Leon F. "Lee" Ellis (born October 9, 1943) is a retired United States Air Force colonel, award-winning author, speaker, and consultant.^[1] Ellis gained notoriety when, as a fighter pilot in the Vietnam War, he was shot down, captured, and spent 5+1⁄2 years as a prisoner of war in Hanoi and surrounding areas with former presidential candidate and Senator John McCain (R-AZ) and others.^[2] His capture occurred on November 7, 1967, and he was released on March 14, 1973.^[3] He was one of the youngest, junior members in the camps.^[2] Ellis is an international speaker and consultant on the subjects of leadership and human performance.