Came BACK to speak🎤 at GREEN RIVER COLLEGE! 💚✈️ I had the opportunity to return through Green River College’s International Programs to speak with future Japanese Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) about my journey from military to commercial aviation.

Three lessons I wanted to leave them with:

1. Bring PLAY on purpose. Aviation is demanding. Play, humor, and connection aren’t distractions. They’re tools for building trust and navigating high-stress environments.

2. Never lose the human element. Behind every radio call and flight plan is a human being. Technical skills matter, but so do empathy, patience, and how we treat one another.

3. Focus on what you can control. I shared my own medical setback and the question that came with it: What if I never fly again? Sometimes life takes an unexpected turn. Find what you can control, adapt, and turn adversity into an opportunity to grow.

Aviation needs skilled professionals, but it also needs good humans.

Thank you, Green River College, for welcoming me back for the FOURTH time! Here’s to the next generation 🛫.