Jim Philpitt, A.A.E., is a retired Captain in the U.S. Navy, whose 30-plus years of military service spanned the Cold War to Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM and included command of an air group of eight squadrons. A civilian pilot since age 16 and a Naval Flight Officer with over 3600 flight hours in strike and reconnaissance aircraft, he holds a BS in Government from Florida State University, an MPA in Public Administration from the University of West Florida, and additional postgraduate diplomas from the U.S. Naval War College, the USAF Air War College, and the Joint Forces Staff College. An Executive Emeritus member of AAAE, he has been an A.A.E. since May 1992 and is currently a senior planner in support of a combatant command of the U.S. Department of Defense.