Joseph Polanin

Award Winning CEO, Combat Veteran, #1 Bestselling Author, and Private Enterprise Architect leading elite global enterprises to succeed on complex missions in high reliability environments despite every obstacle.

Call me when you need a successful CEO, COO, or you have a problem with: 
1) Strategic Implementation - making your vision happen
2) Operational Integration - achieving unity of effort across your organization
3) Change Leadership - making a transformation happen well, and making it stick within your culture. 
I find the right way or make one to solve the problem, eliminate challenges, champion the movement, and exceed your expectations. 

Contact me directly for a paid consultation: 
E: joe@thealakaigroup.com
M: +1 757-373-6930

I have advised the President of the United States, the National Security Council, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of State, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of staff, and many senior defense officials and military officers from the U.S. and dozens of allied nations in national security matters including geo-political risk, strategic communication, public relations, intelligence oversight, current operations, logistics coordination, strategic planning, technology, training and education, audits and inspections, financial risk, legal and policy compliance. 

✅  Led and managed global teams as large as 412K people with a $518B annual budget that synchronized U.S. military operations in the Pacific (70% of the Defense Department).

✅ Led several successful global corporate transformations, reorganizations, and M&As, the largest was 123K people, $80B.

✅  20+ years of successful CEO/COO leadership of elite teams and global enterprises in high-risk, high-threat environments accomplishing complex missions despite every obstacle or challenge. 

✅  The largest P&L for which I was personally responsible was $847M annually including personnel, intelligence, operations, logistics, planning, technology, R&D, legal, finance, compliance, facilities, and infrastructure with ultimate responsibility, accountability, authority for 3,900+ people across 19 business units operating in 72+ countries on 3 continents. 

✅  I'm at ease in what some would consider uncomfortable or stressful situations. I tell senior leaders what they need to know to ensure their decision superiority with facts, analyses, and sound judgment rather than telling them what they may want to hear. 

✅  Led U.S. and International teams (300+ senior government leaders from 8 countries) that implemented an unprecedented U.S. whole of government approach to enforce UN Security Council resolutions against North Korea. Having lived in 75+ countries, I demonstrate keen societal and cultural understanding.

Founder and CEO

- A strategic accelerator that brings best practices from the battlefield to the boardroom faster and more effectively than ever before. 
- We are the only firm in the marketplace exclusively focused on integrating your vision, strategy, and talent to achieve your goals. 
- Leverage our unmatched senior executive leadership consulting, fractional C-suite leadership, and inspirational speaking alongside scalable and customized consulting options that are tailored to your unique requirements, and will exceed your expectations.

As a young boy, I used to ride my bike to the top of a small bridge over the NJ Turnpike so I could see the Twin Towers. Having visited them on an elementary school field trip, their magnificence stuck with me and I wanted to see them as often as possible. 

I understand this is the last known photo of the Blue Angels flying in formation in the skies over Manhattan with the Twin Towers in view—June 1st, 2001—and it was signed by all the pilots and senior staff of the unit. I recovered this picture from a dumpster in December, 2002 and since then I continue to display it with solemnity and reverence. 

I don’t know why someone threw this in the trash. Maybe they were angry or upset. Perhaps their sorrow was inconsolable after the loss of a teammate, friend, or family member on 9/11/2001. Whatever the reason, I am beyond grateful to have found it, preserve it, and share this reflection with you.

Award Winning CEO, Combat Veteran, and #1 Bestselling Author. Leading elite global enterprises to succeed on complex missions in high reliability environments despite every obstacle. Top 100 Most Influential Men of 2025.

By Joseph Polanin | Captain, U.S. Navy (retired) "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in

Open article: The Blessing of Freedom by Joseph Polanin • 3 min read

A group of emerging leaders was recently discussing the importance of self-awareness. They asked: “How do we recognize the difference between confidence and arrogance?” 

Confidence is born of action, character, and integrity. It is earned, silent, and resolute. 

Arrogance comes from fear, insecurity, and ignorance. It is assumed, loud, and fleeting. 

Great leaders know the difference and always choose confidence, the anchor of excellence. They surround themselves with other leaders who are better and stronger than themselves across a range of disciplines, and have the wisdom—the confidence—to empower them to exceed expectations. 

Confidence wins, every time. 

The Alaka'i Leadership Group, LLC Alaka'i Coaching Alaka'i Fractional

View newsletter: People, Purpose, Persistence

By Joseph Polanin | Founder and CEO, The Alaka'i Leadership Group “Great leaders inspire us through integrity, humility, and presence—not ego.” Introd

Open article: Confidence vs. Arrogance by Joseph Polanin • 3 min read

Integrity is the leader’s true compass—honor without exception—steady, stalwart and immune to convenience. 

Titles change. 
Conditions shift. 
Pressure comes and goes. 
Integrity endures. 

Integrity is choosing character over comfort, principle over pressure, and truth over popularity. Great leaders stick to their values when the world demands compromise.  


Thank you for subscribing to The Spartan Chronicles and joining our community. Publication of our Anthology is expected Spring 2026. Please find more selected poems in the comments, and follow our leadership team at The Alaka'i Leadership Group, LLC 

Alaka'i Transformational Solutions Spartan Transformational Solutions

On Integrity Truth is our compass. Integrity never bends. Right outweighs convenience. Honor shapes all decisions. Temptation whispers loudly. Integri

Open article: On Integrity by Joseph Polanin • 1 min read

Great leaders know less is more and they live this ethos every day. 

Less noise | More clarity

Less doing | More inspiring

Less meetings | More results 

Less priorities | More attention 

Less activity | More productivity 

Less technology | More humanity 


What would you add? 


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