Lt Col Dan Rooney Announced as 2023 GCAA/WGCA National Convention Speaker
NORMAN, Okla. – Lieutenant Colonel Dan Rooney will speak at the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) and Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) National Conventions on Tuesday, December 5 in Las Vegas.
A decorated F-16 Fighter Pilot, Lt Col Rooney is best known for founding the Folds of Honor, a leading non-profit organization that provides educational scholarships for children and spouses of fallen or disabled military service members and first responders. Since its inception in 2007, the foundation has provided over 51,000 life-changing scholarships totaling approximately $240 million.
Rooney’s life calling of “inspiring people to help people'' is made obvious by his variety of roles. A USA Today bestselling author whose titles include “A Patriot's Calling” and “Fly Into the Wind”, he’s a highly sought-after motivational speaker that has addressed over 1,000 corporations and groups across America. As a Class A Member of the PGA, he founded two nationally ranked golf clubs, The Patriot Golf Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and American Dunes Golf Club in Grand Haven, Michigan in collaboration with Jack Nicklaus. He is a frequent guest of national media including podcasts, radio, and network television such as Fox News. Rooney has been recognized as one of People Magazine’s “Heroes of the Year”, Money Magazine’s “Hero of the Year”, and ABC World News Tonight’s “Persons of the Year”.
Lt Col Rooney has continued his military service after 3 combat tours to Iraq where he flew the F-16 Viper. He is currently stationed at Headquarters Air Force Recruiting Service Detachment 1, at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, TX where he has been given the unique position to act as a US Air Force ambassador with the task of inspiring the next generation of service members to give the same devotion to the country he has so proudly demonstrated throughout his career. Rooney is a two-time recipient of the Top Gun Award and has received the Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Medal, Anti-terrorism Medal, Combat Readiness Medal, and Air Expeditionary Medal. For his service and patriotism, he was presented the White House’s “Presidential Volunteer Service Award'' by President George W. Bush, as well as the Air National Guard’s “Distinguished Service Medal”, the “Directors Service Award”, and the Ellis Island “Medal of Honor”.
- GCAA/WGCA -
About the GCAA:
Established in 1958, the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) is the professional organization of men's collegiate golf coaches. The GCAA's mission is to support its member coaches from six divisions, including the NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA, by creating educational opportunities, providing resources, and promoting its members with the purpose of enhancing their overall performance as coaches, mentors, and teachers. The GCAA also recognizes the excellence and achievements of its members and their student-athletes in academic, athletic, and civic endeavors.
About the WGCA:
The Women’s Golf Coaches Association, founded in 1983, is a non-profit organization representing women’s collegiate golf coaches. The WGCA was formed to encourage the playing of college golf for women in correlation with a general objective of education and in accordance with the highest tradition of intercollegiate competition. Today, the WGCA represents over 700 coaches throughout the U.S. and is dedicated to educating, promoting and recognizing both its members and the student-athletes they represent.
About the Folds of Honor:
Folds of Honor is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of US military service members and first responders who have fallen or been disabled while serving our country and communities. Our educational scholarships support private school tuition or tutoring in grades K-12, tuition for college, technical or trade school and post-graduate work, including a master’s degree, doctorate, or professional program. Funds for a second bachelor’s degree or trade/technical program certification are also available. Since its inception in 2007, Folds of Honor has awarded over 51,000 scholarships totaling about $240 million in all 50 states. Among the students served, 45 percent are minorities. It is rated a four-star charity by Charity Navigator and Platinum on Candid. It was founded by Lt Col Dan Rooney, the only-ever F-16 fighter pilot (with three combat tours in Iraq) and PGA Professional. He is currently stationed at Headquarters Air Force Recruiting Service Detachment 1, at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. For more information or to donate in support of a Folds of Honor scholarship visit foldsofhonor.org