Colonel Mike Mullane

Tagline: Leadership

Keynote Topics

The actual program title will be selected during a pre-event teleconference with the Client to ensure it fits the objectives of the meeting.  In the same teleconference Astronaut Mullane will coordinate with the Client, using the following outline, to tailor his comments to the meeting objectives.

Please note that Mullane’s programs are lavishly supported with rarely seen NASA videos and photos making it very easy for any audience (including non-technical audiences) to follow and understand the message.  You do not need to be a rocket scientist to be thoroughly educated, inspired and motivated by Mullane’s presentations!

Normalization of Deviance
Mullane will use the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster as an example of how a World-Class team can be victimized by incremental deviances from teamwork, leadership and safety best practices.

Challenger was a result of a catastrophic failure of the O-rings, Criticality 1 components used to form pressure seals between the four propellant-filled segments that comprise the twin solid fueled rocket boosters.  Even though there were multiple instances of leaking O-rings in the 24 missions preceding Challenger, launches were never suspended to give engineers adequate time to address the problem.  In hindsight, the serial justifications over a 4 year period to continue launch operations, reveal an incremental creep from best practices, i.e., a normalizing process.  Challenger proved to be a ‘predictable surprise’. 

The following lessons will be extracted from the story of Challenger:

  • Normalization of deviance is rooted in decision-making while under job-related or personal pressures. Everybody is vulnerable. Procedural compliance will always be the best defense.  Make it a religion.
  • Maintain situational awareness.  Have a questioning attitude.
  • Risk has no memory.  Risk is not diminished by the frequency at which one is successful in taking the risk.
  • Beware of this thought process, ‘These are exceptional circumstances.  I must take the short-cut.  Next time I will do it right.’ One successful safety short cut provides this false feedback:  The absence of a negative consequence suggests a risk previously believed to be absolute is, in fact, manageable. 
  • One short-cut opens to door to more.
    Set challenging but attainable goals. 
  • NASA’s shuttle launch goal of 24 missions per year proved to be unattainable and pressures that resulted from that goal were significant factors in the tragedy.

In his program, The Lighter Side of Spaceflight, Astronaut Mike Mullane will take the audience on a uniquely revealing, captivating and hilarious space journey.  Using spectacular video and slides he will answer everybody’s space questions: What does a shuttle launch feel like?…How does an astronaut deal with the incredible fear of launch?…How do you sleep, bathe, eat, drink, etc.?….What do you see from space?…And, of course, he will answer the top two questions that astronauts are ever asked:

Number 1: How does the space toilet work?

Number 2: Has he seen any UFOs or aliens?

The answers to these questions and many, many more are lavishly wrapped with inside, hilarious stories and supported with amazing video.

The audience will not only be thoroughly entertained by The Lighter Side of Spaceflight but will they will also find Mullane’s message on goal setting and achievement to be powerfully inspirational.  Most audiences are shocked to learn how ordinary Mullane was.  People assume, because he is an astronaut now, that in his youth, he was a super-child, destined for great success.  That is not the case. 

Mullane uses slides and video to prove he wasn’t a child genius.  He wasn’t a high school sports star.  He didn’t date the homecoming queen.  He wasn’t popular.  (He shows a slide of the dedication pages from his high school year book…which are blank except for a single inscription: “You missed Korea but here’s hoping you make Vietnam”.)

Yet, Mullane realized a lifetime dream of becoming an astronaut through the practice of “mapping the edge of his performance envelope”.   Every individual and team has an “edge of a performance envelope” and individuals and teams find those “edges” (as team member, leaders, parents, spouses, etc.) through self-challenge and tenacity. 

(Mullane’s father was rendered a paraplegic at age 33 by polio and Mullane’s story of his parents response to that tragedy while raising six children is the basis of his message on tenacity and goal-achievement in the face of adversity).  Mullane develops this philosophy of self-leadership:  “Success isn’t a final destination.  It’s a continuous life journey of mapping our performance envelopes through challenge and tenacity.”

The Lighter Side of Spaceflight is remarkably inspirational and humorous.  The audience will come away from the program with a renewed sense of their potential and the potential of their teams.

Videos

Gallery

Travels from:

  • Albuquerque, NM

Fee Range:**

  • Fees* $10,001 - $20,000

Colonel Mike Mullane has established himself as an acclaimed professional speaker on the topics of teamwork, leadership and safety.  He has educated, entertained, inspired and thrilled tens of thousands of people from every walk of business and government with his incredibly unique programs.

Colonel Mullane was born September 10, 1945 in Wichita Falls, Texas but spent much of his youth in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he currently resides. He was a child of the space race and in the late 1950’s embarked on his own rocket experiments in the deserts near his home.

Upon his graduation from West Point in 1967, he was commissioned in the United States Air Force. As a Weapon Systems Operator aboard RF-4C Phantom aircraft, he completed 134 combat missions in Vietnam.

Colonel Mike Mullane holds a Master’s of Science Degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology and is also a graduate of the Air Force Flight Test Engineer School at Edwards Air Force Base, California.

Colonel Mike Mullane | Leadership

Mullane has been inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame and is the recipient of many awards, including the Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross, Legion of Merit and the NASA Space Flight Medal.

Since his retirement from NASA, Colonel Mike Mullane has written an award-winning children’s book, Liftoff! An Astronaut’s Dream, and a popular space-fact book, Do Your Ears Pop In Space? His memoir, Riding Rockets: The Outrageous Tales of a Space Shuttle Astronaut, has been reviewed in the New York Times and on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart. It has also been featured on Barnes and Noble’s 2010 recommended summer reading list.

Mullane has held a lifelong passion for mountain climbing, averaging nearly 500 miles per year of backpacking in the mountains of the West. Since age 60 he has summited Africa’s highest peak, Mt. Kilimanjaro; the glaciered peak of Mt. Rainier; and thirty-five of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks.

Colonel Mike Mullane has established himself as an acclaimed professional speaker on the topics of teamwork, leadership and safety. He has educated, entertained, inspired and thrilled tens of thousands of people from every walk of business and government with his incredibly unique programs.

Contact us at Speakers Inc and follow us on Twitter

Interest to Book? Send us your enquiry

Speaker Contact Form

Enquiry Form

Author Books | Magazine Covers

Similar Speakers for consideration

  • 5 (4 reviews)
Reed Barrett
  • Leadership & Communication

Reed Barrett stands out as a multi-faceted powerhouse in the world of keynote speaking. An award-winning magician, seasoned Air Force fighter pilot, and psychology graduate, Reed brings a unique blend of talents to the stage. His career, which seamlessly combines the art of magic with the precision of military training, has positioned him as a […]

  • Travels from: Alexandria, VA
  • 5 (5 reviews)
  • Business Innovation

Peter Diamandis stands at the forefront of innovation, a visionary entrepreneur and thought leader dedicated to unlocking the potential of exponential technologies. Named by Fortune as one of the “World’s 50 Greatest Leaders,” Diamandis is renowned for his groundbreaking work in incentivizing innovation through the XPRIZE Foundation and for his role in shaping the future […]

  • Travels from: Santa Monica, CA
  • 5 (4 reviews)
Ryan Campbell
  • Overcome Adversity

Ryan Campbell is not your average pilot. At the age of 19, he made history by becoming the youngest person to fly solo around the world. But his story is far more than just a record-breaking feat. From surviving a plane crash to thriving as a best-selling author and motivational speaker, Ryan’s journey is one […]

  • Travels from: Nashville, TN
  • 5 (3 reviews)
Mandy Hickson
  • Former RAF Pilot

Mandy Hickson is a former Royal Air Force pilot and Human Factors facilitator. She was the only female pilot on her Front Line Tornado Squadron, flying multi million pound fast jets.  Mandy has been the keynote speaker at hundreds of events and is an inspiration to women across the UK. Mandy has also operated in […]

  • Travels from: Winchester, UK
  • 5 (4 reviews)
Elizabeth McCormick
  • Motivational Leadership

Elizabeth McCormick is not your average speaker; she’s an experience-maker, a dynamic force in the world of motivational leadership, sales, and safety events. With a captivating blend of entertainment and motivation, Elizabeth delivers impactful messages that resonate long after the event is over. Her unique approach involves sneak attacking lessons throughout her presentations, empowering audiences […]

  • Travels from: Fort Worth. TX
  • 5 (5 reviews)
  • High Performance

Dave Moore is a Navy and Air Force decorated aviator and officer. He survived three plane crashes, flew through three hurricanes while performing search and rescue with the Coast Guard, and has logged 39 combat missions in the Middle East in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Dave Moore | High Performance […]

  • Travels from: St. Augustine, FL
  • 5 (7 reviews)
Jack Becker
  • Peak Performance

Jack Becker, a former naval fighter pilot turned performance speaker, is one such individual. His life story is a remarkable narrative of courage, determination, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. In this speaking profile, we will explore the incredible life and work of Jack Becker, delving into his background, his experiences as a naval fighter […]

  • Travels from: Virginia Beach, VA
  • 5 (3 reviews)
  • Inspirational Speaker

Amelia Rose Earhart is an inspiring female keynote speaker that helps leaders and teams take on change and turbulence. As a boundary-pushing around the world pilot, Amelia Rose Earhart knows exactly what it takes to venture into uncharted territory– with confidence. When Amelia Rose Earhart decided to honor her namesake, aviation pioneer Amelia Mary Earhart, […]

  • Travels from: Denver, CO
  • 5 (4 reviews)
Michelle MACE Curran
  • Inspirational Speaker

Welcome to the world of aviation through the eyes of Michelle Mace Curran, a distinguished and inspirational keynote speaker based in the vibrant city of Las Vegas. Michelle is not merely a pilot; she is a trailblazer who navigates audiences through captivating journeys woven with her rich experiences in the aviation industry. With an unwavering […]

  • Travels from: Las Vegas, NV
  • Inspired Leadership

Col. Nicole Malachowski, USAF (Ret.) defies stereotypes. Yes, she was a jet fighter pilot, but if you think you know her based on that, you’d be wrong. A leader, a combat veteran, the first woman pilot on the Thunderbirds Air Demonstration Squadron, a White House Fellow, and an inductee into both the National Women’s Hall […]

  • Travels from: Washington, DC
  • High Performance

Mike Massimino, a former NASA astronaut, is a professor of mechanical engineering at Columbia University and the senior advisor for space programs at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. \ He received a BS from Columbia University, and MS degrees in mechanical engineering and in technology and policy, as well as a PhD in […]

  • Travels from: New York, NY
  • 5 (6 reviews)
Anthony Bourke
  • Peak Performance

Anthony Bourke “AB” is a highly experienced F-16 fighter pilot who has flown tactical missions in countries all over the world. He has accumulated more than 2,700 hours of flight time in numerous high performance aircraft and was one of the first pilots to fly his F-16 over New York City in the homeland defense […]

  • Travels from: Park City, UT
The profiles and images embedded on these pages are from various keynote speakers and talent.

These remain the property of its owner and are not affiliated with or endorsed by Speakers Inc.

Fee ranges where listed on this website are intended to serve as a guideline only.
 
The fees provided are a local range (country of residence), for an accurate “international” fee please contact one of our team at Speakers Inc who can provide you with their fees accordingly. 
 
All talent fees exclude local taxes, travel and accommodation where required.
 
Fees are subject to change without notice and often vary based on a number of factors, including: schedule, timings, script writing, rehearsals, location, and other factors.
 
Please contact us with your specific event details and requirements below, and we would be delighted to provide you with a more bespoke quote.
  • The speaking fees quoted are net of taxes (withholdings, VAT, other taxes, etc.) and fees required by the state, country, province, or jurisdiction where the engagement is to take place, other than state and federal income taxes as required by the laws of the United States and within the state the Speaker resides.
  • For international bookings, Speakers Inc will determine the initial buyout amount quoted (to include business class airfare) and we confirm the amount at the time of the firm offer. We are also happy to quote a buyout for a specific event at any time, just reach out. 

We are actively working to have our profiles current with Keynote Speech titles, and Summaries.

Some Speakers do not have a set title or summary for their topic lists. Instead they customize for each. Other speakers only do moderated conversations.

If you do not see content here, please contact us.

We also have ample information off line that we can share as some do not want to have visible profiles and as such these are hidden pages. Or in the event we do not have the information, we can contact the speaker to provide and share.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

A full-service speaker booking agency is an organization that handles all aspects of speaker engagements, from identifying and recommending speakers based on event objectives, to negotiating contracts, and managing logistics. Agencies like Speakers Inc provide extensive support throughout the process, ensuring that the right speaker is matched to the right event, that all technical and logistical needs are met, and that the event runs smoothly. This includes handling travel arrangements, audio-visual requirements, and any special accommodations the speaker might need. By offering a comprehensive suite of services, a full-service agency allows event planners to focus on their overall event strategy and attendee experience without getting bogged down in the details of speaker management.

Why is Speakers Inc Bureau different from other booking agencies?

Speakers Inc Bureau distinguishes itself through a deep commitment to personalized service and a unique understanding of client and speaker needs. Our approach is built on more than 25 years of industry experience, enabling us to not only anticipate the needs of our clients but also to provide insightful recommendations that enhance event outcomes. We pride ourselves on our:

  • Expert Matching: Leveraging our extensive network, we carefully match speakers to events based on a deep understanding of both the speaker’s expertise and the event’s goals.
  • Global Reach with Local Insight: With offices in major cities like New York, San Diego, and London, we combine global reach with local expertise, ensuring that no matter where your event is, we have on-the-ground insights.
  • End-to-End Support: From initial inquiry to post-event follow-up, our team offers continuous support, ensuring every aspect of the speaker engagement is flawless.
  • Innovation and Trends: We stay at the forefront of industry trends, including the integration of technology and new media in speaking engagements, which allows our clients to benefit from the latest innovations.
  • Ethical and Transparent Practices: Honesty, integrity, loyalty, and trust are the pillars of our operations, reflecting our commitment to ethical practices in all our interactions.

How can I find the right speaker for my event through Speakers Inc?

To find the perfect speaker for your event, you can start by visiting our website or contacting our client service team directly. We will discuss your event’s objectives, theme, audience demographics, and budget. Based on this information, we will provide you with a curated list of speaker recommendations who not only align with your goals but are also known for engaging and captivating audiences. You can also browse through our extensive speaker profiles online, which include detailed bios, speaking topics, and video clips of past engagements to help you make an informed decision.

What types of events does Speakers Inc cater to?

Speakers Inc caters to a wide range of events, including corporate meetings, conferences, educational workshops, leadership retreats, and public seminars. Our speakers specialize in various topics such as business, technology, health, education, motivation, and more, making us a versatile partner capable of servicing diverse event needs.

How do I book a speaker through Speakers Inc?

Booking a speaker through Speakers Inc is straightforward:

  1. Initial Consultation: Contact us with your event details, including date, location, audience, and objectives.
  2. Speaker Selection: Choose from our recommendations or browse our online profiles to select your preferred speaker.
  3. Contract and Confirmation: We handle all negotiations and contracts to ensure all terms are clear and favorable. Once the contract is signed, your speaker is confirmed.
  4. Event Preparation: We coordinate with you and the speaker to prepare for the event, handling all logistical details to ensure a seamless experience.
  5. Event Execution and Follow-Up: Our team supports you on the day of the event to handle any last-minute details, and we conduct a post-event follow-up to gather feedback and ensure satisfaction.

What support does Speakers Inc provide on the day of the event?

On the day of the event, a dedicated Speakers Inc coordinator can be available to manage the speaker’s schedule, ensure all technical requirements are met, and assist with any last-minute changes. This on-site support is designed to ensure that the speaker’s presentation goes as smoothly as possible, allowing event organizers to focus on their guests and overall event execution.

How does Speakers Inc handle speaker travel arrangements?

Speakers Inc manages all travel logistics for speakers, including flights, accommodations, and local transportation. We ensure that travel is efficient and meets the needs of both the speaker and the event, relieving you of the administrative burden and potential complications of managing these details.

Subscribe to our Newsletter and get connected:

Our Mission:

 

We are your partner creating memorable and engaging experiences that go beyond the event itself.

© All rights reserved 2024.  Designed using Voxel