Jim "Murph" Murphy

James D. “Murph” Murphy, the Founder and CEO of Afterburner, Inc., combines extensive experience from both his military and business careers. As a former U.S. Air Force instructor pilot, he logged over 1,200 hours in the F-15 and accumulated over 3,200 hours of flight time in various high-performance aircraft. During his time with the 116th Fighter Wing’s Chief of Training for the Georgia Air National Guard, Murphy's role was crucial in maintaining the readiness of 42 combat-trained fighter pilots, preparing them to deploy globally within 72 hours. His leadership extended to flying missions across diverse regions including Central America, Asia, Central Europe, and the Middle East.

Before his military service, Murphy had a thriving career in imaging equipment sales, achieving a 500% increase in his company’s sales. Later, as the Director of Sales for a small paint company, he applied military precision and strategies to the business sector, which significantly boosted the company’s revenue from $5 million to $52 million annually. These experiences were foundational in developing the Flawless Execution Model—a continuous cycle of planning, briefing, executing, and debriefing. Recognizing the broader applicability of these principles, Murphy established Afterburner Incorporated in 1996, a firm that has significantly influenced leadership and execution strategies in various corporations worldwide.

Murphy’s achievements and contributions have been recognized widely. He has been featured on the Inc. Magazine’s Inc. 500/5000 list 11 times and is an Inc. 5000 Hall of Fame Honoree. His insights have been highlighted in The Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek, Newsweek, and Meetings & Conventions Magazine, and he has appeared on media platforms such as CNN, Fox News, CNBC, and Bloomberg News. Additionally, he was named one of Atlanta’s top 50 entrepreneurs by Catalyst Magazine. His firm, Afterburner, has impacted over 85% of the U.S. Fortune 50 companies, transforming their performance and management strategies across 24 countries.

Murphy has shared insights on global stages with other prominent figures like Bill Clinton, Condoleezza Rice, and Colin Powell. He has also been a panel member of the League of Extraordinary Minds with influencers like Tony Robbins and Stephen Covey. Murphy is a prolific author, having penned seven books that include "On Time and On Target", "Courage to Execute", "Down Range", "The Debrief Imperative", "The Flawless Execution Field Manual", "Flawless Execution", and "Business Is Combat". His thought leadership is also sought after at prestigious business schools such as Harvard, Wharton, Cornell, Emory, Duke, MIT, and Fudan University in Shanghai, China, enhancing the strategic execution capabilities of future business leaders.