Growing up in the Miami, Florida suburbs, Rick Bishop was captivated by aviation. Soloing at age 16, his passion for flight knew no bounds, and following his third year of college, he volunteered for the Army Aviation Program leading to 1,000 hours of heavy-lift helicopter combat time in Vietnam. Following his early release from the Army and finishing his bachelor's degree, he joined the Air Force to fly jets and after four years as a KC-135 aircraft commander, instructor, and evaluation pilot, was selected to interview for a special duty assignment as a U-2 pilot culminating 12 years later as the commander of the only operational U-2 squadron in the U.S. Following further advancement, he retired early after nearly 25 years of military aviation service to fly for American Airlines. He retired after over fifty rewarding years of piloting civilian, military and airline aircraft. Lt. Col. Bishop holds A.S., B.S. M.P.A. degrees and is a graduate of the very selective and prestigious Air War College. He now resides in the rolling hills of a central-Florida equestrian community, north of Ocala with his dedicated wife, Virginia, of 40 years.