Dan's first two books were: F.I.R.E.: How Fast, Inexpensive, Restrained and Elegant Methods Ignite Innovation (HarperBusiness, 2014) and The Simplicity Cycle: A Field Guide To Making Things Better Without Making Them Worse (HarperBusiness, 2015).

Book #3 is titled LIFT: Innovation Lessons From Flying Machines That ALMOST Worked And The People Who NEARLY Flew Them. It's a light-hearted look at the serious practice of studying failure and solving hard problems, based on aviation pioneers in the late 1800's.

Dan served in the US Air Force for more than 20 years. His specialty was leading high-speed, low-cost technology development programs and he retired at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. After hanging up his combat boots, he launched Dan Ward Consulting LLC to help clients reduce the cost, time, and complexity of delivering world-class innovations. He currently works at the MITRE Corporation as a senior principal systems engineer and Innovation Catalyst.

Dan brings fast-paced, story-based presentations to conferences (SXSW, Lean StartUp, NYC Tech Council, SAP Ariba Live), which showcase his trademark blend of fun pop-culture sensibilities and deep engineering expertise.

Dan has given guest lectures at universities in the US, UK, and South America. He testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee and the British House of Commons, and his expertise on innovation has been recognized by the White House. Dab's writings have appeared in a variety of outlets including Fast Company, Forbes, Harpers, The Boston Globe, Armed Forces Journal, Small Wars Journal, Time Magazine's Battleland blog, the Pakistani Army's magazine Hilal and the British Army Yearbook.

Finally, Dan has three engineering degrees and received the Bronze Star Medal for his service in Afghanistan leading a team of officers from five different countries. He was a Senior Associate Fellow with the British Institute for Statecraft and a Non-Resident Cybesecurity Fellow with the New America Foundation. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife and two children.