About Kim
Keynote Speaker. Bestselling Author. Fighter Pilot. Leader.
Kim "KC" Campbell is a retired Colonel who served in the Air Force for over 24 years as a fighter pilot and senior military leader. She has flown over 100 combat missions and made split-second life-and-death decisions with potential strategic implications. Most widely recognized for her combat experience in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Kim received the Distinguished Flying Cross for Heroism when the fighter jet she was flying while supporting ground troops was hit with a surface-to-air missile. She was able to successfully save her wounded A-10 aircraft and recover back to base, a daring feat only accomplished successfully once before.
As a senior military leader, Kim has led hundreds of Airmen both at home and abroad in deployed locations and enabled them to succeed in their missions. She has experience leading complex organizations and driving cultural change. Kim's Air Force assignments include leadership roles as a Group Commander, responsible for over 1,000 Air Force personnel in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Most recently, Kim served as the Director of the Center for Character and Leadership Development at the Air Force Academy.
Kim is also the author of the bestselling book, Flying in the Face of Fear: A Fighter Pilot's Lessons on Leading with Courage.
Watch Kim In Action
Presentation Topics & Descriptions
Flying in the Face of Fear: Courageous Leadership & Teamwork to Elevate Performance
You have an innovative, game-changing idea, but you're hesitant to share it. Maybe you’ve made a big mistake and worry about what will happen if you own up to it. Or perhaps a team member isn’t meeting expectations, and you’re dreading that tough feedback conversation.
The question is: Do you have the courage to share that idea, own your mistake, or face the difficult conversation?
In this gripping keynote, Kim "KC" Campbell draws from an extraordinary combat experience to reveal how courage has the power to transform both leaders and teams—whether you’re navigating everyday challenges or high-stakes situations. She will take you inside the cockpit of her fighter jet during a harrowing mission when her aircraft was struck by enemy fire. Through this life-changing—and admittedly terrifying—experience, Kim shares why courageous leadership and teamwork are essential for elevating performance.
Leveraging her extensive experience as a fighter pilot and senior military leader, Kim unveils powerful insights into the mindset and culture that enable fighter pilots to sustain peak performance and make decisive choices under pressure. She shares the value of creating a "wingman culture"—where trust, collaboration, and mutual support are essential to fostering high-performance teams. Packed with actionable strategies from the cockpit, this keynote invites you to explore a unique perspective on leading with courage, equipping you to inspire bold action and elevate performance.
So, what challenges scare you? Are you ready to embrace that fear and lead with courage?
Fighter Pilot Mindset: A Flight Plan for Mission Success
You are striving to meet ever-increasing performance demands, often leaving little room to openly discuss challenges or acknowledge and learn from mistakes. This can lead to a culture where team members hesitate to address problems, hold each other accountable, or confront obstacles head-on. Egos may get in the way, communication breaks down, and the path to success becomes unclear.
Is this the culture you want for your team? What if there was an alternative flight plan—one that helps you achieve your goals with greater confidence, agility, and clarity?
Drawing from over 20 years of experience as a fighter pilot and senior military leader, Kim “KC” Campbell will show you how to apply the same resilience, accountability, and focus on continuous improvement that fighter pilots use to achieve mission success. Kim will take you on a journey through real-life lessons from the cockpit—offering a clear "flight plan" to excel in high-stakes environments, overcome obstacles, and foster a culture of transparency and accountability within your team.
Get ready to hear compelling stories from the cockpit of both triumphs and setbacks that will shift your perspective and prepare you to take on any challenge. Kim’s engaging storytelling will leave you inspired and equipped with practical strategies that you can apply in your personal and professional life. You’ll walk away with actionable tools to prepare for adversity, execute with precision, and debrief for growth—empowering your team to turn failures into opportunities, leverage competitive strengths, and stay agile in today’s complex, dynamic business environment.
Past Performance
