Chris Stricklin ejected from the F-16 he was piloting during a Thunderbirds air show. Joel Neeb was diagnosed with a rare and often fatal cancer. Against the odds, both survived.
Chris and Joel met years after their individual life-changing events and discovered they both had a desire to share their stories to help others. They resolved to fulfill what they call survivor’s obligation—a responsibility to live an intentional life—for themselves and their families, and in honor of those who didn’t get a second chance.
In Survivor’s Obligation, Chris and Joel share the true stories that transformed their lives. They explore the questions they asked themselves about why they received a second chance at life when others did not. Along their journey of healing, they discovered the power of gratitude, growth, and giving to help them navigate their everyday choice to live intentionally.
Reflection questions in the back of the book allow readers to find connections in their own lives and inspiration for navigating an intentional life.
Chris Stricklin
Chris “Elroy” Stricklin is a retired Air Force colonel, former fighter pilot, and current president of Dunn University, where he leads recruitment and training for Dunn Investment Co. Chris is coauthor of Survivor’s Obligation: Navigating an Intentional and wrote “Love’s Tide Stronger Flows” in Stories Around the Table: Laughter, Wisdom, and Strength in Military Life.
Joel Neeb
Joel “Thor” Neeb is coauthor of Survivor’s Obligation: Navigating an Intentional Life. He is CEO of Afterburner, Inc., where his team of former fighter pilots, Navy SEALs, and Army Rangers offers leadership and team-building strategies for Fortune 100 companies and professional sports teams. A former fighter pilot, Joel competes in international sports events.
Midwest Book Awards – Silver
IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards – Gold
Media Coverage
“This book will definitely change your perspective. … A must read!”
—Susan Hendricks, anchor, CNN Headline News / Weekend Express
“The power of this book lies in two incredible personal stories of survival.… This book is for anyone traveling the unpredictable path of life.”
—Lee Woodruff, coauthor of The New York Times bestseller In an Instant
“Trust me now, understand me later—you need to read this book!”
—James C. Hunter, international bestselling author of The Servant
“Compelling and raw, the book teaches us that we can overcome emotional and physical trauma by choosing to focus on gratitude, growth, and giving for the future.”
—Deborah Lee James, 23rd Secretary of the Air Force, and author of Aim High: Chart Your Course and Find Success
“Most of us discover we are mortal when it’s too late, but Survivor’s Obligation offers this wisdom right now. To do as the Zen masters advise—to die before you die so you can truly live—you must read this book.”
—Fred Kofman, leadership development advisor at Google and author of Conscious Business and The Meaning Revolution
“Hearing from true survivors should inspire all of us to thrive with a life of purpose and intentionality—without a life threatening experience as Joel and Chris have had.”
—Pat Gelsinger, CEO VMware, author of The Juggling Act, and founder Transforming the Bay with Christ
“It’s very, very inspiring.”
—Blanquita Cullum, host of The Hard Question on WCGO, Chicago