I’ve been flying for over 25 years, though my interest in aviation began much earlier — my father flew in the U.S. Air Force. The path to becoming a pilot once felt mysterious and distant, and I did not pursue it seriously until a friend invited me along for a “hundred-dollar hamburger.” It has cost a good bit more than that over the years, but it has been well worth the investment.

After earning my Private Pilot certificate, I continued training and added an Instrument rating, Commercial certificate, Multi-Engine rating, Seaplane rating, and ultimately an ATP certificate. Along the way, I earned instructor certificates (CFI, CFII, MEI) as well as complex, high-performance, and tailwheel endorsements. I now serve as an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE).

I have flown a wide variety of aircraft and continue to enjoy expanding both my experience and my logbook. Flying has introduced me to lifelong friends and has provided continual opportunities for growth. My professional career is in higher education, where teaching and evaluation are central to my work. The skills required in that environment — preparation, fairness, clear
communication, and thoughtful assessment — translate directly to both flight instruction and practical testing.

I enjoy working with candidates pursuing new certificates and ratings as a DPE and sharing aviation with others as a flight instructor. I provide checkrides (Airplane Single-Engine Land — Private, Instrument, Commercial) as well as primary and advanced instruction, multi-engine and instrument training, flight reviews, and endorsements for high-performance, complex, and tailwheel aircraft.

As a DPE, my goals are to provide a safe, professional, and comfortable testing environment and to establish a positive rapport, to enable you to demonstrate your knowledge and skills with confidence.