Dr. Joe Sanders

Dr. Joe Sanders — leadership development expert, speaker, mentor, retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, and CEO of Colorado UpLift, an organization dedicated to providing life-changing mentorship and leadership development to urban youth.

Dr. Sanders has devoted his life to developing leaders of character and helping people recognize the power and responsibility they carry to positively impact the world around them. Before leading Colorado UpLift, he served as Director of the Center for Character and Leadership Development at the United States Air Force Academy and has spent decades teaching, mentoring, and speaking on servant leadership, moral courage, transformational change, and human potential.

He holds a PhD in Leadership and Human Resource Development from Colorado State University and is the author of the powerful and timely book Unreasonable Responsibility — a bold call to break the cycle of entitlement, reclaim personal agency, and lead with purpose in a world desperately in need of courageous leadership.

At the heart of Joe’s message is a profound belief that leadership is not about position or status, but about responsibility — the willingness to influence, serve, and elevate others regardless of circumstance. Rooted deeply in faith, service, and community, Joe has also led ministry efforts serving the homeless and continues to inspire audiences across the country through his work, wisdom, and unwavering commitment to developing the next generation of leaders.

Joe and his wife, Lourdes, are the proud parents of Isaiah, Jasmine, and Josiah, and together they continue building a legacy centered on faith, service, leadership, and love.