Keynote Speaker: Rorke Denver
RORKE DENVER
Navy SEAL Commander (Ret.), Leadership & Peak Performance Specialist
Throughout his action-packed, hair-raising combat career, retired Navy SEAL Commander Rorke Denver successfully led his troops through unforgiving special forces missions in challenging, do-or-die environments in the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and other international hot spots. Having overseen every phase of training for the U.S. Navy SEALs, Denver has lived what it takes to succeed in fast-moving environments where chaos is all around you and there’s no guarantee that you’ll live to fight another day. Denver’s own experiences provide the basis for the sought-after lessons he shares with audiences as he helps teams and individuals live and perform at their highest level, even when it seems like everything is working against them.
Revisiting his gripping experiences on the battlefield, Denver captivates audiences with stories that offer unexpected lessons in leading through any challenge and achieving peak performance as an individual and a unit. His insights are rooted in proven strategies that laid the groundwork for success in the heat of war and his Navy SEAL principles for success can be adapted by anyone as they strive to make headway in their own battles.
Denver’s 14-year military career began following a standout college lacrosse career at Syracuse University, where he was a two-time Division I National Champion, team captain, and All-American. Upon completion of Navy SEAL training, he held several leadership roles in which his teams looked to him to make quick – and often difficult – decisions where the lines between success and failure were paper-thin. As assistant officer in charge of the BRAVO Platoon at SEAL Team THREE, he led the group’s advanced-force operations in the midst of a violent uprising in Liberia and helped to get the U.S. Marines safely shore. He was later promoted to officer of the Platoon, leading more than 200 missions in Iraq’s Al Anbar Province – one of the most combat-heavy deployments of any regular SEAL team in the years following the Vietnam War. From sniper operations and direct assaults to special reconnaissance and ground patrols, Denver’s teams are credited with sparking the “Tribal Awakening,” which was so vital in helping to neutralize Iraq’s insurgency. He was awarded the Bronze Star with “V” in recognition of valorous action in combat. Following his deployments, Denver was appointed flag lieutenant to Admiral Joseph Maguire, commanding officer of Naval Special Warfare, making him responsible for briefing Congress on SEAL operations. He subsequently became First Phase officer of SEAL Basic Training Hell Week and then rose to basic training officer, overseeing all phases of training.
Today, Denver is the founder of Ever Onward, a cutting-edge training consultancy that helps organizations and individuals take Navy SEAL principles for leadership and success and apply them to achieving their goals. The principles he shares are also featured in his New York Times bestseller Damn Few: Making the Modern SEAL Warrior and in his second book, Worth Dying For: A Navy SEAL’s Call to a Nation. Denver is widely recognized as one of the stars of the Hollywood action film “Act of Valor,” and has also been featured alongside John Cena on FOX’s hit show, “American Grit.” He serves as an advisory board member for Spirit of America and Soldier Strong, is an honor graduate of United States Army Ranger School, and is retired as a Commander for the United States Navy SEALs.
Navy SEAL Commander (Ret.), Leadership & Peak Performance Specialist
Throughout his action-packed, hair-raising combat career, retired Navy SEAL Commander Rorke Denver successfully led his troops through unforgiving special forces missions in challenging, do-or-die environments in the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and other international hot spots. Having overseen every phase of training for the U.S. Navy SEALs, Denver has lived what it takes to succeed in fast-moving environments where chaos is all around you and there’s no guarantee that you’ll live to fight another day. Denver’s own experiences provide the basis for the sought-after lessons he shares with audiences as he helps teams and individuals live and perform at their highest level, even when it seems like everything is working against them.
Revisiting his gripping experiences on the battlefield, Denver captivates audiences with stories that offer unexpected lessons in leading through any challenge and achieving peak performance as an individual and a unit. His insights are rooted in proven strategies that laid the groundwork for success in the heat of war and his Navy SEAL principles for success can be adapted by anyone as they strive to make headway in their own battles.
Denver’s 14-year military career began following a standout college lacrosse career at Syracuse University, where he was a two-time Division I National Champion, team captain, and All-American. Upon completion of Navy SEAL training, he held several leadership roles in which his teams looked to him to make quick – and often difficult – decisions where the lines between success and failure were paper-thin. As assistant officer in charge of the BRAVO Platoon at SEAL Team THREE, he led the group’s advanced-force operations in the midst of a violent uprising in Liberia and helped to get the U.S. Marines safely shore. He was later promoted to officer of the Platoon, leading more than 200 missions in Iraq’s Al Anbar Province – one of the most combat-heavy deployments of any regular SEAL team in the years following the Vietnam War. From sniper operations and direct assaults to special reconnaissance and ground patrols, Denver’s teams are credited with sparking the “Tribal Awakening,” which was so vital in helping to neutralize Iraq’s insurgency. He was awarded the Bronze Star with “V” in recognition of valorous action in combat. Following his deployments, Denver was appointed flag lieutenant to Admiral Joseph Maguire, commanding officer of Naval Special Warfare, making him responsible for briefing Congress on SEAL operations. He subsequently became First Phase officer of SEAL Basic Training Hell Week and then rose to basic training officer, overseeing all phases of training.
Today, Denver is the founder of Ever Onward, a cutting-edge training consultancy that helps organizations and individuals take Navy SEAL principles for leadership and success and apply them to achieving their goals. The principles he shares are also featured in his New York Times bestseller Damn Few: Making the Modern SEAL Warrior and in his second book, Worth Dying For: A Navy SEAL’s Call to a Nation. Denver is widely recognized as one of the stars of the Hollywood action film “Act of Valor,” and has also been featured alongside John Cena on FOX’s hit show, “American Grit.” He serves as an advisory board member for Spirit of America and Soldier Strong, is an honor graduate of United States Army Ranger School, and is retired as a Commander for the United States Navy SEALs.