Stephen is one of the most combat experienced Army Special Operations leaders of the modern era. He has served in almost every conflict from the first gulf war to modern Iraq & Afghanistan. He understands people, what drives them and how to drive them as a team. He knows that a team of well-led and empowered people do far better than even the most accomplished individual manger and leader. Steve’s dynamic leadership and unmatched understanding of creating organizational agility was key to his battlefield successes during the invasion of Iraq and multiple tours throughout the globe.

Raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Steve graduated from Missouri Western State University in 1986 where he was commissioned a second lieutenant in aviation. Since then, Stephen has served in various command and staff positions throughout the Army and Special Operations. He has served three tours in Iraq, and two tours in Afghanistan, including command of 2-17th Cavalry Regiment under General Petraeus during the initial invasion of Iraq. Stephen spent eleven years of his career in the renowned 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, where he culminated his Army career by commanding Task Force 1-160 from 2004 – 2006; leading countless classified missions under General McCrystal in the war on terror.

Since retiring from the Army, Stephen has worked as an Investment Advisor for a New York Investment firm; advised Jordan’s King Abdullah II and the United Arab Emirates in forming and training their country’s Special Operations Aviation units; and also served as a professor of Dynamic Leadership at Vanderbilt University.

Stephen holds a Masters in Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He was awarded the Silver Star for heroism, as well as two Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Bronze Star, the Air Medal w/ Valor and the Purple Heart. Stephen is also a Master Army Aviator.

 

Dan is one of our nation’s most experienced helicopter instructor pilots. He began his Army service during the Vietnam War where he quickly rose to become a highly trained Special Forces warrior. He served a key role in Panama on Charlie-Three-Seven—the team that was the precursor to today’s Delta Force. Since then, Dan has served in every major conflict from Desert Storm, Somalia, and other classified operations to the modern war on terror in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Following Dan’s service as a Green Beret, he joined the Night Stalkers—the Army’s premier special operations aviation “Task Force 160”—and served for ten years as a Flight Lead. While there, Dan and Steve served together as “Little Bird” attack aviators where they forged a bond that remains to this day. Dan later served for over six years as the aviation program manager for Blackwater in both Iraq and Afghanistan. His most recent position was as chief pilot and program manager for a Texas-based security and training firm where he worked alongside Jordan’s King Abdullah. King Abdullah turned to Dan Laguna due to his vast special operations experience and steadfastness to maintaining high standards. Dan and Steve collectively organized, equipped, and trained Jordan’s Special Operation Aviation counter-terrorist unit. Dan also served as a program manager for Northrup Grumman leading and organizing Afghanistan’s Special Mission—Counter-Terrorism Aviation Unit.

Dan too has experience as a medical evacuation aviator and created the FAA’s first Night Vision Goggle training program. He also served as a Vice President for a Utah firm where he organized one of the nation’s first university-based flight training programs for veterans. Dan is a published author whose acclaimed book You Have to Live Hard to Be Hard is being considered by several production agencies as a motion picture.

He has numerous instructor pilot qualifications and certifications, is both fixed and rotary wing rated in numerous aircraft, and has amassed over 12,000 total flight hours—most under the most demanding conditions—at night and in combat. Dan is the only American to be awarded the Polish Silver Star for heroism where he personally rescued the Polish Ambassador to Iraq—saving the Ambassador’s life following an attack on his convoy.