I am a military veteran, pilot, filmmaker, mountaineer, motivational speaker, endurance athlete, and above all, I have an unwavering passion for life. I make the most of every day by immersing myself in pursuits that inspire me, ignite my spirit, and drive me to seek new adventures and challenges.

Adopting a "why not?" mindset has propelled me to accomplish some incredible feats, including running 12 marathons, graduating from the United States Air Force Academy, climbing Mount Denali, completing an Ironman 70.3, flying and commanding missions on a KC-135 (Boeing 707), leading a refugee camp, serving 13 years in active duty Air Force, buying and living in a camper van, and now launching a career as a motivational speaker. I truly love life!

I was born in the Soviet Union in Lithuania in 1988 and immigrated to the United States for better opportunities with my mother when I was just eleven years old. I enlisted in the Air Force at eighteen years old and started my career as a military dining facility cook. I then was nominated to attend the Air Force Academy and selected for pilot training after commissioning as an officer. From immigrant to cook to pilot! Phew, what a ride; but that’s just the start.

In college, I was physically active and took up marathon running, snowboarding, and rock climbing, which then led to mountaineering in my adult life. Mountaineering has allowed me to combine my strengths of endurance, grit, leadership, and risk awareness. While climbing mountains worldwide, including Mont Blanc in France and Pico de Orizaba in Mexico, I filmed adventure documentaries and captured those experiences. Filmmaking has seeped into my passion for the outdoors and has become a tool to educate and encourage folks to get outside. I went on to receive a Masters In Motion Pictures and Television with a focus in editing and filmmaking has been my artistic outlet that I very much enjoy.

Having a wide range of hobbies has made me stronger in my professional life as an Air Force Major and as an aviator. The outdoors has helped me achieve a healthy work-life balance, so I encourage my airmen to do the same and embrace their outlets for their well-being. Many aspects of mountaineering are also critical in aviation. In both fields, leadership, risk management, and crew resource management play vital roles. The parallels between leading a team in the cockpit and guiding a rope team across a glacier are striking, as both require effective coordination, decision-making, and teamwork.

I inherited a strong work ethic from my mother, an adventurous spirit from my father, and a respect for calculated risk-taking from my stepfather. My diverse upbringing and exposure to different cultures worldwide have shaped my unique mindset, allowing me to see life differently. I feel truly empowered by the endless opportunities America has offered me, and I’m motivated to live life to the fullest. My drive and sense of adventure stem from a positive outlook on the world as a beautiful place, where passions should be pursued now, not saved for later. So, go get after it!