Jocko Willink

John Gretton Willink Jr. enlisted in the U.S. Navy at age 19 and completed BUD/S training, earning his SEAL qualification as an enlisted operator before later earning a commission via Officer Candidate School. He served with multiple SEAL teams during his career, including SEAL Team ONE as an enlisted SEAL and later as an officer with SEAL Team TWO and SEAL Team SEVEN. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, Willink deployed to Ramadi in 2006 as commander of SEAL Team Three’s Task Unit Bruiser; under his command, the unit conducted operations that supported the Army’s Ready First Brigade and Task Unit Bruiser became widely recognized as one of the most highly decorated special operations units of the Iraq War. For his service, he received the Silver Star and Bronze Star Medal among other unit and personal awards. After combat deployments, Willink served as Officer-in-Charge of training for West Coast SEAL Teams and helped develop leadership training for new SEAL leaders before retiring from the Navy in October 2010 after 20 years of service. Following retirement, he co-founded Echelon Front, a leadership consulting and training company, co-authored leadership books (notably Extreme Ownership and The Dichotomy of Leadership) with fellow SEAL Leif Babin, authored the Discipline Equals Freedom Field Manual and the Way of the Warrior Kid series for youth, and launched the long-running Jocko Podcast where he discusses leadership, discipline, history, and training.