Tommy Doles is an author, speaker, Army officer, and international development practitioner passionate about one simple idea: leadership is ultimately about serving others.

Throughout his life, Tommy has found himself in unexpected places—on football fields, overseas deployments, international development projects, classrooms, churches, and community events. Each experience has reinforced the same conviction: the strongest leaders are not those who simply achieve the most, but those who help others become stronger because they were there.

A Michigan native, Tommy grew up seeing the power of sports to shape people and communities. Following in that tradition, he played football at Northwestern University, where he served as team captain and graduated cum laude. After college, he pursued professional football opportunities with the Chicago Bears and Atlanta Falcons before an unexpected transition brought him to Paris, France, where he played and coached American football. That experience became the foundation for his bestselling memoir, Gridiron Redemption: The NFL, Paris, and a Pandemic—a story about transitions, resilience, cross-cultural encounters, and finding beauty in uncertainty.

Today, Tommy works with International Needs US, a Christian international development organization that partners with local leaders around the world to strengthen communities and empower vulnerable people. Through this work, he has engaged with leaders across dozens of countries, learning firsthand the importance of humility, relationships, and locally led solutions.

Tommy also serves as an officer in the United States Army Reserve. His military experience includes deployment to the Horn of Africa and Tunisia in support of security cooperation efforts. Whether working with international partners, leading teams, or serving alongside fellow soldiers, Tommy has seen repeatedly that trust and relationships are the foundation of effective leadership.

His journey has also included serving as a volunteer firefighter, collegiate athletic administrator, competitive endurance athlete, and member of Team USA in international military competition. These experiences have shaped his understanding of resilience, teamwork, discipline, and the importance of showing up for others.