A Little About Me

My first two books were: F.I.R.E.: How Fast, Inexpensive, Restrained and Elegant Methods Ignite Innovation (HarperBusiness, 2014) and The Simplicity Cycle: A Field Guide To Making Things Better Without Making Them Worse (HarperBusiness, 2015).

Book #3 is titled LIFT: Innovation Lessons From Flying Machines That ALMOST Worked And The People Who NEARLY Flew Them. It’s a light-hearted look at the serious practice of studying failure and solving hard problems, based on aviation pioneers in the late 1800’s.

My most recent book is PUNK: Prompts & Provocations for Authentic Innovations. It’s a music-filled exploration of the intersection of punk rock and innovation, aiming to help you “make some noise that makes a difference.”

I served in the US Air Force for more than 20 years. My specialty was leading high-speed, low-cost technology development programs and I retired at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. After hanging up my combat boots, I launched Dan Ward Consulting LLC to help clients reduce the cost, time, and complexity of delivering world-class innovations. I currently work at the MITRE Corporation as a senior principal systems engineer and Innovation Catalyst.

I bring fast-paced, story-based presentations to conferences (SXSW, Lean StartUp, NYC Tech Council, SAP Ariba Live), which showcase my trademark blend of fun pop-culture sensibilities and deep engineering expertise.

I have given guest lectures at universities in the US, UK, and South America. I testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee and the British House of Commons, and my expertise on innovation has been recognized by the White House. My writings have appeared in a variety of outlets including Fast Company, Forbes, Harpers, The Boston Globe, Armed Forces Journal, Small Wars Journal, Time Magazine’s Battleland blog, the Pakistani Army’s magazine Hilal and the British Army Yearbook.

Finally, I’ve got three engineering degrees and received the Bronze Star Medal for my service in Afghanistan leading a team of officers from five different countries. I was a Senior Associate Fellow with the British Institute for Statecraft and a Non-Resident Cybesecurity Fellow with the New America Foundation. I live in Massachusetts with my wife and two children.