Dr. Eric B. Fretz, LCDR, U.S. Navy (Ret.) brings a rare blend of academic depth, human-centered insights, and combat leadership to the corporate stage. A retired Navy officer with 20 years of service and three combat deployments, Dr. Fretz led teams in high-stakes environments across the Persian Gulf, Iraq, and within U.S. strategic command structures. Earning more than 30 military honors, including the Bronze Star.

Equally effective in the boardroom and the classroom, Dr. Fretz holds six degrees, including dual PhDs in Psychology and Education, and has served as a Teaching Professor at the University of Michigan since 2013. An award-winning professor of entrepreneurship and innovation, he is known for translating complex challenges into clear, actionable leadership lessons. His work focuses on decision-making under pressure, team trust, ethical leadership, and sustaining performance when conditions are uncertain.

As an international consultant, Dr. Fretz has advised leaders and entrepreneurs operating in crisis environments, including refugee and NGO teams along the borders of Turkey, Poland, and Ukraine. His keynote topics include leading in stressful environments, mental health first aid, emotional intelligence, self-care, and purpose-driven performance.

Certified in Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman and a graduate of Simon Sinek’s WHY School, Dr. Fretz also brings a deeply personal perspective, having survived a widow-maker heart attack. 

His message inspires audiences to innovate boldly, think like entrepreneurs, and lead with emotional intelligence to shape results,