About the Author
New York Times bestselling author Dan Schilling, Lt. Col., USAF (ret.) spent more than 30 years in special operations, primarily as a Combat Controller and Special Tactics Officer, but began military service as an infantry paratrooper. His numerous combat, clandestine, rescue, and humanitarian missions have taken him around the world and include Operation Gothic Serpent, popularly known as Black Hawk Down, where he is credited with saving the lives of a Ranger and Team Six SEAL while under heavy enemy fire. He later conceived, founded, and then served as the first commander of two special operations squadrons, one of which’s name and purpose remains classified. His military certifications include HALO and staticline master parachutist, Special Forces combat diver, parachute rigger, and Combat Control pipeline instructor. His final military assignment was the Joint Special Operations Command weapons of mass destruction U.S. interagency and intelligence community director.
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A serial entrepreneur and patent pending inventor, Dan’s pursued a renaissance existence by authoring books, screenplays, viral video content, and articles, serving as an adjunct professor and managing a university campus, worked as a movie stunt coordinator, recovered historical artifacts, in addition to songwriting and forming a studio band. Based on his groundbreaking personal safety book, The Power of Awareness, he founded The Power of Awareness Institute, to empower individuals worldwide to prevent crime, improve resilience, and combat hate.
A purveyor of adrenaline-fueled endeavors, Dan holds the Guinness World Record for most BASE jumps in 24 hours (201), a feat he conducted to benefit children who’ve lost a parent in special operations through the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. He is also a pro-rated demonstration skydiver, speedwing pilot and ski instructor with Wasatch Adaptive Sports, helping others experience the thrill of downhill skiing while maximizing their independence.
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In 2023 Dan was inducted into the Air Commando Hall of Fame and received the Freedom Foundation’s national medal for public service. He is also a 2022 U.S. Air Force Gathering of Eagles inductee. His book Alone at Dawn is a New York Times and Amazon #1 international bestseller. He and his wife Julie, a retired NSA cyber warfare specialist, live in Utah.
