All U.S. Navy SEALs have been trained to survive against unfathomable odds. The combination of physical and mental strength, honed over years of missions and combat, builds resilience that can help overcome trauma, on or off the battlefield.
Retired U.S. Navy Capt. Tom Murphy, a Silver Star recipient, believes anyone can develop these same adaptive skills. He'll share what he's learned when he takes center stage for Ruth Pauley Speakers' Nov. 10 discussion at Bradshaw Performing Arts Center.
This is the third of five talks scheduled for the organization's 2026-27 season, aimed at engaging the community in topics that affect our world. Tickets, which are free but required, are now available at TicketMeSandhills for the 7 p.m. event on the Sandhills Community College campus.
“America is in a social crisis, living in an era of stress and trauma at a level like never before,” said Murphy. “My story is a personal journey, but it demonstrates what I believe is important to life, and what I have learned that can help others cope.”
Murphy, a combat veteran of the Vietnam War, rose through the ranks to become the commanding officer of two SEAL commands, including the much-publicized SEAL Team Six. Since retiring, Murphy has focused on sharing his experiences and insights regarding trauma and recovery.
Titled “Beyond the Trident: A Navy SEAL's Search Through Trauma for Meaning in Life,” his talk will cover a journey of hardships and healing, beginning with his mother's death when he was 6. From a young age to retirement, Murphy has explored the questions every human is wired to ask: Why are we here? Why did things happen? What role do we play in it?
The answers lead to a three-legged stool of building strength: mind, body and spirit. It is the basis for his memoir, “Beyond the Trident,” which pays homage to the lessons he learned in overcoming post-traumatic stress disorder and ultimately finding purpose and peace.
All Ruth Pauley Speakers events begin at 7 p.m. at Owens Auditorium in Bradshaw Performing Arts Center. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Lobby doors open at 6 p.m., and auditorium doors open at 6:30 p.m.
The 2026-27 Ruth Pauley Speakers season includes five experts chosen to deepen understanding of key issues and encourage public participation in their resolution. The two remaining talks will take place in March and April.
For more information about the season or how to donate, visit Ruth Pauley Speakers.
About Ruth Pauley Speakers
Since 1987, Ruth Pauley Speakers has provided residents of the North Carolina Sandhills and surrounding areas with the opportunity to benefit from a roster of renowned thinkers, statesmen, artists, experts and other extraordinary speakers at no charge. Each year, it offers a new schedule of speakers to deepen society's understanding of key issues and encourage public participation in their resolution.
The series was named for Ruth M. Pauley, a prominent social worker who retired to Moore County in 1978 after a lifetime career in the United States and abroad. Her work with the U.S. Social Security Service, the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration, and the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare led to worldwide impact, policy development and human care.
In retirement, she volunteered for a variety of community charities serving those in need. She took particular interest in the special contributions women can make to understanding social issues. As a lasting legacy, Ruth Pauley Speakers was formed for the purpose of critical studies of local, state, national and world issues of concern to the citizens of Moore County.