L. David Marquet is a retired US Navy captain who spent 28 years in the service. He graduated at the top of his class from the US Naval Academy and served on submarines for most of his career. His command of the USS Santa Fe, which he took over in 1999 when it was the lowest ranked submarine in its fleet, became the story behind Turn the Ship Around. After leaving the Navy, Marquet turned his experience into a leadership approach he calls Intent Based Leadership and began teaching it to companies and government groups around the world. He has written several other books, including Leadership Is Language (2020), which looks at how the words leaders use shape how teams think and act, and Distancing (2025). He also works as a speaker and leadership coach.
