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Rick Lynch  

US Army Lieutenant General, Executive Director at UTARI, Author

With 34 years of service in the US Army, Lieutenant General Rick Lynch has made significant contributions as a leader and strategist. His journey began by overcoming financial challenges to attend West Point and continued through various commanding roles including leading “The Surge” in Iraq, where he prepared on short notice and led 25,000 soldiers into one of the country's most volatile areas, focusing on capacity building and major combat operations.

Lynch's leadership extended beyond combat as he ascended through the ranks from a company of about 100 soldiers to a corps of approximately 65,000. As the head of all US Army installations, he managed an annual budget of $12 billion and a workforce of 120,000. His commitment to the well-being of soldiers was evident at Fort Hood, Texas, where he implemented policies that effectively reduced divorce and suicide rates by mandating family time and limiting weekend work.

Parallel to his military accomplishments, Lynch has made strides in academia and literature. He is the executive director of the University of Texas at Arlington Research Institute (UTARI), where he focuses on developing strategic partnerships for technology commercialization. He has authored books including "Adapt or Die: Leadership Principles from an American General" and "Work Hard, Pray Hard: The Power of Faith in Action," sharing leadership insights drawn from both military and civilian experiences.

Throughout his expansive career, Lynch has been part of several historical milestones, such as the admission of the first female cadets to West Point and the transition to an All-Volunteer Army during the Vietnam War. He has also been honored with a soldier’s medal for heroism during his deployment to Desert Shield / Desert Storm. Today, he continues to inspire and guide leaders through his writings and speeches, applying his deep knowledge of leadership and operational management in diverse contexts.

Speech Topics

Adaptive Leadership

The 21st-century leader faces a set of unprecedented challenges. Rapid change is the new normal and leaders with a keen ability to adapt are in high demand. Rick Lynch has lived his life by adapting to rapidly changing scenarios - overcoming obstacles not only big and small, but life or death. From surmounting his parents' inability to pay for college by gaining entry to West Point to leading "The Surge" in Iraq with only six weeks to prepare; from reinvigorating a bloated Army organization of 120,000 civilian employees (via billion dollar budget cuts) to lowering divorce and suicide rates at Fort Hood by outlawing weekend work and mandating soldier family time; from training in the robotics labs of MIT to rebuilding economies in a foreign nation and speaking to national news media in the middle of a war, Rick Lynch has faced more than most leaders will in a lifetime - which is why his lessons on how to adapt will inspire and provide unprecedented clarity to leaders from all walks of life.

Leadership Principles from an American General

Ascending from Platoon Leader with 30 people under his command to the head of all US Army installations, Lieutenant General Rick Lynch has been able to clearly identify the qualities an effective leader needs. In this engaging presentation, Lynch will walk you through the nine leadership principles he has come to embrace over his 34 years in the US Army.

Nine Leadership Principles

Ascending from Platoon Leader with 30 people under his command to the head of all US Army installations, Lieutenant General Rick Lynch has been able to clearly identify the qualities an effective leader needs. In this engaging presentation, Lynch will walk you through the nine leadership principles he has come to embrace over his 34 years in the US Army. They are the following:

  • Look down, not up: People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care
  • Decide when to decide: Take the time to think
  • Be an engaged leadership: Love your subordinates like you love your own children
  • Focus on opportunities, not obstacles
  • Be demanding but not demeaning: Everyone must perform to their fullest potential
  • Be a mentor: Be accessible, actively listen, and truly care
  • Always celebrate diversity: Don't surround yourself with people like you!
  • Achieve a work-life balance
  • Have fun: If the boss ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!

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