Premiere Speakers Bureau

Ron grew up in Lithia Springs, Georgia and like many young men dreamed of flying from an early age. He became an Eagle Scout and went to college where he learned he could fly Apache helicopters by joining the Army. He enlisted and soon became involved in our nations war on terror. On March 23, 2003, during one of his first combat missions in the invasion of Iraqi, he and copilot Chief Warrant Officer David Williams were shot from the sky amidst fierce gunfire about 50 miles southwest of Baghdad.

The two warrant officers eluded the pursuant Iraqi soldiers for hours under heavy gun fire but were finally taken captive and held as prisoners for 23 days. Two attempts were made to rescue the pilots under intense fire, “like a hornet’s nest,” but efforts were unsuccessful. Finally, Ron Young, Williams and five other POWs were rescued by Marines near Samarra. “It was awesome… beyond words…. I felt like I had won the lottery of life,” Young said during his emotional rescue. He now shares his captivating story of dedication, courage, and inspiration with audiences nationwide.

Mr. Young has also worked as a cable news special contributor for The War on Terror, almost won the Amazing Race, and is currently working for the federal government in Washington DC as a White House Political Appointee to Housing and Urban Development and doing Press Advance for the President.