Les Thomas Sr. is a bestselling author, nationally recognized motivational speaker, and transformational community leader committed to infusing hope into the next generation. A native Oklahoman, Les honorably served 20 years in the United States Air Force, including serving during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, retiring in 2018.

Following his military career, Les emerged as a notable music artist and speaker, gaining national recognition with features in The Source, Hype Magazine, and Urban Magazine. In 2022, he published his bestselling book, Three Levels of Influence, a mentorship blueprint focused on the power of being mentored, sharpening peers, and developing others. He also delivered a TED Talk titled “It’s Never Too Late to Show Up,” sharing his journey from a trauma-filled childhood to becoming a champion for resilience, healing, and transformation.

Les currently serves as the Executive Director of Community Engagement at Urban Bridge, where he leads efforts to educate, equip, empower, and bridge the gap between school and community. He is the co-founder of Hope Culture LLC and creator of the Hope Culture Leadership framework centered on Healing, Opportunity, Potential, and Empowerment (H.O.P.E.), impacting students across Oklahoma.

In 2023, Les was appointed by Governor Kevin Stitt to the Oklahoma Board of Juvenile Affairs and now serves as Vice Chair of the Board and Chairman of the Oklahoma State Advisory Group (SAG), advising on youth justice reform and administering federal juvenile justice funds. His leadership reflects his lifelong commitment to systems-level impact and mentorship.

Les is a graduate of Leadership Oklahoma (Class 37), serves on the Salt and Light Leadership Training (SALLT) Board, and was selected as a 2026 Afterschool Ambassador with the Afterschool Alliance, representing Oklahoma and advocating nationally for expanded afterschool and summer learning opportunities.

Many also know Les as the energetic game-day emcee and “Hype Man of Hope” for Oklahoma State University football and basketball, where he uses his platform to inspire crowds of up to 60,000 people blending energy, authenticity, and purpose.

Above all, Les is a devoted husband to his wife Mary of 25 years, a proud father of two adult children, and “Booh-Paw” to three grandchildren. Whether speaking in classrooms of six or stadiums of sixty thousand, Les lives by one belief: a person’s demographics should never determine their destiny.