He joined the Air Force through their ROTC program and became a fighter pilot. I graduated from Pepperdine University with an accounting degree and, not to be outdone by my buddy Bob, called the Navy recruiter and told them I wanted to fly airplanes off ships. Eight months of paperwork and testing later, I was accepted into the Navy’s flight program.

My work in Top Gun Maverick resulted from years of experience. I joined the Navy because of the movie Top Gun when I was 22 years old, and then it was surreal to have the opportunity to fly as a stunt pilot for the sequel when I was 51. This opportunity led me to be asked to first train the actors and actresses in high-performance jet aircraft. Later, I was called back and asked to perform as a stunt pilot in the final fight scene of the movie. It was exceptionally intense, demanding work and yet the culmination of a full-circle journey. Sometimes I pinch myself at my good fortune.

Like many people, I have experienced the ripple effects of losing someone we care about to suicide. The pivotal moment for me was November 5, 2021. Our family was attending the Blue Angels 75th reunion show in Pensacola, FL. Our oldest son, Wyatt, received a phone call informing him that his Naval Academy roommate had taken his life that morning. As a family, we were devastated. I began sobbing and realized that I was in a position to do something through the Blue Angels Foundation to help prevent veteran suicide.

We have a national epidemic of veteran and active-duty suicides that is unacceptable. Seventeen veterans and five active-duty military members take their own lives daily on average. They need support financially to receive the mental and physical help they need to overcome PTSD or other demons they may face.

I have been afforded incredible opportunities in my life and have been blessed with the gift of communication in leadership, so I choose to use those attributes to save the lives of our fellow citizens.