A clear split between tools and responsibility
Machines do. Managers decide. Leaders develop. AI can help a leader prepare. The leader still owns the decision and the conversation.
West Point leadership and AI speaker
A West Point graduate and Army combat veteran of Afghanistan on leading people with AI.
Planners looking for a military veteran speaker, or a West Point leadership and AI speaker, often want someone who can talk about judgment, responsibility, and developing people, not a technology demonstration. Jon Harmeling gives one keynote, Frontline AI Leadership, on practical AI for frontline managers.
Jon is a West Point graduate and Army combat veteran of Afghanistan. He later returned to West Point to teach systems engineering. He is the owner-operator of Chick-fil-A Miami Shores, where he leads about 90 team members from 18 countries.
Machines do. Managers decide. Leaders develop.
Send your date and audience. You'll get availability and a quote within one business day.
Audience
Who this keynote is for
- Planners of veteran, military, and service-community events who want a West Point graduate and Army combat veteran of Afghanistan to speak on leading people with AI.
- Leadership conferences that want a speaker formed at West Point and tested in Army service, now working as a frontline operator.
- Audiences that need a practical keynote on judgment, coaching, and development, not a futurist view of AI.
Takeaways
What attendees leave with
The keynote keeps human judgment and relationships at the center. Attendees leave with a framework and a 30-day plan, not a software recommendation.
Better questions before a hard conversation
Use AI to examine an assumption and prepare thoughtful questions, then listen to the person and decide what to do.
A 30-day plan for one person
Identify one person whose growth you can support, prepare one important conversation, make one leadership commitment, and set a date to follow through.
After the session
Sample outcomes from the keynote
These are examples of how leaders apply the session, including veteran and mixed civilian audiences. They are not claims about organizational performance.
- 1
Prepare a difficult conversation with care, then have it in person rather than hiding behind a draft from a tool.
- 2
Recognize a specific contribution that is easy to overlook, after checking the facts.
- 3
Name one person to develop, make one leadership commitment, and set a date to follow through.
The speaker
Why this background belongs on the program
Jon is a West Point graduate and Army combat veteran of Afghanistan. He later returned to West Point to teach systems engineering. Today he leads about 90 team members from 18 countries at Chick-fil-A Miami Shores and speaks on Frontline AI Leadership. He is not a futurist. The keynote is about using AI so leaders have more time and clearer judgment for the people they are responsible for.
Send your date and audience. You'll get availability and a quote within one business day. A 30-minute preparation call and audience-specific customization are included. One 30-minute virtual follow-up within 60 days of the event is included in both standard paid in-person and virtual keynotes. Check availability.
Planner questions
Frequently asked questions
What is Jon's military and West Point background?
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Jon is a West Point graduate and Army combat veteran of Afghanistan. He later returned to West Point to teach systems engineering. That background is part of how he talks about judgment, responsibility, and developing people. The keynote itself is Frontline AI Leadership, a practical AI session for frontline managers.
Is the keynote only for military or veteran audiences?
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No. Planners also book Jon for restaurant, retail, hospitality, franchise, and corporate leadership events. For a veteran or military audience, the preparation call covers how to connect the exercises to that room while keeping the keynote focused on leading people with AI.
Is this a talk about military technology or AI weapons?
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No. Frontline AI Leadership is about coaching, recognition, difficult conversations, and employee development. It is practical AI for frontline managers, not a briefing on military systems.
How do we check availability?
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Jon responds within one business day with availability and a fit assessment. A 20-minute fit conversation to discuss your audience, date, format, and goals. Use Check availability to start that conversation.
Who I speak for
Audiences that book this keynote.
Frontline AI Leadership is for leaders responsible for people. Start with the page that matches your event, or explore the keynote.
Restaurant, QSR, and fast casual conferences
A restaurant leadership conference keynote for the people who lead the shift.
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Store managers, district managers, and retail summits
A retail leadership summit keynote for store and district managers.
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Miami and Florida keynote speaker
A Miami keynote speaker who still leads a frontline team.
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