Full Name
Wes Spence
Job Title
Head of Energy
Company
Amphora Labs
Speaker Bio
Wes Spence is a retired U.S. Navy SEAL Captain turned business executive and leadership consultant who has spent his career helping teams thrive in some of the world’s most demanding environments—from combat zones in Afghanistan to deepwater drilling rigs off Newfoundland and chemical manufacturing plants across North America. Currently serving as Head of Energy at Amphora Labs, Wes provides the leadership and operational focus to guide a highly capable technical team in a startup AI R&D environment. He is instrumental in directing the company’s efforts to meet the novel molecule and material requirements of the energy industry.
Over a 25-year Navy career, Wes led elite teams through missions that demanded precision, adaptability, and trust. As the first Commanding Officer of the Naval Special Warfare Advanced Training Command, he led the organization to become the Navy’s premier source of advanced tactical training. Later, as Chief of Staff for Combined Forces Special Operations Component Command–Afghanistan, he directed a 220-person headquarters supporting 27,000 personnel across multiple nations, playing a key role in expanding operational capacity by 60%.
After retiring from the Navy, Wes brought that same commitment to excellence and teamwork into the energy sector. Previously serving as the Vice President of Business Development at CAVU International, he led leadership and performance improvement programs worldwide. His work has taken him from offshore rigs in the North Atlantic and the Gulf of Thailand to land rigs in West Texas and chemical plants in the U.S. Southeast.
Whether coaching a drilling team in West Texas or supporting offshore leaders in the North Sea, Wes applies a simple principle: strong teams outperform strong individuals. His real-world insights connect directly with leaders at all levels—from the front line to the C-suite—showing how habits of clear communication, humility, and accountability drive both safety and performance.
Wes is a 1988 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Physical Science. He is also a 2000 graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School where he earned a Master of Science in Information Technology Management. He is a co-founder of the Stand Up Veterans Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that helps veterans reconnect through the shared experience of surfing and immersion in the healing power of the ocean.
Over a 25-year Navy career, Wes led elite teams through missions that demanded precision, adaptability, and trust. As the first Commanding Officer of the Naval Special Warfare Advanced Training Command, he led the organization to become the Navy’s premier source of advanced tactical training. Later, as Chief of Staff for Combined Forces Special Operations Component Command–Afghanistan, he directed a 220-person headquarters supporting 27,000 personnel across multiple nations, playing a key role in expanding operational capacity by 60%.
After retiring from the Navy, Wes brought that same commitment to excellence and teamwork into the energy sector. Previously serving as the Vice President of Business Development at CAVU International, he led leadership and performance improvement programs worldwide. His work has taken him from offshore rigs in the North Atlantic and the Gulf of Thailand to land rigs in West Texas and chemical plants in the U.S. Southeast.
Whether coaching a drilling team in West Texas or supporting offshore leaders in the North Sea, Wes applies a simple principle: strong teams outperform strong individuals. His real-world insights connect directly with leaders at all levels—from the front line to the C-suite—showing how habits of clear communication, humility, and accountability drive both safety and performance.
Wes is a 1988 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Physical Science. He is also a 2000 graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School where he earned a Master of Science in Information Technology Management. He is a co-founder of the Stand Up Veterans Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that helps veterans reconnect through the shared experience of surfing and immersion in the healing power of the ocean.
Speaking At
