Logo
Greg Gadson Headshot
Report a problem with this profile
[email protected]

Greg Gadson  

Retired United States Army Colonel & Actor known for "Battleship"

Colonel Gregory D. Gadson, a Chesapeake, VA native, served our nation in the United States Army for more than 26 years.

Col. Gadson’s service culminated as the Garrison Commander of Fort Belvoir, where he oversaw the daily operations of the post, a strategic sustaining base where more than 50,000 military personnel and employees provide logistical, intelligence, medical and administrative support, and command and control for a mix of more than 140 commands and agencies for the Department of Defense.

A 25-year career Army officer, Col. Gadson’s life is a portrait of courage in the face of great adversity. In May 2007, as commander of the 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery, Col. Gadson’s greatest challenge came in Iraq, where an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack cost him both legs above the knees and normal use of his right arm and hand. Despite this, Gadson remained on active duty in the Army. He continues, as a professional motivational speaker, to inspire many with his message of courage, perseverance, determination and teamwork.

In 2007, Tom Coughlin, New York Giants head coach, asked Gadson to meet with the then-struggling team. Drawing from his lessons on the West Point gridiron, Gadson spoke to the players about service, teamwork, duty, perseverance and adversity. His message resonated and the New York Giants defeated the 18-0 New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. Col. Gadson made his silver screen debut in 2012 as a lead actor in the blockbuster movie "Battleship," where he portrayed a war-injured veteran who helped save the world from an alien invasion. In 2022, he debuted in season 14 of "NCIS: Los Angles," a television crime series on CBS.

Commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant of Field Artillery in 1989 from the United States Military Academy at West Point, Col. Gadson served in every major conflict of the past two decades, including Operations Desert Shield/Storm in Kuwait; Operation Joint Forge in Bosnia-Herzegovina; Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Gadson deployed to various assignments throughout the world. He dedicated himself to leading the soldiers, civilian employees and family members in living the Army values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage. Col. Gadson is a passionate advocate for wounded warriors, veterans and those with disabilities, sharing his experience and perspectives on several board of directors and advisory committees.

Col. Gadson continues a very energetic and dynamic lifestyle where he continues to serve his nation as an entrepreneur and managing partner of Patriot Strategies, LLC, a government services company. He continues his work with the veteran community on several veteran service boards including the Gary Sinise Foundation. Col. Gadson is also an accomplished photographer/artist and remains active in cycling, skiing, skydiving and scuba.

Col. Gadson’s military awards include the Distinguished Service Medal; Legion of Merit (2); Bronze Stars (3); Purple Heart; the Meritorious Service Medal (3) and the Army Commendation Medal (3). He is a graduate of Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; and holds masters degrees in Information Systems from Webster University; and Policy Management from Georgetown University. He holds an honorary Doctorate of Laws from Webster University.

Speech Topics

Pride, Poise, and Team

Greg Gadson inspires audiences to overcome adversity by telling his unique and remarkable story. He relates how he used the core principle of "Pride, Poise, and Team" to rise above his injuries and how he still lives by this motto today to succeed in his family, career, and life. This fundamental of organization was instilled in Gadson at West Point, by Army football coach Jim Young, and he has never forgotten it. Whether commanding the only battalion in the 4th Infantry Brigade not to suffer a single fatality in Iraq, or giving a pre-game speech to the 2008 Super Bowl Champion New York Giants, Colonel Greg Gadson's every word is infused with courage, consistency, and the ethics of teamwork. He truly defines "grace under fire."

Circumstances don't define us

Gadson speaks with clarity and emotion about everyone's capacity to get back up after a fall. He explains, through the example of his personal experience, that we have no vote in the circumstances which befall us, but we do have a choice in how we will overcome those circumstances. He speaks to the interplay of an assertive self-reliance and the importance of teamwork, which was crucial in his own survival: "You are in control of your own destiny, but you need to figure out how to work together to protect yourself and the people close to you." Gadson shows how the careful organization and training of his infantry battalion resulted in his own life-saving rescue, and he relates how these principles of preparation and trust can be implemented to calm the storm of the ever-changing workplace.

Overcoming Organizational Adversity

"You don't get to pick your circumstances." This, according to Greg Gadson, is the lesson that he had to learn anew when he faced the toughest circumstances of his life. With unprecedented events affecting organizations all over the country and the world, Gadson imparts not only an inspirational message but he also shows how his real-life Army training and leadership experience can help organizations overcome their biggest challenges. Through personal anecdotes from his career and his own challenges, he shows organizations that hurdles and obstacles are placed in front of us everyday, but we do not have to be defined by them.

Related Speakers View all

More like Greg