I am currently a Captain for Southwest Airlines flying three different models of the Boeing 737 all over the country. I have been flying large aircraft for 30 years and have both a civilian and military flying background. Flying all over the world in the USAF and witnessing first hand the tremendous power and dynamics of fast developing weather along with witnessing my first tornado as it chased me at the age of 5 years old is what has driven my interest in severe weather.

Aviation has given me a practical foundation in meteorology, and operating jet aircraft at high altitude has given me a perspective on weather dynamics that most storm chasers never get to see. As I near retirement from flying with the airlines, I have decided to continue studying severe weather but this time from the ground. It is much more difficult on the ground and requires much more planning with the constant reminder that I cannot run to or from a storm at 525 mph anymore.

I hold a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Science and Electronics and a Master of Arts in Theology. I have over 20,000 flight hours and currently hold and Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) rating , a Certified Flight Instructor and Instrument Instructors rating (CFI/CFII) and I am type rated in the Lear Jet, Cessna Citation Jet, and Boeing 737.

On the HAM radio side, I have an Amateur Extra Class FCC  Radio License. My base rig is a Yaesu FT-1000MP Mark-V Field which I use primarily as my HF radio and a Yaesu 8800R for my VHF/UHF operations. My base antennas are a G5RV dipole for multi-band HF, and an Arrow J-Pole antenna for the VHF/UHF rig.  On the mobile side, go here to see my chase vehicle and read about how it is equipped.