Robert Schaefer
Keynote Speaker: Veteran, Author & Leadership Consultant; Retired U.S. Army Special Forces officer
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Robert Schaefer Biography
Robert W. Schaefer, LTC (Retired), is a highly decorated U.S. Army Special Forces officer, diplomat, author, and internationally recognized defense and leadership consultant. Over the course of a distinguished military career spanning several decades, Schaefer served in nearly every major U.S. overseas operation since 1990. His assignments took him across the globe, including deployments and postings in Russia, Ukraine, Estonia, Georgia, and Kazakhstan, where he worked at the intersection of military operations, diplomacy, and strategic planning.
Schaefer began his career as a Special Forces Engineering and Demolitions Sergeant and was later commissioned as an officer in 1993 after earning the prestigious Abrams Award as the top non-scholarship ROTC cadet nationwide. He is among a rare group of "double-sewn" Green Berets, having completed the Special Forces Qualification Course both as an enlisted soldier and as an officer. In both instances, he was recognized as the Honor Graduate and recipient of the Leadership Award.
One of his most historic accomplishments came when he became the first U.S. officer to lead Russian military forces in combat. He directed joint artillery missions in support of Russian airborne troops—marking the first such collaboration since World War II. For this unprecedented achievement, he was honored with the SOCOM Person of the Year/Singlaub Award for excellence in collaboration with Russian forces.
Schaefer also served as the U.S. military attaché in Estonia, where he played a pivotal role in helping to establish the Estonian Special Forces and Cyber Defense Command. In recognition of his contributions, he became the only foreigner ever to receive decorations from all three of Estonia’s national defense institutions, including the Distinguished Service Cross, the Ministry of Defense Cross of Merit, and the White Cross of the Kaitseliit.
Academically, Schaefer holds a master’s degree from Harvard University, where he focused on Russia, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. His deep expertise in this region led to numerous opportunities as a geopolitical analyst. He served as NBC’s on-air Russian Security Analyst during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, where his insights contributed to the prevention of a planned terrorist attack.
Schaefer is also an accomplished author. His book, The Insurgency in Chechnya and the North Caucasus: From Gazavat to Jihad, received critical acclaim and was listed among Kirkus Reviews’ “Best of 2011.” It is widely recognized as a foundational text on regional insurgency and counterterrorism. He has also contributed to several other academic and professional publications, including The Fire Below: How the Caucasus Changed Russia and Operation Homecoming, and serves on the editorial board of the academic journal Caucasus Survey.
After retiring from active duty, Schaefer transitioned into leadership consulting and now serves as the Managing Director of Phalanx Strategic Solutions. He is the creator of Ethosynthesis®, a methodology that draws on elite military training to build resilient and purpose-driven organizational cultures. He also developed a suite of leadership tools and frameworks—such as the Leadership Operating System, Strategic Insight Framework, Fear Inoculation, and MAPPED Goals—that translate the strategic principles of Special Forces into practical models for corporate and nonprofit leadership.
Schaefer is a founding partner of American Freedom Distillery and remains actively involved in veteran support initiatives. He regularly speaks at events and contributes to charitable efforts, including supporting service dog organizations and veterans’ networks. A member of Mensa since 2000, Schaefer exemplifies a unique balance of intellectual rigor, emotional intelligence, and global operational experience.
Through a lifetime of service and continued innovation in leadership and strategy, Robert W. Schaefer stands as a model of adaptability, courage, and commitment to both country and community.
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Robert Schaefer Videos
How do I book Robert Schaefer to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Robert Schaefer for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Robert Schaefer, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Robert Schaefer or any other speaker of your choice.
How much does it cost to book Robert Schaefer for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for Robert Schaefer, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fee for a live event is $10,000 - $20,000. For the most current speaking fee to hire Robert Schaefer, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
What topics does Robert Schaefer speak about?
Robert Schaefer is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Veterans, Strategic Leadership, Peak Performance, Military, Author, Human Resources and Teamwork & Teambuilding.
Where does Robert Schaefer travel from?
Robert Schaefer generally travels from Tampa, FL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
Who is the agent for Robert Schaefer?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Robert Schaefer for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Robert Schaefer for your next private or corporate function.
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Robert Schaefer or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
Robert Schaefer is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Veterans, Strategic Leadership and Peak Performance. The estimated speaking fee range to book Robert Schaefer for live events is $10,000 - $20,000. Please contact us for virtual event fees. Robert Schaefer generally travels from Tampa, FL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Rob Waldo Waldman, Rocky Bleier and Stephen Drum. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Robert Schaefer for an upcoming event.
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Robert Schaefer Videos
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How do I book Robert Schaefer to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Robert Schaefer for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Robert Schaefer, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Robert Schaefer or any other speaker of your choice. -
How much does it cost to book Robert Schaefer for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for Robert Schaefer, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fee for a live event is $10,000 - $20,000. For the most current speaking fee to hire Robert Schaefer, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent. -
What topics does Robert Schaefer speak about?
Robert Schaefer is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Veterans, Strategic Leadership, Peak Performance, Military, Author, Human Resources and Teamwork & Teambuilding. -
Where does Robert Schaefer travel from?
Robert Schaefer generally travels from Tampa, FL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. -
Who is the agent for Robert Schaefer?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Robert Schaefer for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Robert Schaefer for your next private or corporate function. -
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Robert Schaefer or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us. -
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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