Dan is a graduate of Air University National Security Forum 2002 Maxwell Air Force Base Montgomery, Alabama.
Dan also graduated form Army War College National Security Seminar 2006 Carlisle Barricks Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
The highlight of Dan's relationship with the military was when he spoke to the U.S. and Coalition Forces Commanders in the Grand Ballroom of Saddam Hussein's palace in Baghdad, Iraq and then spent the night sleeping in the palace guest quarters. Oh yea! And how did Dan get there?
In 1999, Dan was invited to speak at a Navy Leadership Conference. Immediately following his long standing ovation, he was scheduled to be the keynote speaker at the Navy Commanders Conference later that year at the Naval Museum in Pensacola, Florida. When Dan returned to the dinner table following his speech and another rousing ovation, Admiral Dwyer, Admiral Clark and Admiral Healy all thanked Dan and expressed that if there was anything any of them could do, to please let them know. Without blinking an eye Dan replied, “I would love to fly in an F-18 fighter jet.” On January 17, 2000 Dan got his ride out of Patuxent River, Maryland Navy Test Pilot School.
Details of Dan's all day long safety/survival/physiology training experiences and his incredible flight can be found in Dan's newest book, Best or Right?. You will laugh until you cry as you read about Dan catching 7 G's, soaring to 55,000 feet altitude where you can start to see the curvature of the earth and cruising at Mach II, twice the speed of sound! Flying at 640 knots at only 500 feet off the ground over the bombing range in North Carolina was exhilarating to say the least. Did Dan “pop his cookies?” Read Dan's book to find out!
The Air Force got a great recommendation on Dan and asked him to speak at Hill Air Force Base to the 388th Fighter Wing and Support Wings. Twelve squadrons in Hanger 37 heard Dan's powerful speech in January 2001. Wing Commander Colonel Johnny Weida was elated with the long standing ovation and expressed that if there was anything he could do for Dan, to let him know. Without blinking an eye, Dan replied, “I would love to fly in an F-16 fighter jet.” On June 6, 2001 (D-Day!), Dan flew with Colonel Bill Couttes, went 1.1 mach, caught 9 G's and chased and later was chased by another F-16 in air to air combat maneuvers (this experience is also found in Dan's book Best or Right?) Dan was made Honorary Wing Commander, given the official call sign “Hot Lips” and his lifelong love affair with the military was full on!
Military Service At A Glance
Dan was never in the military, but feels he is serving his country each time he speaks to our troops and their leaders. Beginning in July, 2000, Dan has addressed a new class of Captains and Lieutenants at “Squadron Officer School” and “Air and Space Basic Course” at Air War College/Air University - Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, Alabama. Every five weeks Dan speaks to the new class of Officers and then later in the day to the “Senior Non-Commissioned Officers Leadership Academy” across the way at
Gunter Annex.
Dan has been a keynote speaker to cadets at all of the U.S. military academies, has twice been the general session speaker at the Air Force Academy Character and Leadership Development Symposium, has been a headliner at West Point's National Conference on Ethics and West Point's Women's Conference, and had the distinct honor to be the luncheon speaker at “Corona” - the Air Force Four Star Generals Leadership Conference.
Dan was an invited student and graduated from the National Security Forum at both Air University and Army War College and has spoken at Commanders Conferences all over the world, including the U.S. Air Forces in Europe/NATO meetings in Germany and England.
Dan's Southwest Asian Tour
From February 15 to March 1, 2005, Dan was a guest of Air Combat Command's 9th Air Force Central Command and traveled to Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan and Iraq. Dan spoke 23 times on 12 bases, to 30,000 troops and to 2,500 sailors, officers and NCO's on the U.S.S. Harry Truman aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf.
Dan took 30,000 packages of Juicy Fruit gum, sponsored and sent by Telecom Corporation out of New York, with the support and blessing of their amazing and generous CEO, Ed Donelan. The troops loved it! They send their heartfelt thanks to Telecom!
At the conclusion of each speech, I offered to phone their loved ones when I returned to the States to say hello and pass on their love. Over 500 airmen, soldiers and sailors gave me names and numbers. It took me many weeks to make the calls, but what a magnificent experience to connect with the families of our brave and unselfish service men and women. When asked if I'm proud of my efforts, I reply that everything military-related has always been pro bono. This is my small way of serving my country, helping my America and giving back a little to our finest, most noble military men and women, whom I so deeply appreciate and love!
Incredible Experiences
Because of my dedication to the morale and well being of our military personnel, I have had incredible experiences!
For the record, I am in the back seat, but the pilots have always let me take the controls for a while. I have flown:
T-38 - with instructor at Randolph AFB, Texas (Mach, 6 G's, formation flying, maneuverability demo)
F-4 - Eglin AFB, Florida (.98 Mach, 6 G's, bombing runs and playing in the clouds!)
F-15 - Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina (Mach, 7 G's, 648 knots at 1,000 feet, bombing runs)
F-16 - Hill AFB & Nellis AFB with the Thunderbirds & Europe (Mach, 9.4 G's, all air show and air-to-air combat maneuvers)
F-18 - Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Maryland (Mach II, 7 G's, 55,000 feet altitude, bombing runs, simulated carrier landing)
KC-135 Refueler - Edwards AFB, California (90- minute orbit, refueled F- 16, F-18 and F-117)
B-52 Bomber - Minot AFB, North Dakota (#7 engine started on fire in flight, bomber call sign “Torch”)
KC-10 - With Three-Star General Buchanan, Commander of the 9th Air Force, flying from Shaw AFB, South Carolina to Southwest Asia, being refueled over Nova Scotia on the way and returning back to America!
C-130 Hercules Transport - 18 flights over 13 days throughout Southwest Asia (total blackout “Night Vision Goggles Take-Off,” tactical high speed rapid descent landings!)
Blackhawk Helicopter - Fast and furious! 100 feet off the ground by 100 mph over Iraq and off the U.S.S. Harry S. Truman Carrier deck to fly back to Al Udeid Base in Qatar.
Special Memory
When my father-in-law passed away, I arranged for a “Four Ship - Missing Man Formation” fly-by with four F-16 fighter jets to honor him at the cemetery service. It was spectacular and moving, with the Honor Guard folding the flag off his casket and presenting it to his wife. The 21- Gun Salute and bugler playing “Taps” brought an amazing spirit to the surroundings. Then the jets roared overhead! Wow!!
And wouldn't you know it? I get to Balad Base in Baghdad, Iraq and there I see twelve F-16's with “HL” painted on the tail. They were jets with the 388th Fighter Wing from Hill AFB, Utah, where I am Honorary Wing Commander. Three pilots and two of the jets that flew my father- in-law's fly-by were there in Iraq fighting the bad guys. I spoke to all the troops that night and there on the front row were Colonel “Calvin” Klein and the other pilots, maintainers and support personnel!
For documentation sake, my itinerary in Southwest Asia included visiting with enlisted troops at their job work stations and speaking to the large gatherings of all ranks and civilian workers in the afternoons and evenings at twelve bases: Al Dhafra U.A.E., Al Udeid Qatar, Bagram and Kandahar Afghanistan, Camp Behring Kuwait, Camp Victory (Saddam's Palace in Baghdad Iraq), and Baghdad International, Balad, Ali Al Salem, Talil and Kirkuk Iraq.
We Must Always Remember And Defend The Fact:
“It is the soldier, not the reporter, who gave us freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who gave us freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who gave us freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier, who salutes the flag, who serves under the flag, whose coffin is draped by the flag, that gives those who selfishly choose to, their right to burn the flag!"
T-38 - with instructor at Randolph AFB, Texas (Mach, 6 G's, formation flying, maneuverability demo)
KC-10 - With Three-Star General Buchanan, Commander of the 9th Air Force, flying from Shaw AFB, South Carolina to Southwest Asia, being refueled over Nova Scotia on the way and returning back to America!
