I'm a Topgun-trained fighter pilot for the Navy. I'd make more money as an airline pilot, but it...

"The Naval Academy wasn't on my radar in high school, but being a successful swimmer got me noticed by their college recruiters.

My grandfather and uncle were also Navy reservists in the 1950s. The application process was pretty arduous: There's a fitness test and medical screening, and, generally, military academies have pretty low acceptance rates. I also had to get nominated by a member of Congress from Louisiana — my home state — to even be considered.

I was a strong swimmer, so naturally I thought I'd become a Navy SEAL. During the first two years in college, that was my goal".