Scott T. Allison is Professor of Psychology at the University of Richmond, where he has published extensively on heroism and leadership. His books include Heroes, The Romance of Heroism and Heroic Leadership and Handbook of Heroism and Heroic Leadership.

George R. Goethals holds the E. Claiborne Robins Distinguished Professorship in Leadership Studies at the University of Richmond. His books include Realignment, Region, and Race: Presidential Leadership and Social Identity and Realignment, Region, and Race: Presidential Leadership and Social Identity.

In The Heroic Leadership Imperative, Scott T. Allison and George R. Goethals identify leaders who have succeeded in meeting all three categories of needs and they discuss such leaders' appeal by way of a unique integration classic and contemporary psychology relevant to understanding all facets of heroism and heroic leadership.