A 25-year Air Force commander and trusted advisor to the military’s highest-ranking leaders, Dede Halfhill inspires organizations with her powerful storytelling and candid approach to human-centered leadership.
Dede Halfhill is a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel and trusted leadership advisor known for helping leaders Master the Unseen™—the messy, human side of leadership most avoid, but everyone feels. With 25 years of experience guiding teams through crisis and combat, including advising the Commanding General in Iraq and supporting the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs during some of the most turbulent moments in modern history, Dede has seen firsthand what truly drives high-performing teams.
While her résumé is filled with high-stakes moments, Dede's most powerful insights come from the quieter, often overlooked challenges that shape leadership: unspoken resistance, invisible stress, and the emotional undercurrents that derail performance. Through compelling storytelling and hard-earned wisdom, she shows leaders how to lean into discomfort, build real connection, and create teams that don’t just comply—but commit. Audiences leave with a deeper understanding of how to lead with empathy, communicate with impact, and foster trust that endures, even under pressure.
In every keynote, Dede challenges leaders to stop managing symptoms and start solving what’s really holding their teams back. Her message is clear: when you Master the Unseen™, your people don’t just follow—you all rise together.
- Master the Unseen™: Your Hidden Competitive Advantage
- In this compelling keynote, retired Air Force Colonel DeDe Halfhill—who spent 25 years leading through complexity, from combat zones to the Pentagon—challenges leaders to look beyond strategy and execution to uncover the hidden human dynamics that make or break success. When leaders learn to spot what’s often missed—like false alignment, quiet resistance, and performative resilience—they gain a powerful edge: teams that truly commit, connect, and thrive.
- Everyday Courage™: Transforming Small Actions into Big Impact
- Most people see courage as bold, dramatic acts—but retired Air Force Colonel DeDe Halfhill reveals that real leadership courage lives in everyday moments: the tough conversations, timely feedback, and decisions we’d rather avoid. With 25 years of high-stakes experience, she shows how engaging in these moments builds trust, strengthens teams, and drives lasting momentum. In this keynote, DeDe challenges leaders to rethink courage as a daily habit that defines culture and impact—especially in times of uncertainty.
- Connection is the Competitive Edge: The Advantage No One Talks About—But Everyone Feels
- Too often overlooked, connection is the difference between teams that just work together and those that truly thrive. Retired Colonel DeDe Halfhill—who spent over 25 years leading high-performing teams, including the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds—shows why trust and human connection aren’t soft skills, but strategic advantages. In this keynote, she reveals how leaders who prioritize relationships create teams that are more adaptable, innovative, and resilient under pressure.
- Trust Begins with a Conversation: Why Great Teams Talk About What Others Avoid
- Misalignment doesn’t happen overnight—it builds in the silence between tough conversations. Retired Air Force Colonel DeDe Halfhill, former communications advisor to the Pentagon’s top leaders, shows how the right conversations at the right time can build trust, drive performance, and prevent costly mistakes. In this keynote, she challenges organizations to rethink communication not just during easy moments, but when it matters most.
- Leading Unapologetically: Own Your Influence. Lead Without Limits.
- Women don’t need more confidence—they need the space to lead on their own terms. In this powerful keynote, retired Colonel DeDe Halfhill shares lessons from her rise through the male-dominated ranks of the U.S. military, including advising the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and commanding thousands. Her message is clear: leadership isn’t about fitting a mold—it’s about breaking it, owning your influence, and leading without apology.