John Foley is a former Lead Solo Pilot with the BlueAngels, an elite flight exhibition team comprised of the top 1% of the United States Navy. Regarded as one of the leading pilots in the US military, during his time with the BlueAngels, John flew at speeds of more than 500 miles per hour, performing manoeuvres as close as 18 inches apart. To succeed in such a high-stakes environment, he was dependent on a culture of high trust, flawless teamwork, and excellent leadership. Transferring his skills as an elite pilot to the corporate world, John is among the top ten most demanded high-performance speakers, boasting clients such as Microsoft, BMW, Google, NBA, and the Marriot.
Joining the United States Naval Academy in 1978, John earned a BSME in Engineering before enrolling at the Naval War College to complete a master’s in National Security and Strategic Studies. He then enrolled at Stanford University, earning a master’s in Management and another in International Policy Studies. During his 20-year career with the US Navy, John held titles such as a Commander and Naval Aviator, with the highlight of his career being invited to join the legendary BlueAngels. After a stellar career with the US Navy, John joined Partech as a Business Development Manager, where he discovered a talent for creating high-performance corporate cultures.
John launched John Foley Inc in 2003, innovating the diamond performance framework, which he uses to help teams reach peak performance and maintain excellence in high-pressure environments. Establishing himself as a popular high-performance speaker, John has delivered over 1500 speeches worldwide. Believing in the importance of giving back, he founded the Glad to Be Here Foundation, where he donates ten per cent of his speaking proceeds to charitable organisations, giving over $2 million to 380 charities to date. Furthermore, John appeared in the movie Top Gun and is the bestselling author of Fearless Success.
As a renowned high-performance expert, John has been featured in multiple podcasts such as the YogiTriathlete. He is also the host of the High-Performance Zone Podcast, where he discusses techniques for achieving high performance with expert guests. Recently, John graced the stages of TEDx, delivering a powerful presentation titled Performance Beyond BlueAngels, delving into the notion of elite teams. Considered a thought leader on high performance, John is regularly booked by leading organisations to speak about culture, leadership, trust, teamwork, innovation and mindset. Known for his energetic delivery and sensational anecdotes, John captivates audiences leaving them with many valuable takeaways.
