Any native born citizen can grow up to be President of the United States but if you're more interested in flying than governing you can also grow up to be the President's personal pilot and get a bird's eye view of history in the making from the flight deck of Air Force One or Marine One.
“From my vantage point in the cockpit I could see him meeting kings and queens and presidents,” Col. Mark Tillman (Ret.) said of President George W. Bush, whom he served as commander of Air Force One. “Those are things I’ll always remember.”

Lt. Col. Lindy Kirkland (Ret.), who commanded Marine One under President Bush, shares similar recollections. “One of the most memorable missions,” he said, “was when we did the G8 Summit at Sea Island, Georgia [in 2004]. We flew 38 heads of state and presidential flights in a very demanding environment. It was intense.”

Best of all for applicants and aspirants, no Top Gun skills or “soloedat-sixteen” resume is required. Col. Tillman had zero flight training when he entered the Air Force with an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering. “I’d always wanted to fly, but could never afford it,” he said.

Kirkland had equally slim aviation experience, save for one flight in a C-152 as a young teen. “I came through ROTC. They were offering what they called an ‘Air Guarantee’ after I finished basic training,” he said, chuckling at the memory of “guaranteed flight training” that he knew might not materialize. “But it worked for me.”

Top Gun skills or not, pilots for the POTUS (President Of The United States) definitely have the Right Stuff. Cols. Tillman and Kirkland explained what it takes to become commander of the President’s aircraft, and the responsibilities that come with the honor of taking the left seat.

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