Mike Case W8MSC is one of the key figures behind Parks on the Air, helping transform a one-year, ARRL-sponsored park activation event into a lasting global program. Mike’s path into ham radio started later than most. Licensed in 2014 after a chance encounter reignited his technical curiosity, he brought a background in IT and a love for the outdoors. Field Day was the spark, but it wasn’t enough. He wanted more than a once-a-year experience. That search led him to National Parks on the Air (NPOTA) in 2016, and when that program sunset, Mike did not step away. Alongside Jason Johnston W3AAX, Thom Martin W8TAM, and others, he helped shape what came next. From a small Michigan-based effort to a national, and now international, platform, he was there building the backend, refining the rules, and testing ideas in real time. What began as a scrappy operation running on a server in a basement, built with a “maybe we’ll get 1,000 users” mindset, quickly took off. Mike and the team had to evolve fast, moving from a simple LAMP stack to a cloud-based microservices architecture. Along the way came unexpected challenges, from broken log formats to scaling pains and the complexity of global expansion. There is also a human side to it, with activators sharing tips, a small Facebook group turning into a worldwide community, and a program that has become a gateway into the hobby for thousands. Now POTA is entering its next chapter. With the formation of a formal board, Mike is focused on transferring institutional knowledge and helping set a durable foundation for the future. A new IT system is on the horizon, with faster awards processing and a shift to global ISO standards to better support international growth. This conversation is part of a larger series featuring all seven board members, with two interviews already live on YouTube, offering a closer look at the people guiding POTA forward. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Special thanks to DX Engineering for supporting operators across every corner of the hobby, from Parks on the Air activators to contesters and DXers pushing their stations to the limit. Their continued backing helps keep the spirit of operating alive worldwide.

Tom Morton K2GO is a Navy fighter pilot turned airline captain turned global aviation mentor—and through it all, a relentless ham radio operator who always found time to get on the air and meet new friends.

In Part II, Tom’s story widens from cockpit to command. He rises from top-of-class Navy aviator to instructor, then to carrier-qualified pilot and Landing Signal Officer, racking up nearly 200 carrier landings. His post-military career reads like a passport stamped across the globe: 707 captain in Cold War Berlin, widebody captain for American Airlines, and later a 777 and 787 instructor shaping the next generation of pilots from Dubai to Singapore to Seoul. Even in his 80s, he’s still flying jumpseat audits worldwide, quietly evaluating airline safety and standards.

But the throughline isn’t aviation—it’s radio. From aeronautical mobile QSOs over the Pacific to remote contesting from Virginia while living in Uruguay or Panama, Tom has ridden every technological wave the hobby has produced. He’s an early believer in remote operation—not as a shortcut, but as a democratizer—giving small-station operators access to big iron and helping keep contesting alive. He’s equally passionate about CW Ops and youth involvement, seeing both as the lifeblood of the next generation. His philosophy is simple: start small, listen more than you call, and respect timing—the difference between frustration and flow.

Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio.

DX Engineering continues to power the passion behind operators like Tom—supporting everyone from contesters to DXers with the gear and know-how that keeps signals moving around the world.

Seth Jones NU1D is a young contester who just got a front-row seat to big-league contesting, operating from J62K in St. Lucia during CQ WPX SSB, and discovering that the view is only half the story. It was also his first trip outside the United States, which adds a layer of awe you can’t fake. The pileups were real, but so was the moment. What begins as an application email turns into a months-long audition. Essays, Zoom calls, strategy sessions, and a slow immersion into how elite multi-ops think. Seth didn’t just show enthusiasm. He showed results, including a top North America finish in his category. By the time he landed in the Caribbean, he wasn’t just a guest. He was part of a system built on preparation, trust, and a team that knows how to win. Then came the shock. A 50-degree temperature swing from Maine. A mountainside villa overlooking the Caribbean. And immediate, relentless pileups. J62K isn’t plug-and-play. It is assemble-on-arrival, a temporary superstation with Elecraft K4s, stacked SteppIRs, and operators who understand how to extract every last QSO. Credit to the J62K team for doing something rare in this space. They make room for youth operators and treat them like real contributors, not spectators. But the real pivot is philosophical. Seth walks away convinced that multi-operator contesting is something deeper than score-chasing. It is shared skill. Operators, schedulers, builders. Everyone contributes a piece, and the result is bigger than any one person at the mic. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. DX Engineering keeps experiences like this within reach, supporting youth operators, contesters, and stations around the world who are pushing the limits of what’s possible on the air.