Lee Ellis

Lee Ellis is the Founder & President of Leading with Honor® & FreedomStar Media®. An award-winning author, leadership coach, and speaker, he specializes in leadership, teambuilding, & human performance. His clients include Fortune 500 executives and C-Level leaders in telecommunications, healthcare, and the military. Media appearances include CNN, CBS This Morning, C-SPAN, ABC World News, and Fox News.

Early in his career, Lee served as an Air Force fighter pilot, flying 53 combat missions over North Vietnam. In 1967, he was shot down and held as a POW for over five years in Hanoi. For his service, he was awarded two Silver Stars, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star with Valor, the Purple Heart, and the POW Medal. He resumed his Air Force career in leadership roles, including commanding a flying squadron and leadership development organizations, before retiring as a colonel.

Lee holds a BA in History and an MS in Counseling and Human Development. A graduate of the Armed Forces Staff College and the Air War College, he has authored or co-authored seven books. His latest bestseller is Captured by Love: Inspiring True Romance Stories from Vietnam POWs. Two other award-winning books share insights from his POW experience: Leading with Honor: Leadership Lessons from the Hanoi Hilton (a 2013 USAF Chief of Staff Professional Reading List selection) and Engage with Honor: Building a Culture of Courageous Accountability, named best-in-class for leadership.

In 2014, Lee was inducted into the Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame, and in 2015, he received the DAR Medal of Honor for his patriotic service and leadership advocacy. Lee and his wife Mary reside near Atlanta, GA; they have four grown children and six grandchildren. His life’s work continues to bridge the gap between military resilience and corporate excellence, helping leaders develop the character and courage required to lead with integrity in any environment.