My journey into aviation began at 13 years old, when I took my first flight in a Globe Swift through the EAA Young Eagles program. Aviation ran in my blood; my grandfather was an F-86 Sabre pilot with over 10,000 flight hours. I spent countless days at his hangar at North Las Vegas Airport, where he kept his Beechcraft Bonanza. Even though that Bonanza wasn’t airworthy at the time, hanging around the airport and talking to the local pilots solidified my passion.

Later, I won a lottery to enter a specialized, four-year magnet pilot program at my high school, which funded half of my flight training. I successfully earned my private pilot license in 2008. However, as a young college student, the financial reality of aviation caught up with me, and I simply couldn't afford to fly.

I built a career in the construction industry, but I always knew I would return to the skies. After many years away from the controls, 2026 finally brought the stability and opportunity to return to my passion. I purchased a Mooney M20E and fell completely in love with flying all over Oregon and Washington, including family trips up to the San Juan Islands.

Driven by a desire to pursue this passion full-time, I founded Valley Aviators. Through this flying club, my goal is to make aviation more accessible to aspiring pilots and to build a strong community that shares a collective love for the skies.