Thank you for choosing Hayes Aviation as your personal representative in private aviation.
I come from a hard working middle class Michigan family with two parents who worked in education and encouraged me to pursue a college degree post graduating from my hometown high school. Knowing I would have to be financially independent to do so, I joined the Marine Corps in 1994 as a reservist. I attended Boot camp at MCRD San Diego and after graduation, attended the School of Infantry in Camp Pendleton California where I finished my training as an 0331/Machine Gun Infantryman. Shortly thereafter, I checked into 1st Battalion 24th Marines 4th Marine Division where I served 6 years as a reservist reaching the rank of Sergeant (E5) in July 2000.
During my time as an enlisted marine I attended recurrent training in various facets of amphibious warfare to include: MWTC (Mountain Warfare Training Center), Amphibious Warfare School at Coronodo Island, Combined Air to Ground Exercise Training at Twenty Nine Palms California, and Cold Weather Training Center at Thunder Bay Canada; all of which I completed concurrently as I pursued a Bachelor’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering at Central Michigan University.
During my time at Central Michigan, I earned a position on their football team as a walk on athlete where after tryouts and several months of dedication and determination, I earned a position as an outside linebacker playing for the CMU Chippewas. This gave me the opportunity to earn a full ride scholarship for football. I graduated in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and as the President of Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity.
After graduation, I passed my Series 7 and Series 66 to become a Financial Advisor for American Express Financial where I managed multi-million dollar client portfolios and assets. It was at that time, our country experienced the most horrific terrorist attack in American history and after 9/11, I recommitted myself to my country as a Marine Corps Officer.
I attended Officer Candidate School (OSC) and The Basic School (TBS) in Quantico Virginia before starting Flight School in Pensacola, Florida. I then went on to attend Aviation Pre-Indoctrination School before starting Flight School at Whiting Field, Florida where I flew the T-34C/Turbo Mentor. After graduation I attended Advanced Jet Training in Kingsville, Texas, flying the T-45C/Goshawk. It was in Kingsville Texas that I learned the basics in deploying Air to Ground munitions, Air to Air combat, and Carrier qualifications on the USS Theodore Roosevelt. I was Winged a Naval Aviator on the deck of the USS Lexington in 2005.
My tour as an FA/18 pilot began with an assignment to the F/A-18 Hornet Fleet Replacement Squadron in Miramar, California where Fighter Air to Air and Air to Ground combat became second nature while finishing with Carrier Qualifications on the USS Ronald Reagan. After successfully completing my prerequisites, I was deployed to Iwakuni, Japan to join VMFA (AW)-242 "The Bats." During that time I was also assigned to fly with VMFA-115 "The Silver Eagles" where I was assigned to multiple fighter deployments over South Korea, Thailand, The Philippines, and Okinawa, Japan.
For having excelled as an aviator on various operations, I was asked to take an assignment stateside where I had earned and was now qualified as a Division Leader, Forward Air Controller Airborne, Low Altitude Tactics Instructor and Weapons Instructor with VMFA-312 "The Checker Boards" located in Beaufort, South Carolina.
Back in the USA I was able to balance my flying duties while attending classes at the Naval post graduate school majoring in Expeditionary Warfare and Aviation Safety. In 2011 as a senior Captain I was requested to become an F/A-18 Instructor Pilot back in Miramar, California at the Fleet Replacement Squadron where I led and taught young aviators just like myself. It was at this command in which I ultimately left the Marine Corps in 2013 having served 6 years enlisted and 10 years as an officer being selected for promotion to Major, before leaving.
Since October 2013, I have worked as a Corporate Pilot and Jet Broker, while developing trusted relationships within the aviation community that would enable me to best serve my clients.
In 2014, I married my wife who also served as an active duty marine for 5 years in the aviation community and still has many thriving relationships within the private aviation industry. Together we share 8 beautiful children and are active members of our church, participate in community outreach and serve on the board of a non-profit association.
I am currently a senior Captain in the Hawker 800, Gulfstream G200, Gulfstream G280 and Gulfstream G500. I have flown over 1000 hours in the F/A-18 and over 4000 hours in corporate Jets. My passion for aviation is what drives my desire to grow in this industry but it is my middle class roots, my motivation to put in the work and my willingness to step outside the box and take the road less traveled which is what I believe has been most vital to my success. Hayes Aviation, LLC is the culmination of a lifelong drive to succeed as well as the pinnacle of my families legacy. It is with true integrity and a desire to serve every client honorably that I thank you for choosing Hayes Aviation as your private aviation representative.
