Visionary Keynote Speakers
Leadership Under Pressure | Excellence Through Teamwork
The 2027 Spine Summit welcomes four accomplished Navy SEAL personnel whose experiences embody commitment, resilience, discipline and leadership under pressure.
From operating in high-risk environments to leading elite teams through complex challenges, these remarkable leaders understand what it takes to perform when the stakes are highest.
In order of appearance:
Jocko Willink
Navy SEAL, Ret.
Co-author of #1 New York Times Best Seller: “Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win”
Co-founder of Echelon Front LLC
Opening Session: Extreme Ownership
Thursday, February 18 | 4:30 – 5:30 pm
Jocko Willink is a decorated retired U.S. Navy SEAL officer, co-author of the No. 1 New York Times bestsellers Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win and The Dichotomy of Leadership, and host of the top-rated Jocko Podcast.
He is co-founder and CEO of Echelon Front, a leadership consulting firm; founder of Jocko Fuel, a performance nutrition and lifestyle company committed to clean, uncompromising quality; and co-founder of Origin USA, an American manufacturer of apparel, boots and gear. Across his ventures, Willink serves as an instructor, speaker, executive coach and strategic adviser.
Willink spent 20 years in the SEAL teams, serving in both enlisted and officer roles before assuming command of Task Unit Bruiser with SEAL Team Three during the Battle of Ramadi. There, he led combat operations supporting the U.S. Army’s 1st Armored Division Ready First Brigade in stabilizing one of the most violent regions of Iraq. Task Unit Bruiser became the most highly decorated special operations unit of the Iraq War.
Following his combat deployments, Willink served as officer in charge of training for all West Coast SEAL teams, leading the development of leadership training programs and mentoring the next generation of SEAL leaders. His military awards include the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and numerous other personal and unit commendations.
Since retiring from the Navy in 2010, Willink has focused on sharing the leadership principles forged in combat with leaders in business, government, education and nonprofit organizations. He founded Jocko Fuel after discovering harmful levels of heavy metals in a supplement he and his family used daily, committing to a standard of providing only what is needed and eliminating what is not. Through Origin USA, he advocates for American manufacturing, producing apparel and gear entirely in the United States.
In addition to his business ventures, Willink is the author of Discipline Equals Freedom Field Manual, a New York Times bestseller, and the bestselling Way of the Warrior Kid children’s book series. He also serves as a producer of the upcoming Apple Original Film Way of the Warrior Kid, based on his bestselling novel.
David Silverman
Navy SEAL, Ret.
President and Managing Partner, Red Cell Partners
Scientific Session 2: Teams of Teams
Friday, February 19 | 11 – 12:30 pm
Followed by a Book Signing in the Exhibit Hall | 1 – 1:45 pm
David Silverman is the President and Managing Partner at Red Cell. He is also the founder and chief executive officer of CrossLead, Inc, a services and training company whose leadership and management framework is used by leaders and companies around the globe. Mr. Silverman co-authored the New York Times best-selling leadership and management book, Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World. As a thought leader on culture change, high-performing teams, and leadership, he is a frequent guest speaker for business leaders and conferences worldwide. Before CrossLead, Mr. Silverman co-founded the McChrystal Group where he served as CEO for five years.
A graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Mr. Silverman served as a Navy SEAL from 1998-2011. He graduated Basic Underwater Demolition School (BUD/S) Class 221 in 1999 as the Honor Man. He deployed six times worldwide, including combat deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Southeast Asia, where he received three Bronze Stars and numerous other commendations. Mr. Silverman serves on the Headstrong Project’s advisory board and is a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization.
Dana De Coster
Navy SEAL, Ret.
Dell Technologies Account Executive, U.S. Space Force
Founder and Board Member, Roper Solutions, Inc.
Scientific Session 6: Lessons Learned in Special Operations
Saturday, February 20 | 11 am – 12:30 pm
Dana De Coster is an account executive for Dell Technologies, supporting the U.S. Space Force, Missile Defense Agency, U.S. Northern Command and U.S. Southern Command accounts. In this role, he leads efforts to develop and deliver national security solutions within the federal acquisition system.
Before joining Dell, De Coster served as defense partnerships manager at Arc Boat Company, where he developed the company’s defense go-to-market strategy and established its early presence across Navy, Army and Marine Corps program offices.
De Coster also serves on the board of Roper Solutions Inc., where he co-invented PATCH (Personal and Tactical Communications Hardware), an encrypted mesh networking and GPS tracking device designed for off-grid sensing, tracking and communication. He led PATCH from initial concept to fielded product. The technology is now used by U.S. Special Operations Command and allied military organizations in the United Kingdom and Germany.
A retired Navy Commander, De Coster served 20 years as a SEAL officer, completing assignments across three geographic combatant commands. He holds graduate degrees from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and the U.S. Naval War College, along with a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance from the University of Texas at Austin. He is based in Austin, Texas.
Edward Byers
Scientific Session 7: Visionary Keynote
Saturday, February 20 | 2 – 3 pm
Medal of Honor Recipient
Navy SEAL Master Chief, Ret.
Founder, Untold Journey Foundation
Edward (Ed) Byers is an entrepreneur, executive optimization coach and nationally recognized authority on leadership. He is a founding member and partner of Minerva 6 Group and Holt St, where he convenes leaders from business, government and high-consequence organizations to address strategy, innovation and decision-making. As an executive coach and professional speaker, he helps elite leaders strengthen performance, accountability and execution under pressure.
Before entering the private sector, Ed served nearly 22 years in the U.S. Navy as a Navy Corpsman and Navy SEAL, retiring as a Master Chief in 2020. His assignments included service with SEAL Team 4, SEAL Team 6 and the Pentagon Joint Staff. During his military career, he led operations in some of the world’s most challenging environments and later directed Department of Defense investments in emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, predictive analytics and autonomous systems.
Ed is a recipient of the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest award for valor. He is the first member of SEAL Team 6 and the sixth Navy SEAL in history to receive the distinction. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Strategic Studies and Defense Analysis from Norwich University and an MBA from The Wharton School. He is also the founder of the Untold Journey Foundation, which supports the health, readiness and long-term success of America’s elite military veterans and their families.