her keynotes, advisory work, and training programs, she equips leaders with actionable strategies to navigate crises, build collaboration, and lead with intention. Her approach—combining military precision with deep emotional insight—reveals how the smallest decisions can drive the biggest transformations.

DeDe’s ability to translate high-stakes military leadership lessons into practical business insights makes her an invaluable resource for organizations ready to rethink leadership. Whether addressing thousands from the stage or working directly with executive teams, she challenges leaders to embrace Everyday Courage™—creating workplaces where trust, connection, and meaningful action drive extraordinary results.

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Speaker Video

DeDe Halfhill: Speaker Demo Reel

DeDe Halfhill: Lessons in Courageous Leadership

DeDe Halfhill: Leaders Connect

DeDe Halfhill: What Vulnerable Leadership Looks Like

The Art of Language and Connection | Col. DeDe Halfhill w/Dr. Brené Brown Introduction

60 Minutes: DeDe Halfhill on Vulnerable Leadership

EVERYDAY COURAGE™: Transforming Small Actions into Big Impact

We think courage only applies in the “big” moments—when we’re making crucial decisions, leading through crises, or launching critical initiatives.

But the truth is, the moments that actually shape our organizations are found in the small choices we make every day—the conversations we choose to have or avoid, the feedback we decide to give or hold onto, and the tough decisions we make or postpone. These moments are easy to miss, yet they determine so much of our success as leaders, teams, and individuals.

Twice deployed to Iraq and serving as a principal advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, retired Colonel DeDe Halfhill understands how easily these brave moments can be overlooked, limiting our potential.

In this inspiring keynote, she reveals how Everyday Courage™—the small, intentional actions we take daily—holds the key to unlocking our greatest advantage tomorrow.

The audience will leave with:

  • Practical ways to build team trust for better engagement.
  • Proven tools to help navigate tough conversations with ease.
  • Effective strategies to lead teams through change while strengthening team commitment.

 

LEADERS CONNECT: The Power of Connection to Drive Trust, Teamwork, and Results

Research shows that teams with strong interpersonal bonds experience higher trust, stronger collaboration, and the ability to adapt and thrive under pressure. In other words, connected teams are a force to be reckoned with. But building those connections—especially in today’s fast-paced and often remote environments—requires leaders to be intentional about creating trust and fostering meaningful relationships.

Whether serving as a squadron commander in Iraq, leading as the installation group commander at the home of the Air Force’s nuclear enterprise, or as the principal communications advisor to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, retired Colonel DeDe Halfhill saw firsthand how connection drives collaboration, trust, and resilience.

In this actionable talk, she shares how leaders can cultivate these meaningful connections that transform teams into resilient, high-performing forces that power organizational success.

The audience will leave with:

  • Practical ways to build trust within teams to improve how individuals collaborate, together.
  • Actionable insights into how connected teams boost organizational resilience and performance.
  • Proven strategies to strengthen team commitment, adaptability, and innovation.

 

THE LEADERSHIP LANGUAGE OF TRUST: The Power of Authentic Leadership Communication

The cost of avoiding tough conversations can be far greater than the risk of getting them wrong. Yet many leaders hesitate, fearing they’ll say the wrong thing, trigger discomfort, or create tension. But what if avoiding those conversations is what’s holding your team back from building the trust and alignment needed to thrive?

Serving as the Director of DoD Press Operations and as an advisor to the Commanding General of the Multi-National Force–Iraq during critical combat operations, retired Colonel DeDe Halfhill has led communication efforts in some of the most complex and high-stakes environments imaginable. She understands how clear, authentic communication builds trust—even amidst crises—and strengthens the bonds that teams rely on to succeed.

In this keynote, she reveals how leaders can replace fear with confidence when engaging in tough conversations. By addressing the unspoken and building trust through transparency, leaders can create cultures where teams thrive and organizations flourish.

The audience will leave with:

  • Guided approaches to facilitate open communication—even when it feels uncomfortable at first.
  • Actionable ways to approach tough conversations that build stronger connections with individuals and teams.
  • Proven strategies to strengthen team commitment, adaptability, and innovation.

 

HEARTFELT LEADERSHIP: The Wisdom of Women in a Changing World

As demands on leaders continue to evolve, organizations increasingly need leaders who understand people on a deeper level—seeing the whole person, not just the role they fill. But for women leaders, stepping fully into these strengths—connection, empathy, and collaboration—can feel like swimming against the tide of traditional leadership norms.

As a Georgetown University instructor for Women in Leadership in National Security and Foreign Policy, and having risen to senior leadership in the U.S. Air Force, retired Colonel DeDe Halfhill knows the power of women’s voices in shaping the future. 

From advising the Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command to navigating high-stakes decision-making with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, she has shown that empathy, connection, and courage are not just advantages—they are necessities in today’s leadership landscape.

In this keynote, she encourages women to embrace their strengths and lead with intention. By tapping into their unique abilities to connect, collaborate, and inspire, women can create meaningful change in their organizations while driving innovation and growth.

The audience will leave with:

  • A renewed sense of confidence in their leadership potential.
  • The inspiration to embrace emotional intelligence as a strength that drives team and organizational success.
  • Practical tools to help them practice courage in their leadership every day.

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