Our Mission
The mission of The American Excellence Initiative is to be a change agent for all individuals, groups, or organizations seeking improvement in personal development, leadership, communication, habit formation, and group culture change.
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AEI is committed to providing value, exceeding expectations, and overdelivering to assist clients in pursuing the best version of themselves; Better people make better communities, better communities make better states, better states make a better country.
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Above all else...service.
about Us
Andy Arnold
Founder
Andy Arnold has spent his entire life dedicated to service and problem-solving. His unique blend of real-world experience and evidence-based practices has helped countless people achieve their personal and organizational goals.
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Andy’s background includes over two decades of leadership in education, law enforcement, diplomatic security, and public speaking. Andy has been both a student and practitioner of leadership in law enforcement patrol operations, tactical operations, education, athletics, international high-threat security operations, and in academic settings. He has received multiple awards, accolades, unit citations, and was awarded the prestigious Kreml Leadership Award by his colleagues. Andy has shifted his focus to helping others reach their peak potential through The American Excellence Initiative.
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​Andy’s commitment to excellence doesn’t end with his professional career—he continues to donate his time and resources to causes like Mission 22, a non-profit focused on veteran suicide prevention, among others. Whether he’s coaching a team, speaking to an audience, or mentoring individuals, Andy’s passion for helping people grow shines through in everything he does.
Certifications:
As a certified coach with the John Maxwell Team & Tiny Habits, Andy is an expert in personal development, leadership, and communication. His coaching and training methods are built around principles that produce lasting results. Andy has also become a national voice in school safety and crisis management, delivering over 250 engagements across the country in just a little over two years.
What is a Success Training Officer (STO)?
When a new police officer graduates from the academy, they enter an on-the-job training program where they apply the classroom knowledge to real-world situations. Each officer is paired with a Field Training Officer (FTO), who guides them through their first steps in the profession. In this phase, the new officer learns by modeling their behavior after the FTO. As they move through different phases and work with various FTOs, they gain diverse perspectives, develop their own style, and improve through experience, mistakes, and feedback.
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Success follows a similar path. There are countless programs, coaches, and mentors, each offering unique perspectives on achieving excellence. While there are many ways to success, core principles remain consistent across the board. These mentors and coaches function as Success Training Officers (STOs), guiding individuals to achieve personal and professional growth.
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At AEI, we teach the proven principles of success that have transformed countless lives. We’d be honored to serve as your Success Training Officer, helping you unlock your potential and achieve your goals.