Top Military Speakers To Book For Veterans Day
Discover the best military speakers for your Veterans Day event and explore how a Veterans Day speaker can educate and inspire your team.
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Veterans Day falls on November 11th, and if you're planning how to mark it, booking a Veterans Day speaker is one of the most memorable ways to bring the day to life for your team. It's an important day of remembrance and gratitude, honouring the sacrifice of every American veteran who served, while also marking the anniversary of the end of the First World War.
Top Veterans Day Speakers
We've pulled together a list of 8 excellent military speakers ready to inspire your team, help mark the occasion, and honour the importance of the day. Whether you want to book a former Navy SEAL turned resilience coach like Stephen Drum or America's first Black female combat pilot, Vernice Armour, PepTalk has plenty of respected Navy, Army, and Air Force voices to choose from. Here are the verified best military speakers to book for Veterans Day. For a broader shortlist, see our full round-up of veteran and military speakers for your events.
Stephen Drum
Stephen Drum is a combat-tested Navy SEAL Master Chief with 27 years of experience, and co-developer of the "Warrior Toughness" training used by the US Navy. He's an expert on resilience and speaks candidly about just how demanding service in the Navy can be. Stephen was recently booked by the military ERG of a major experience management company. If your organisation is building out ERGs of its own, see our guide on why your company needs employee resource groups.
Learn more and book Stephen Drum →
Thomas Kolditz
Brigadier General (Ret.) Tom Kolditz is a leadership expert who led the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership at West Point for 12 years, retiring as Professor Emeritus. He also holds the Distinguished Service Medal, the US Army's highest award for service.
Learn more and book Thomas Kolditz →
Anthony Bourke
Anthony Bourke, CEO and founder of Mach 2 Consulting, is a former F-16 fighter pilot with more than 2,700 hours of flight time. He draws direct parallels between combat aviation and business, turning that experience into practical insight for organisations navigating pressure and change.
Learn more and book Anthony Bourke →
Alden Mills
Alden Mills grew up on a small farm in Massachusetts before a career that took him from Navy SEAL Platoon Commander to bestselling author and performance coach. His story shows how genuine care in leadership builds teams that don't quit.
Interested in booking Alden? Get in touch with the PepTalk team.
Caleb Campbell
A PepTalk favourite, Caleb Campbell graduated from the United States Military Academy in 2008 and was commissioned as a US Army officer before being selected in the 2008 NFL Draft. That whiplash transition, and the battles he's fought since, is where he draws his lessons on resilience and mental performance today.
Learn more and book Caleb Campbell →Veterans Day for Women
Women Veterans Recognition Day on June 12th celebrates the contributions and sacrifices of America's military women, past and present. This day marks the anniversary of the Women's Armed Services Integration Act, passed in 1948, which officially allowed women to serve as permanent members of the US armed forces. Today, women are represented across every military field, from logistics and intelligence to munitions and combat roles, and they're a vital part of a force that's more skilled, agile, and resilient than ever before.
» READ MORE: PepTalk's female empowerment speakers
Vernice 'FlyGirl' Armour
Vernice 'FlyGirl' Armour served two tours in Iraq as a Marine and became America's first Black female combat pilot, later working as a Diversity Liaison Officer at the Pentagon for Marine Corps Headquarters. She's an energising speaker whose story is a masterclass in resilience and leadership under pressure.
Learn more and book Vernice Armour →
Yasmine Cheyenne
Yasmine Cheyenne previously served as an Air Force JAG officer and worked within the Department of Veterans Affairs, including as a victim advocate. Today she's a mental health and diversity advocate who helps audiences understand trauma, healing, and what genuine support looks like.
Learn more and book Yasmine Cheyenne →
Lee Woodruff
After her husband Bob suffered a traumatic brain injury from a roadside bomb in Iraq, Lee Woodruff became his caregiver, and later a writer and speaker on resilience and caregiving. She brings warmth and humour to hard subjects, and has spoken about the experience on the Optimism Institute podcast hosted by Bill Burke.
Interested in booking Lee? Get in touch with the PepTalk team.
Veterans Day Quotes
If you need some more inspiration for your Veterans Day event, have a look at these quotes from our military keynote speakers:
"Imagine that you are surrounded by people who will not let you fail. When you see an obstacle, they see an opportunity. When you are scared, they turn to support you. When you are tired, they work tirelessly. When you are uncertain, they reassure you. In short, they make you feel unstoppable."— Alden Mills, Unstoppable Teams: The Four Essential Actions of High-Performance Leadership
"Acknowledge the obstacles, don't give them power. Find the solution. Focus on success."— Vernice Armour, episode 155 Flip Your Script
💡 Would you like to mark Veterans Day with an expert speaker? Let us know, and we'll find the perfect PepTalk expert for your organisation. Email hello@getapeptalk.com or send us a message via chat. You can also call us on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US). Remember, it's always a good time to get a PepTalk!
Ant Cauchi
Read more from Ant Cauchi
Ant Cauchi is PepTalk’s co-founder and a digital veteran with over 25 years of experience. A true Londoner at heart, now based in New York City, Ant has spent his career turning ideas into impact. With a background in marketing communications, new media, and creative direction, he has created award-winning campaigns for iconic brands and artists including Queen, The Beatles, and Radiohead. Before PepTalk, he co-founded Outside Line, a pioneering digital agency.
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