Why should you read one of my books?
It’s a fair question. The answer is simple: I write from experience.
I bring a lifetime of real-world aviation knowledge and operational insight to the page. As a U.S. Air Force pilot during the Vietnam War, I flew combat missions as an O-2 Forward Air Controller, operating in some of the most demanding and high-risk environments imaginable. After returning from Vietnam and serving additional time flying the KC-135 air refueling tanker, I transitioned back to civilian life. The path wasn’t easy, but after two challenging years, I was hired by a regional airline and began a new chapter in
aviation.
Over the course of a 30-year airline career that spanned three corporate mergers, the
airline grew into one of the six largest in the world. Along the way, I had the privilege of flying some of the most remarkable aircraft ever built, including the Convair 580, DC-9, Boeing 727, Boeing 747-400, and Airbus A320. My office stretched from horizon to horizon as I logged thousands of flights across domestic and international routes.
After retiring from the airline industry, I continued my commitment to aviation safety with the Federal Aviation Administration in Washington, DC, I helped develop and implement elements of the FAA’s NextGen initiative—a nationwide effort to modernize the U.S. air traffic control system using satellite-based navigation and advanced technologies designed to enhance efficiency and safety.
While working on NextGen, I also served as rapporteur (chair) of an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) committee based in Paris. This international working group established aircraft separation standards for transatlantic flights, helping ensure the safe and efficient flow of traffic across one of the world’s busiest aviation corridors.
My final FAA assignment was overseeing a widebody fleet training program at a major international cargo carrier. The airline was among the first in the nation to implement NextGen operational changes. My role was to ensure long-haul pilots met the highest standards of training, performance, and regulatory compliance.
Today, I live on a lake in Tennessee with my wife, Barb. We have been happily married for more than 34 years. When I’m not writing, I enjoy bourbon, barbecue, and reflecting on the people, places, and life-and-death decisions that shaped my career.
My storytelling blends Southern narrative style with technical accuracy and high-stakes drama. My debut thriller, “Killing Hope” draws on decades of aviation experience, investigative insight, and a deep understanding of how people behave under pressure.
For readers who enjoy thrillers rich with authentic aviation detail and gripping investigative suspense, I offer something unique: stories written by someone who has truly lived the world I write about.