What would make an accomplished Air Force pilot walk away from a successful career at Boeing and take an 80% pay cut to start over?

For Alex Cole, it came down to knowing what he really wanted and refusing to eliminate himself before someone else had the chance to say no.

In this episode of Straighten Up & Fly Right, Alex shares a remarkable aviation journey that began with seeing the SR-71 as a kid in Okinawa and eventually took him through the U.S. Air Force Academy, pilot training, the RC-135 Rivet Joint, presidential airlift, Boeing, the regional airlines, and ultimately the left seat as a 737 captain.

But the résumé is only part of the story.

Alex talks candidly about missing out on the pilot slot he expected, nearly washing out of pilot training because of airsickness, applying for opportunities other people thought were out of reach, and questioning whether he was good enough to become an airline pilot even after years of military flying.

He also shares what it was like supporting presidential and senior government airlift missions, including flying Vice President Dick Cheney and First Lady Michelle Obama, and why precision takes on an entirely different meaning when the President's schedule is involved.

Today, Alex continues giving back as a board member with Legacy Flight Academy, helping expose young people to aviation and opportunities they may never have imagined for themselves.

His message is simple:

Don't self-eliminate. Let them tell you no.

00:00 Introduction to Alex Cole and the 89th Airlift Wing
01:15 Origin Story: The SR-71 Habu and Childhood Dreams in Okinawa
04:30 High School Years and the Air Force Academy Decision
06:45 Missing the Pilot Pipeline: Desert Storm Budget Cuts and Disappointment
09:20 Civil Engineering as a Different Path
11:00 The Unexpected Benefits of Taking Another Route
13:15 Finally Getting to Pilot Training and the RC-135 Rivet Joint Assignment
15:30 Returning to Okinawa as an Operations Officer
17:45 Coming Full Circle: Back to Where It All Started
19:30 The DV Airlift Opportunity and Crossing Commands
21:45 The Power of Not Self-Eliminating
24:00 Advice to Young Applicants: Let Them Tell You No
26:30 The Two-Day Interview Process for Presidential Airlift