Michelle “Mace” Curran

Michelle “MACE” Curran is a highly sought-after international speaker known for her dynamic storytelling and expertise in overcoming fear and self-doubt. A former fighter pilot, she spent 13 years in the U.S. Air Force and made history as only the second woman to fly as the Lead Solo Pilot for the Air Force Thunderbirds, performing for hundreds of millions worldwide.

Mace has inspired teams at Microsoft, Boeing, John Deere, SpaceX, Purina, and PwC, helping them move from hesitation to decisive action. Her insights have been featured on The Kelly Clarkson Show, CBS Mornings, Glamour, and other major media outlets.

Michelle “MACE” Curran is available to be booked for corporate and private events. Contact the Mollie Plotkin Group today to inquire about Michelle “MACE” Curran’s fees.

Want to book Michelle “MACE” Curran for an event?

Contact the Mollie Plotkin Group at (215) 995-0905 to book Michelle “MACE” Curran for corporate or private events, keynote speeches, workshops, fireside chats, motivational speaking, or virtual appearances. Our agency will work directly with your organization and our keynote speakers to create an unforgettable event.

The Mollie Plotkin Group is the leading keynote speakers agency and entertainment bureau bringing excitement to audiences, clients, and employees. We represent subject-matter experts in every possible field. So whether we’re your partner in creating a memorable meeting or your meeting planner’s secret weapon in securing the perfect keynote speaker, we’re in this with you.

From Fighter Pilot to Global Speaker

Michelle “MACE” Curran spent 13 years serving in the U.S. Air Force as a fighter pilot. She made history as only the second woman to serve as the Lead Solo Pilot for the Air Force Thunderbirds, where she performed precision aerial demonstrations for hundreds of millions of people around the world. Her experience operating in high pressure, high stakes environments now informs her work with organizations seeking stronger decision making and resilience.

Author and Thought Leader on Fear and Performance

Beyond the stage, Mace is an accomplished writer focused on personal growth and performance. She has authored hundreds of articles, multiple children’s books including the bestselling Upside Down Dreams, and her book The Flipside: How to Invert Your Perspective and Turn Fear Into Your Superpower debuted in the top 20 on the USA Today Bestseller list. She also reaches millions each month through her social media platforms and has been recognized as a LinkedIn Top Voice.

To hire Michelle “Mace” Curran for an event, contact the Mollie Plotkin Group with the proposed event date, location, audience size, event format and program goals. Michelle “Mace” Curran is available for corporate events, conferences, leadership meetings, private events, workshops, fireside chats and virtual programs.

After receiving your request, a Mollie Plotkin Group booking agent will review Michelle “Mace” Curran’s availability, discuss the event details and get back to you within 48 hours with next steps for securing Michelle “Mace” Curran for your program.

The cost to book Michelle “Mace” Curran depends on the event date, location, format, audience size and scope of the appearance. Speaking fees may vary for keynote speeches, workshops, fireside chats, private events, corporate meetings and virtual programs.

For the most accurate Michelle “Mace” Curran booking fee, contact the Mollie Plotkin Group with your event details. Our team will help confirm availability, pricing and the best format for your event.

Michelle Curran, callsign Mace, brings audiences inside the pressure, fear, discipline, and teamwork of life as an F-16 fighter pilot and Lead Solo Pilot for the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. Her programs help teams build courage, act with clarity under pressure, reframe failure, and move forward when self-doubt gets in the way.

Common keynote themes include: courage, fear, pressure, comfort zones, decisive action, failure, trust, resilience, accountability, and growth mindset.

Flying Through Fear: Creating a Culture of Courage

Build courage, expand comfort zones, and take bold action under pressure.

In this signature keynote, MACE shares stories from her career as a Fighter Pilot and Lead Solo Pilot for the Air Force Thunderbirds. She helps audiences see that even high performers face doubt, fear, and obstacles, and that courage is built through action.

• Reassess comfort zones and identify where growth is possible
• Use vulnerability as a strength to move toward goals
• Recognize self-doubt and take steps to combat it

Ideal for teams and leaders who need to perform at a high level while doing more with less.

The Space Between: Winning the Moment Between Fear and Action

Learn to respond with clarity when pressure, hesitation, and second-guessing threaten momentum.

MACE takes audiences inside intense moments from her career as a Fighter Pilot and Thunderbird to show how organizations win or lose in the space between fear and action. Through storytelling and practical tools, she helps teams respond instead of react when the stakes are high.

• Differentiate imagined fear from real fear
• Stay composed and think clearly in high-stakes moments
• Build habits that strengthen trust, intuition, and execution

Ideal for organizations navigating tight timelines, rapid change, and high-pressure decision-making.

Everyone Has a Callsign

Reframe failure into a source of humility, learning, and stronger team culture.

In this workshop, Michelle Curran draws from the fighter pilot tradition of callsigns, where mistakes become part of a pilot’s story and a badge of honor. Participants explore how to view failure more productively, own missteps, and turn setbacks into growth.

• Reflect on lessons from a previous mistake or failure
• Identify how to reframe failure with a growth mindset
• Build a safer culture around learning, honesty, and improvement

Ideal for teams that want to strengthen trust, accountability, and learning from mistakes.

Closing Takeaway

Michelle Curran helps audiences understand that courage, clarity, and resilience are built in the moments when pressure, fear, and self-doubt show up. Her programs give teams practical ways to move forward with confidence, trust, and decisive action.