Col. Nicole Malachowski: Inspired Leadership

  • First woman to fly as a pilot with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, breaking barriers and inspiring a generation.
  • A retired Colonel with over 21 years of service in the U.S. Air Force, bringing unparalleled insights into leadership, adaptability, and resilience.
  • Renowned for her dynamic storytelling and ability to connect with audiences, leaving them inspired to embrace challenges and excel.
  • A vocal advocate for women in leadership and STEM fields, offering actionable insights for achieving success in traditionally male-dominated industries.

Travel & Fee Range:**

  • Travels from: Washington, DC, USA
  • **Fee range: On Request
  • Local:
  • Range: $20,001 - $35,000
  • US East:
  • Range: $20,001 - $35,000
  • US West:
  • Range: $20,001 - $35,000
  • Europe:
  • Range: $50,001 - $75,000
  • Asia:
  • Range: On Request

* This specific fee falls within this range. Ranges are presented as a guideline only. Speaker fees are subject to change without notice.

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 […]

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 of Fame and the Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame, Nicole’s distinguished 21-year Air Force career exceeded her wildest dreams.

But the dream came to an end when a devastating tick-borne illness left her struggling greatly to speak or walk for almost nine months. An indomitable spirit, Nicole fought back against overwhelming odds and prevailed. Drawing on stories from her career and personal life, Nicole inspires audiences to rethink the challenges they face every day. She urges them to go beyond resilience and become resurgent.

Nicole’s empowers people with three key beliefs: failure and risk is the price of entry for achieving something great; sometimes you need to yield to overcome; and her personal mantra – “nobody wants to lead a scripted life.”

Col. Nicole Malachowski brings her experience to the stage and holds audiences spellbound with an easygoing authenticity of someone who’s achieved greatness. She’s been a member and leader of exceptional teams. She has faced overwhelming challenges and adversity and has come out on top.

While other high school students were practicing for their driver’s license, Nicole was accumulating flight time. She was sixteen years old when she took her first solo flight and from that point on there was no stopping her. While in high school, she joined the Civil Air Patrol and participated in Air Force Junior ROTC.

Nicole’s professional story began when she earned her commission from the United States Air Force Academy in 1996. Following graduation, she attended Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) at Columbus AFB, MS and began her career as a pilot. Competitively selected to fly combat aircraft, she was among the first group of women to fly modern fighter aircraft.

As a career pilot, she served in combat as an F-15E Flight Commander, Evaluator, Instructor Pilot and Flight Lead. Over her 21-year career, Col. Nicole Malachowski achieved the rating of Command Pilot with over 2,300 flight hours in six different Air Force aircraft. She was also selected to fly as Thunderbird #3 with the USAF Air Demonstration Squadron – the first woman to fly on any Department of Defense military jet demonstration team.

Col. Nicole Malachowski has served as a mission ready fighter pilot in three operational F-15E fighter squadrons and has flown over 188 combat hours, including her proudest moment as a fighter pilot: leading the first fighter formation to provide security for Iraq’s historic democratic elections in 2005.

View All Speakers and follow us on Twitter

Col. Nicole Malachowski | Leadership

Videos

Interest to Book? Send us your enquiry

Speaker Contact Form

Enquiry Form

In order to view the below you must be logged in.

  • Powerpoint Slide – For meeting and event planners
  • Gallery Images
  • High Resolution Images
  • PDF Files
  • Books and Magazine Links
  • Music List
  • Podcast Shows
  • Courses
  • + more

News Articles

You may be interested in...

  • (18)
  • (4)
Lt. Col. Waldo Waldman

Lt. Col. Waldo Waldman is known as the The Wingman and a Hall of Fame leadership speaker, executive coach, and author of the New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller Never Fly Solo. He teaches organizations how to build trusting, revenue producing relationships with their employees, partners, and customers while sharing his experiences as a combat decorated F-16 […]

  • Travels from: Atlanta, GA
  • Leadership Speakers
  • (41)
  • (2)

Erik Qualman, also known as “Equalman,” is a renowned keynote speaker, bestselling author, and digital leadership expert who has made a significant impact in the realms of digital transformation and social media. With a unique blend of storytelling, humor, and actionable insights, Erik has captivated audiences worldwide, helping organizations navigate the ever-evolving digital landscape. His […]

  • Travels from: Austin, TX
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • (23)
Tonya M. Evans - Tech Intersect - Tonya M Evans

Tonya M Evans is a global leader on crypto currencies and a technology keynote speaker, accomplished academic and administrator, and world-renowned speaker with over twenty years of experience in law, innovation, academia, and entrepreneurship. Dr. Evans currently serves as tenured Professor of Law at Penn State Dickinson Law School. Beginning July 1, 2022, she will […]

  • Travels from: Carlisle, PA
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • (35)
Lisa X. Walden - Lisa X Walden

Lisa X Walden is a trailblazer in workplace transformation, celebrated for her ability to create people-first cultures that inspire collaboration, innovation, and purpose. As a renowned speaker, consultant, and co-founder of Good Company Consulting, Lisa empowers organizations to rethink their strategies, prioritize authenticity, and eliminate the “Sunday scaries.” Her dynamic presentations blend actionable insights with […]

  • Travels from: Salt Lake City, UT
  • Generational Speakers
  • (73)

Ari Gunzburg learned about death early in life. He experienced a traumatic moment when only 10 years old, when his teacher passed away while on a hiking trip. This would affect his life deeply and change his perspective forever. Following the death of this teacher, there was trouble afoot at school for all of the […]

  • Travels from: Baltimore, MD
  • Motivational Speakers
  • (36)
Tony Dungy

In the realm of American football, few names carry as much weight and respect as Tony Dungy. Renowned for his exceptional coaching career and unwavering commitment to leadership, integrity, and personal development, Dungy transcends the boundaries of sports to inspire audiences worldwide. As a sought-after speaker for corporate events, Dungy brings his wealth of experience, […]

  • Travels from: Indianapolis, IN
  • Motivational Speakers
  • (23)
Scott Greenberg

Scott Greenberg is a dynamic and established motivational business speaker hailing from Los Angeles, California. With a passion for transforming ordinary teams into high-performance powerhouses, Scott’s journey is a testament to the power of leadership and resilience. His unique approach, honed through years of hands-on experience, has made him a sought-after figure in the world […]

  • Travels from: Los Angeles, CA
  • Business Speakers
  • (25)
Henry Evans

Henry Evans is the Founder and Managing Partner for Dynamic Results, LLC. In his career, Henry Evans has delivered more than 10,000 hours of Executive Coaching and also, more than 2000 hours of Change Management and Strategic Implementation services to clients. He applies the knowledge and experience gleaned from numerous successes and a failure in […]

  • Travels from: San Francisco, CA
  • Leadership Speakers
Disclaimer
The profiles and images embedded on these pages are from various conference entertainers and other 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.

All talent fees exclude VAT, travel and accommodation where required.

Subscribe to our Newsletter and get connected:

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated.

We use Brevo as our marketing platform. By submitting this form you agree that the personal data you provided will be transferred to Brevo for processing in accordance with Brevo's Privacy Policy.

Our Mission:

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

© All rights reserved 2025.  Designed using Voxel