Robert Darling

Robert Darling is a retired Marine Corps lieutenant colonel, former presidential helicopter pilot, and the author of 24 Hours Inside the President’s Bunker, a firsthand account of his experience at the White House on September 11, 2001. His rare insider perspective on one of history’s most consequential days provides powerful lessons on leadership under pressure and crisis decision-making at the highest levels.

From Combat Pilot to the White House

Darling flew Cobra attack helicopters in Desert Shield, Desert Storm, and Somalia before being selected in 1998 to fly as a presidential pilot with Marine Helicopter Squadron One, flying President Bill Clinton. In October 2000, he was selected to work for the White House Military Office. When the attacks of September 11 occurred, he was inside the Presidential Emergency Operations Center, witnessing the crisis decision-making process unfold in real time as the nation faced its gravest threat.

Leadership When the Stakes Could Not Be Higher

Darling’s presentations draw on his extraordinary career to deliver lessons on leadership, service, and performing under extreme pressure that resonate with any audience. His keynotes deliver powerful insights on crisis leadership and decision-making under extreme pressure, lessons from September 11 and the Presidential Emergency Operations Center, the military leadership principles that apply to business and life, and the service mindset that drives excellence in the most demanding environments.

September 11, 2001 – The White House , A Crisis Leadership Presentation

On September 11th 2001, Lieutenant Colonel Darling was working in the White House Military Office and was initially tasked to coordinate airlift assets for the President’s evacuation to an undisclosed site. However, he was quickly recruited to provide his military expertise and became a key liaison between the Vice President, National Security Advisor and the Pentagon and worked directly with the National Command Authority to respond to the terrorist attacks.  Lieutenant Colonel Darling witnessed first hand the enormity of the crisis leadership decisions that were made that day on behalf of all Americans.

*Your audience will learn what the 9/11 Commission was initially blocked from knowing; who knew what, when, and what specific actions were taken by our nation’s highest leader’s to defend America.

*This presentation is insightful, inspirational, patriotic and will instill in every person the important role each of us play in supporting our warfighters as they continue to defend America.

It is through the influence process that we generate and manage change. Like most things, the process can be handled poorly or well. It can be employed to foster growth and to move people away from negative choices and in more positive directions, thereby creating the conditions for new change opportunities. Or, it can be used clumsily, reducing the chance for genuine movement and, in the worst of cases, boomeranging into conflict and resentment.