I was born and raised in rural Montana and have always been interested in aviation.  I first entered aviation when I enlisted in the United States Army as a crew chief working on AH-64D Longbow Apache helicopters.   After a short time in the army, I enrolled in helicopter flight school, earning my private, commercial, instrument, and CFI ratings.   While I will always enjoy flying, the pilot life was not for me.  I returned to the maintenance world while attending Salt Lake Community College, where I earned my A & P certificate.   I have since worked as a government contractor on Apache helicopters, Aerial fire-fighting tanker aircraft (BAE-146), and EMS medical helicopters. (Bell 429 and 407).   I work full-time for Idaho State University instructing in the aircraft maintenance program.