Melvyn Downes

Melvyn Downes is an Ex-SAS Sergeant Major who served 24 years with the British Army after signing up at the age of just 16. Now an inspiring motivational speaker and author, Melvyn shares how resilience, hard work, and true grit are the ultimate keys to achieving one's goals.  

In 1991, Melvyn led a patrol into combat during the Gulf War and completed three tours of duty in Northern Ireland, in charge of 30 men. In 1994, he was selected on his first attempt for the Special Air Service of the UK Special Forces, becoming one of the first British-born black men to join the elite regiment and where he then spent the majority of his career. In his 12 years of service with the SAS, Melvyn was involved in secret missions and exclusive training ops across more than 50 countries, including Iraq, Bosnia, and Macedonia. Through determination, drive, and persistence, Melvyn worked his way to achieving the prestigious rank of Warrant Officer. After leaving the forces, he remained involved in the military environment, specialising in managing media terms in hostile environments around the world, mainly in the Middle East and also trained Special Forces troops from the area for many years. He also spent time working in Anti-piracy protection in the Arabian Gulf, as well as providing bodyguard protection for celebrities like Beyoncé and Jay Z. Most recently, he has been involved in humanitarian efforts in Ukraine.

With an accomplished four decades in the military and security spaces, Melvyn became involved in Season 6 of the hit Channel 4 show SAS: Who Dares Wins, starring alongside Ant Middleton, Jason Fox, and Mark Billingham as a member of the Directing Staff and was the first DS member of colour. Melvyn is also the author of the autobiography ‘Unbreakable: The Trailblazing SAS Soldier Who Never Backed Down’, in which he tells the incredible story of a boy tormented by racist bullies who used his indomitable spirit to become an SAS soldier.

Now an outstanding keynote speaker, Melvyn is sharing the experiences and life skills developed from his years in high-pressure, decisive, tactical environments. He has been featured in various media for Men’s Health, Outkick, Force TV, LADBible, Channel 4 and more. Focusing on the importance of mindset, commitment, and motivation, Melvyn’s unforgettable talks equip audiences with the passion to succeed and completely smash their goals.