Michael J. Durant, CW4 (Retired), US Army; born July 23, 1961 in Berlin, NH.  He entered the United States Army in August 1979. Following basic training he attended the Defense Language Institute, and was then assigned to the 470th Military Intelligence Group, Fort Clayton, Panama as a Spanish voice intercept operator.  He then completed helicopter flight training at Fort Rucker, Alabama.  Upon appointment to Warrant Officer 1 in November 1983, he completed the UH60 Blackhawk Qualification Course and was assigned to the 377th Medical Evacuation Company, Seoul Korea.  His next assignment was with the 101st Aviation Battalion, Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he performed duties as an instructor pilot. Mr. Durant is an inspirational speaker who describes the power of teamwork, leadership, and change through his awe inspiring stories and captivating visuals. Mr. Durant is exclusively represented for lectures by Leading Authorities, Inc., based in Washington, D.C. 

Mr. Durant joined the 160th Special Operations Group on August 1, 1988.  Assigned to D company, he performed duties as Flight Lead and Standardization Instructor Pilot.  He participated in combat operations Prime Chance (Persian Gulf in 1989), Just Cause (Panama invasion in 1989), Desert Storm (Liberation of Kuwait in 1991), and Gothic Serpent (Somalia in 1993). On October 3, 1993, while piloting an MH60 Blackhawk in Mogadishu, Somalia, he was shot down and held captive by hostile forces.  He was released 11 days later.  His story is the inspiration behind the movie Black Hawk Down. 

He is now a Programs Manager for Rockwell Collins Simulation & Training Solutions based in Huntsville, Alabama.  He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Professional Aeronautics and a Master of Business Administration in Aviation degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. 

Mr. Durant  is a master aviator, qualified in the UH-1 Huey, MH-6 Loach, and MH-60A, L, and K models of the Blackhawk.  He has a total of 3,700 flight hours with over 1,400 under Night Vision Goggles. 

Awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, Bronze Star with Valor device, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, three Air Medals, one with Valor device, the POW/MIA ribbon, the Army Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, and numerous other awards. 

Mr. Durant is the author of The New York Times bestseller In the Company of Heroes and The Night Stalkers . 

He and his wife Lisa have six children, ranging in age from 19 years old to 3 years.