About Me

But let's start at the beginning. I was born in Kenya, East Africa, where my parents were missionaries with Africa Inland Mission. I went to school at Rift Valley Academy, where I graduated with the Class of 1976. 

After graduating, I went to LeTourneau University, where I majored in Aviation Technology, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in December, 1983. This included training toward the FAA Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic license and flight training to the Instrument Instructor and Multi-Engine level.

After graduating from LeTourneau, I joined the US Navy, spending the first 2 years of service as an enlisted jet engine mechanic, working on the Grumman EA-6B Prowler based at NAS Whidbey Island, WA. Then I was accepted into Aviation Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, FL, where I was commissioned as an Ensign in January, 1986. Flight training at NAS Whiting Field, FL and then NAS Kingsville, TX followed, and I earned my Wings of Gold in December, 1987. Then it was back to NAS Whidbey Island, where I was trained to fly the Grumman A-6E Intruder at Attack Squadron 128 and then assigned to Attack Squadron 165, attached to Carrier Air Wing 9, deploying aboard USS Nimitz (CVN-68). I served with VA-165 from March 1989 to March 1992, when I was honorably discharged to seek my fortune in the civilian world! (Navy Photos)

In 1993, I started a job with Air Serv International, a "Non Profit Humanitarian Air Transport" company, where I was assigned to Quelimane, Mozambique, Africa. I flew the Cessna 206 and 210 into and out of dirt strips of varying quality (mostly dubious at best!) in support of several relief and development organizations in Mozambique, most frequently World Vision International. We transported personnel to and from remote work sites and did some food lifts into the smaller airstrips that could not be served by larger aircraft. (Air Serv Photos)

Upon returning from Mozambique in 1994, I worked as a copilot/mechanic for K&K Aircraft, now called Dynamic Aviation, on a contract in Los Angeles with the US Dept. of Agriculture, dropping sterilized Med-Flies over the LA basin for the Med-Fly control project. I flew in a Hamilton Westwind III conversion of the Beech 18 with Pratt & Whitney PT-6 turboprops.

After my 3 month stint dropping Med-Flies, I started what was to become a 14 month road trip as a bus driver for the Continental Singers, a Christian singing group in which young people between 12 and infinity are given the opportunity to minister through music at churches, schools, prisons, etc throughout North America and the World. The tour took me across the US and Canada 4 times between October '94 and December '95. (Continental Ministries Photos)

I worked for Bemidji Aviation, flying Beech Queen Airs and Barons in support of freight and passenger charter operations in Minnesota in 1996 and 1997. I also spent some time driving charter buses with Lorenz Bus Service in Minnesota.

Then I went back to the Continentals. I drove a 6 week tour during the summer of 97 and 2 six week tours in the summer of 1998, one in California, the other included Switzerland, and was asked to drive year round for the Jeremiah People, the drama arm of the Continentals from September 1997 until June 1999.

I flew for AeroGenesis Aviation in Lansing, MI, flying a Beechcraft King Air 200 for a year and a half, until financial restructuring dictated the closing of the charter department and the laying off of all the pilots. This was not bad timing for me, as I was in the process of application, and finally appointment, with Mission Aviation Fellowship as a missionary pilot. My first assignment with MAF was to Mali, where I filled in temporarily for 1 year for furloughing staff. I then returned to the States to finish raising my required support. I was in Mali from September, 2002, to August, 2003, where I flew a King Air A-90. From January to August, 2004, I studied French at Université Laval in Québec, Québec, Canada. From November 2004 to December 2005, I was assigned to the East DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) program, flying out of Entebbe, Uganda into northeast DRC in a Cessna 208 Caravan and a Cessna 206. (MAF Photos)

I spent 2006 flying a Cessna 414 air ambulance from Roswell, NM for Southwest Med Evac. I flew a Beech 1900C for Suburban Air Freight between Sioux Falls, SD, and Fargo, ND, for most of 2007.

I completed a 1 year contract flying a Beech 1900 turboprop for Sahel Aviation Service in Bamako, Mali, in May 2009. I flew for SAS, again, in West Africa, from December 2009, to February 2010, based in Conakry, Guinea. (SAS Photos)

I flew a Beech 1900D with Evergreen Helicopters in Afghanistan between July 2010 and January 2011. (Afghanistan Photos)

I spent a year and a half, beginning in February 2011, with USA Jet Airlines, flying DC-9’s and MD-80’s as a first officer.

I spent 6 months as a contract pilot with InterAir South Africa, based in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, flying a Beech 1900D and instructing Ivorian Air Force pilots in it.

I flew a Metro III for Encore Air Cargo, based in Minot, ND, for a few months in 2013.

I then got a 2 year contract to fly for a luxury tented camp, Campi ya Kanzi, in the Chyulu Hills of south central Kenya, facing Mt Kilimanjaro from November of 2013 through September of 2015.  I flew a Cessna 206 painted in giraffe livery, transporting guests to and from Nairobi and to various other tourist destinations around Kenya, as well as provisions for the camp, and occasional flights in support of wildlife conservation such as game counts in the Tsavo ecosystem.

After returning to the US in 2015, I spent 10 months as a pilot with Gama Aviation, on the Wheels Up contract, flying King Air 350i aircraft.

Early in 2017 I spent a 72 day rotation in Afghanistan, flying a King Air 300 for ISR operations out of Bagram Air Base.

In May of 2017 I moved to Midland, TX, to fly for DV Aviation.  I've flown off and on for DVA since then in a variety of aircraft, including Cheyenne I, King Air F90, 200 and 350, Lear 31 and 45, Kodiak 100, and Citation CJ2 and Bravo aircraft.

From November of 2018 through October of 2020, I managed 2 different aircraft for a 3 private owner partnership.  A King Air 200, and then a Citation II Bravo.

After the partnership sold the Bravo, I spent 10 months in 2021, into early 2022, flying a Citation II Bravo for Saturn Aviation out of Austin, TX.

I returned to Midland in 2022 to work, again, with DV Aviation, primarily flying a CJ2 and Citation Bravo, as well as the Kodiak 100.

In September, I left DVA to work as a contract pilot in Lear 45 aircraft, until I was hired to my current position.