My love for conservation began at an early age, before I learned how to fly. Traveling through the National Park system and many of the State Park systems during family trips, I developed a love and appreciation for nature and wildlife. When I learned how to fly in high school, I was vaguely aware that pilot careers other than airline/civilian or military existed, so I continued to pursue my training.
During my time spent accruing flight hours, I was fortunate enough to gain a lot of single-pilot/single-engine experience flying all over the United States as a Ferry Pilot for a Cessna brokerage company called Van Bortel in Arlington, TX. After working simultaneously as a Flight Instructor in single- and multi-engine aircraft, a Ferry Pilot, and as seat support for simulator sessions in Beechjets and King Airs at SimuFlite, I started my first airline job at Republic Airlines in the Dash 8 Q400, where I learned a lot about flying in and around mountainous terrain. My career next took me to another regional airline called CommutAir, where I flew the Dash 8 Q200/Q300 and E145, spending the majority of my time as a Captain and Simulator Instructor in the Training Department. My next stop was Air Transport International, where I enjoyed several years as a B757 and B767 Captain flying to interesting places such as Wake Island, Kwajalein, Greenland, Japan, Singapore, Europe, the continental U.S., as well as Hawaii and Alaska.
Being fortunate enough to see so much of the world helped keep fanning the desire to find a way to give back to our community; to find a way to help. Now that I've found my "forever home" at American Airlines, I'm pleased to be able to volunteer in many ways, such as flying patients to and from their appointments or homes with PALS SkyHope, or teaching at the Flying Club I belong to in Akron, OH. In my spare time, I enjoy riding my motorcycles, going on the lake and wakeboarding with my girlfriend, and exploring (National and State Parks, sightseeing drives, roadtrips, etc.).
I'm very lucky to have found and been welcomed into SouthWings; I am happy to do what I can to help keep conservation headed in the correct direction as well as help protect our nature and wildlife systems.
