Joe McNamara
- Former combat decorated U.S. Marine Corps Officer
- Founder of Iron Leader Team
- Member of the board of directors for Operation Patriots FOB, a veteran-owned non-profit dedicated to creating and fostering positive experiences for our nation’s Combat Veterans
Travels From
South Carolina
Joe McNamara Speaker Biography
Joe McNamara is former combat decorated U.S. Marine Corps Officer and founder of Iron Leader Team, a premier leadership development firm.
Joe’s leadership journey began at Virginia Tech as a member of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets. Upon graduation, he developed through the U.S. Marine Corps officer development programs, eventually leading teams of all sizes in training and in combat.
During his service, Joe built and led elite teams through multiple combat deployments in Afghanistan, orchestrating and leading hundreds of combat missions throughout enemy strongholds. These missions, and the incredible efforts of his men, eliminated enemy threats and delivered stability in the violent, battle-damaged territories in which they operated.
Joe returned from combat and was selected to command and lead Marine Corps drill instructors at the notorious Marine Corps boot camp at Parris Island. There, he spearheaded a leadership development program and mentored the leaders responsible for training the nation’s next generation of warriors.
Upon leaving active service, Joe earned an MBA from the University of North Carolina and joined one of the nation’s leading real estate development firms, where he built and managed an award-winning sales organization. The success of that organization ultimately led to a merger and acquisition with the largest and most successful brokerage in the Lowcountry of South Carolina and Georgia.
Through the lessons learned from his time as a military and business leader, Joe founded a leadership development firm, Iron Leader Team, that has partnered with elite athletes, coaches, and corporate teams around the nation. Focused on turning passive followers into active leaders, Joe has helped teams unleash initiative, improve decisiveness, and foster adaptability at the lowest level possible – creating strong teams, winning cultures, and adaptable leaders.
Additionally, Joe is a member of the board of directors for Operation Patriots FOB, a veteran-owned non-profit dedicated to creating and fostering positive experiences for our nation’s Combat Veterans. (www.opfob.org)
LEADERS CREATING LEADERS Building a CERTAIN FORCE in an uncertain world: Leadership lessons forged in battle
The Greatness of an organization is directly proportional to the greatness of its leaders. It is rare for teams to rise above their leaders. So how do we grow organizations prepared to be successful through the complexities of today? The key is to develop their leaders.
An environment characterized by effective Small Unit Leaders actively pursuing mission success and solving complex problems at the lowest levels possible revolutionizes teams and builds unstoppable cultures.
Strong Leaders create more leaders. Creating and developing effective Small Unit Leaders transforms teams from passive followers into a network of active leaders. Active leaders that take ownership, ignite others, and solve complex problems at the lowest levels.
SEND ME: Unleashing the Power of BOLD LEADERSHIP and Decisive Action
What does it mean to truly step forward when others step back? To stand in the fire when the stakes couldn’t be higher? Send Me is more than a call to action—it’s a declaration of leadership, courage, and purpose. It’s about living a life where hesitation is replaced with conviction and fear is transformed into fuel.
In this powerful keynote, we’ll journey into one of the most complex and pivotal moments in recent history: the withdrawal from Afghanistan. Beyond the headlines and politics, there are raw, untold stories of leadership forged in the crucible of chaos—lessons that reveal the transformative power of decisive action in the face of uncertainty.
This isn’t about theory or abstract concepts. It’s about the human side of leadership: the doubts, the grit, and the triumphs that define the people willing to say, “Send Me.” It’s about equipping you to lead boldly in your own life, no matter the challenge.
THE WARRIOR WAY: A Ground Force Commander’s blueprint for building HIGH-PERFORMANCE TEAMS and a culture rooted in trust
What if I told you there’s a system—a battle-tested framework—that the most elite teams on the planet use to dominate in the most chaotic, high-pressure environments? It’s not luck. It’s not talent. It’s a proven approach to performance that you can implement right now to transform your team into a high-functioning, unstoppable force.
This is The Warrior Way: a ground force commander’s blueprint for building high-performance teams and a culture rooted in trust. It’s the difference between teams that crumble under pressure and those that thrive in any environment—winning not by chance, but by design.
