What if witnessing 10 deaths in 23 years changed your view on life?
In this episode, Kyle Skalisky shares how he helps teams build cultures of trust, respect, and accountability through his company Wyld Sky Aerospace and Management Consulting. After 23 years as a fighter pilot (F-15, F-16 aggressor, and F-18 in operational flight tests) and 15 years in the aerospace industry doing flight tests, Kyle recently stepped down as president and CEO of Check Six Aero Solutions to focus on giving back. His book "A Skyless Traveled: A Maverick Life of Leadership, Resilience, and the Pursuit of Purpose" shares lessons learned from the cockpit about building exceptional teams. Kyle believes good teams need three things: character (how people treat those who can do nothing for them), competence (people who can get the job done and are willing to learn), and commitment to the mission. He also wrote the book for his six and four-year-old sons, wanting to leave something showing what their father did for 50 years before they were born.
Kyle reveals three relationships that shaped him: meeting President Ronald Reagan at his Air Force Academy graduation in 1984, whose speech about being solution-oriented rather than a naysayer set the tone for his career; his parents who married at 16, had six kids by 29, and just celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary teaching him dedication and never giving up on people; and his best friend Malibu, a talented pilot who died at 30 when he hit the ground during a Red Flag exercise. Witnessing 10-11 deaths in 23 years of flying changed Kyle's perspective—he stopped worrying about what people thought and started pursuing what brought joy, realizing that if no one will remember it in five years, it's just not that important.
[00:04:20] From CEO to Giving Back
Recently stepped down as president and CEO of Check Six Aero Solutions
Now runs Wyld Sky Aerospace and Management Consulting
Wrote book "A Skyless Traveled: A Maverick Life of Leadership, Resilience, and the Pursuit of Purpose"
Serves wonderful wife Dr. Kyra Carpenter and two boys Wilder (6) and Colt (4)
[00:06:00] Why Write the Book
Experience is great but people never get opportunity to pass it on to next generation
All people's stories are wonderful, wishes more could tell them
Wants to lift up next generation that will follow
Wrote book for his 6 and 4-year-old boys as older father
[00:06:40] Leaving a Legacy
Doesn't know how long he gets to be with boys growing up
Wanted to leave something showing 50 years before they were born
Show what their father did and what he believed in
Pass message down to true legacy: children and family
[00:07:20] Growing Up in Wenatchee, Washington
Parents married at 16, had six children by 29
Didn't have much but knew wanted to do something bigger
Didn't fly on airplane until 17 years old, senior in high school
First flight was to Air Force Academy physical at Whidbey Island
[00:08:00] The First Flight That Changed Everything
Had state playoff baseball game that afternoon across state
Local orchardist Jim Wade flew him in Cessna 172
Flying over Cascade Mountains, seeing Mount Rainier was transformative
Changed into uniform in car, was third batter, hit three-run homer off future major leaguer
[00:09:00] Air Force Academy and Finding His Passion
Second time flying was leaving for US Air Force Academy (only way to get to college)
Got exposed to things small town guy never traveled beyond family station wagon
Found passion for flying airplanes at young age
Stumbled into it with no idea it would be 23 years as fighter pilot
[00:10:00] Fighter Pilot Career
Flew F-15 operationally around the world for 23 years
Was F-16 aggressor (adversary/bad guy that trains combat pilots)
Did exchange tour with US Navy, flew F-18 in operational flight tests
Retired after 23 years, went to Raytheon
[00:10:40] Entrepreneurial Years
Owned Great Harvest Bread company franchise (had a bakery)
Co-owner of pro indoor football league team in Spokane
Taught him when it's your own money, think more about spending it
Helped when managing other people's money at Raytheon and Mitsubishi
[00:13:20] Proudest Moment: The Team That Didn't Need Me
At Raytheon, experimental R&D test airplane transitioning from single customer
Customer said they don't want exclusive use anymore, won't pay for it
Five year task to redefine mission, vision, create new organization
After five years: "This team doesn't need me anymore, they can do this without me"
[00:14:40] From One Program to 15
Had to go out and advertise capability to other Raytheon programs
Restructured team to support multiple test projects instead of just one
Asset went from supporting one program to 15-16 programs
Worth billions of dollars in sales to Raytheon
[00:15:40] Mitsubishi: Six Months of Success
Mitsubishi trying to certify new regional jet, program having problems
Took over program management and flight test team
Program for previous 5 years never met schedule or been on budget
Within first month, for next 6 months straight met schedule and under budget
[00:17:00] Refocusing the Team
Just through refocusing team, aligning tasks to priorities
Giving people clear idea of what they did and why important to mission
Aligned the focus and became best flight test team in business
Better than Boeing, Airbus, Bombardier, Embraer or any large OEMs
[00:19:00] Character, Competence, and Commitment
Good teams have people full of character (how they treat those who can do nothing for them)
Team needs competence (people who can get job done, willing to learn and improve)
Third C is commitment to what they're doing
Finding right people with all three is when you will succeed
[00:21:20] Meeting President Ronald Reagan
Air Force Academy graduation 1984, Reagan handed him diploma
Speech that day embodied how Kyle wanted to live his life
Not enough to be naysayer pointing out everything wrong
Have to be person who can bring forward solutions
[00:22:40] Reagan's Impact
Shaped views about what was valuable throughout life
Optimistic but understood reality, charismatic but not fake
Had guiding principles but willing to change
Genuinely liked people (important for any leader)
[00:24:00] His Parents' Influence
Parents are who really had impact on who he became
Never made it feel like they gave up something for kids
Felt true blessing was getting to have kids in their lives
Father was athlete of year, worked morning job, bartended at night while in college
[00:25:40] 72 Years Together
Parents both 88 years old, just had 72nd wedding anniversary
Even when times are hard, don't give up on people, work through it
Father didn't become major league player but channeled into coaching
Oldest brother became professional baseball player with Philadelphia Phillies
[00:27:00] Learning to Live in the Moment
Finding joy means learning to live in the moment
Let go of past but learn lessons, don't let it define you
Don't be so focused on future that you forget what's in front of you
Take opportunities that may take you on detour in life
[00:28:20] Losing Malibu
Best friend Jim "Malibu" Reynolds was academy graduate, talented flyer
Designed and built own aerobatic airplane, flew in air shows
Made mistake on range in Red Flag exercise, hit ground and died at 30
Changed Kyle at 30 years old, realized it can all end very quickly
[00:29:40] 10 Deaths in 23 Years
Saw at least 10-11 deaths in 23 years of flying
Changed how he looked at things and approached them
Before worried about everything, how people thought of him
Now: if no one will remember in 5 years, it's just not that important
[00:33:00] The Squadron Bar Ritual
Friday nights not just about drinking, it's a ritual
Chance to bond with people going through similar experience
Way to relax, find friendship and bonding in non-retribution way
Learned more in one-on-one conversations than formal meetings
KEY QUOTES
"I wrote a book because I have those six and four-year-old boys. I am an older father and I don't know how long I get to be with those boys growing up. I wanted to leave something to show for those 50 years before they were born, what their father did and what I believed in." - Kyle Skalisky
"Good teams have people full of character. You can't define that on a resume. It's how people treat those who can do nothing for them. But you also have to have competence. Then the third C is commitment." - Kyle Skalisky
CONNECT WITH KYLE SKALISKY
🌐 Website: https://www.wyldsky-consulting.com
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kyle.skalisky
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-skalisky
📚 Book: "A Skyless Traveled: A Maverick Life of Leadership, Resilience, and the Pursuit of Purpose" (available on Amazon)
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