About Alex
Speaker, Pilot, Former Air Force Special Operations Commander
Alex is a retired C-17 Special Operations pilot with 22 years of service, retiring at the rank of Colonel. Over his 22-year career he commanded multiple highly dynamic organizations and amassed over 4,000 hours flying multiple aircraft, including over 1000 hours in combat. He served in the highest levels of the military and completed multiple deployments supporting nearly all major military operations since 2001. In August of 2021 Alex was the Air Mission Commander for the final evacuation of Kabul, Afghanistan. Responsible for all aircraft supporting the final mission, he piloted the last aircraft off the ground, ending the United States’ 20-year war in Afghanistan. Amongst his many military decorations, he is a recipient of the Cheslea A. “Sully” Sullenberger Award for Courage and the Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross.
Alex earned his BS degree from the US Air Force Academy where he was a four-year Division I wrestler, and later earned an MBA with an emphasis in Strategic Leadership.
While Alex’s profession has been aviation, his passion is teaching leadership, character development, and mental resilience. He serves on multiple non-profit boards, remains an active pilot, and has been happily married for over 20 years with a son and a daughter.
Presentation Topics & Descriptions
Thriving in Chaos
Drawing on his experience as the Air Mission Commander for the chaotic evacuation of Kabul, Afghanistan, Alex presents what it takes win as an individual and as a team. Chaos is by nature unpredictable, yet high-performing teams all share this in common: the ability to not just survive, but thrive in chaos. This presentation supplies viewers with the tools to achieve greatness as an individual and as a team in the most difficult of circumstances. Presenter Alex Pelbath takes you into the combat zone of Afghanistan to demonstrate how you and your team can unlock their full potential.
Courageous Leadership
During this insightful and entertaining presentation, Alex draws on his leadership experience as an Air Force Special Operations Commander, 22 years of aviation experience as a pilot, and leading during the chaotic evacuation of Kabul, Afghanistan. He shares actionable insights into the courage required to be an impactful leader with lessons learned from the cockpit, the battlefield, and the conference room, providing unique insight and actionable takeaways into what is required to create a high performance culture. Focusing on four specific principles, including a practical take on mental resilience, this presentation will help leaders maximize their potential today while building an enduring winning mindset.
Past Performance
