Chad Hennings has succeeded in life while putting his faith in God and service to others first. Although best known as a defensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys, his string of successes began long before his professional football career.

At Benton Community High School in Van Horne, Iowa, Hennings won the state heavyweight wrestling championship as a senior. He chose to attend the Air Force Academy and play football despite being offered athletic scholarships by many other schools.

In 1987, his senior year at Air Force, he led the nation in sacks with 24 and earned unanimous All-America recognition. He also received the Outland Trophy, given to the country's outstanding lineman. He was named to the Western Athletic Conference's All-Decade Team for the 1980s. Because of his remarkable accomplishments, he was elected to the GTE Academic All-American Hall of Fame in 1999 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006.

Though drafted by the Cowboys in 1988, Hennings postponed his entry into the National Football League to fulfill his commitment to the Air Force. He entered the Euro-NATO program, a training program for top pilots, and soon found himself at the controls of the A-10 Thunderbolt, nicknamed the "Warthog."

During his four-year stint with the Air Force, Hennings flew 45 missions in support of Operation Provide Comfort in northern Iraq, an effort that helped provide relief and humanitarian aid to Kurdish refugees.

Then, in 1992, Hennings joined the Cowboys, eventually becoming a starter. He spent his entire nine-year professional career with Dallas, retiring in 2001 with a neck injury after playing on three Super Bowl championship teams.

Since his retirement from the NFL, Hennings has found success as an investor, management consultant and motivational speaker. He established Wingmen Ministries, a Christian men's group, in Dallas-Fort Worth and is active in community affairs, including serving on the board of directors for Happy Hill Farm Academy, which is a Christian residential school for at-risk kids.

His second book, which details what he has learned about men and their relationships, is called "Rules of Engagement: Finding Faith and Purpose in a Disconnected World" and will be released in January. His autobiography, "It Takes Commitment," was published in 1996.

Chad and his wife, Tammy, have a son, Chase, and a daughter, Brenna. They currently reside in Flower Mound, Texas.

The title of Chad Hennings' autobiography, It Takes Commitment, reflects not only the inspirational message he delivers, but also the way he lives his life. Personal commitment and teamwork are the cornerstones of his message. He imparts his advice for pursuing a life enriched by value and virtue. Hennings shares his message to varied and diverse groups in private, corporate, civic, governmental and academic settings. His patriotism and allegiance to our country is evident by his work promoting the U.S. Air Force, Air Force Academy as well as other branches of our Armed Services. One's personal commitment to achieving leadership and success is a recurring theme in his speech. He also challenges the individual to be committed to success by maintaining a balance in one's life. Some of the building blocks of his message of commitment include:

Commitment as an individual:
"I wanted to fly jets so badly, but the Air Force's Wing Flight Surgeon had to check the design specifications of the ejection seat in the aircraft as he was concerned I wouldn't clear the jet's tail in the event I had to eject."

"I was in Wichita Falls at training camp, and it was 105 degrees in the shade. I had just taken two liters of IV solution to stay hydrated. With only an hour to get ready for the second practice, I was mentally fighting the urge to quit because I knew I was going to cramp, just as I had before."

Commitment as a member of a team:
"While flying on the wing of my flight lead in Western Europe and northern Iraq, we had less than three feet of wing tip clearance, and the only thing I could see were his wing tip lights because the weather was so bad. I had to choose to trust him to safely navigate the weather and get us into the deployment area so that we could accomplish our mission."

Commitment to being a leader:
"I have experienced all kinds of leadership styles in the military and on the football field. I have had squadron commanders that I would have followed into combat anytime, any place. I also have had commanders who they were lucky that their troops did not shoot them in the back when his head was turned.

It was the same thing on the football field. There were the guys who worked me to the point I couldn't give any more, yet they found a way to motivate me to dig deeper and give something I did not think I had. And then there were the guys who couldn't motivate a man dying from dehydration to take a drink."

Commitment to leading a balanced life:
"In my opinion, true leadership and success are not defined by wealth, fame, or social circles. It is defined by balance. If your aim is to amass great wealth or social significance alone, your life will be like a ship being tossed by the wind. You will be reactive and not proactive. Whatever looks good at the time, you will jump in that direction."

"Balance is required in our lives physically, mentally, in our family relationships, and through community involvement. Our spiritual values and character becomes the compass that directs us down our chosen path."