Lt. Col Dan Rooney, USAF

CAVU offers a daily pathway for clarity of purpose, fulfillment, pressing through life storms, and a deep relationship with God. His keynote incorporates leadership, fighter pilot lessons, Folds of Honor, unlocking talents through faith, and embracing resistance with a resilient spirit.

Speaking with conviction and as a man who has also found success in the military, philanthropy and professional golf, Rooney’s life experiences demonstrate lessons of faith, teamwork, trust, compassion and triumph.

From the outside, flying an F-16 jet looks like a very independent act, as it’s one pilot maneuvering one plane. But when you go into combat, fighter pilots in a squadron must form one unit that has a common mission working toward a common objective. As a pilot who served three tours of combat in Iraq, Major Dan Rooney knows the importance of working as a team when the stakes could not be higher. In his powerful presentations, Rooney highlights the importance of personal accountability, working together and ultimately having the backs of your team when you are on the line. Having dedicated his life’s mission to founding and running Folds of Honor—a non-profit organization that provides scholarships to the spouses and children of military service members disabled or killed in action—Rooney speaks with authority as someone who lives his life in service of those who have served.

Using the lessons he has learned in building a vibrant organization, Rooney shares his journey as a social entrepreneur and how partnerships have helped his organization grow by leaps and bounds—including his own multi-platform partnership with Budweiser that has expanded Folds of Honors reach both in extending their brand and raising money. An inspiring and innovative leader, Rooney shows how any organization can do well by supporting the common good.

When Major Dan Rooney started the Folds of Honor foundation above his garage in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma in 2007, little did he know that what started as a way to never forget the sacrifices of those who serve would turn into a movement that has caught the attention of millions across the country. With no experience in philanthropy but with a driving determination to do right by the families of the injured or fallen from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Rooney has embarked on growing Folds of Honor into a nationally-recognized charity that has raised over $70 million and awarded nearly 10,000 educational scholarships. Using the lessons he has learned in building a vibrant organization, Rooney shares his journey as a social entrepreneur and how partnerships have helped his organization grow by leaps and bounds—including his own multi-platform partnership with Budweiser that has expanded Folds of Honors reach both in extending their brand and raising money. An inspiring and innovative leader, Rooney shows how any organization can do well by supporting the common good.

Growing up in Stillwater Oklahoma, Major Dan Rooney dreamed of becoming a USAF Fighter Pilot and a PGA Golf Professional; he had no idea how these dreams would manifest into a life changing mission.

Major Rooney’s life of purpose exemplifies a man committed to serving his God, family, and country. His stories demonstrate the power of providence in our lives. He describes in captivating detail the signposts placed by God guiding his journey. He teaches and empowers his audience with the skills and perspective to recognize the intervention of God in their own lives, and inspires them to have the faith to take action when God calls.

Major Rooney’s passion and faith are palpable. The authenticity and humility of his story evoke laughter, tears and reflection. But most importantly, he motivates his audience to be their personal best. In the final analysis of life, God gives us all unique talents. We are accountable for how we used those gifts to have a positive impact on the world around us.