Director and Chief Testing Officer at Gear Fool FOREST PIKE

I bring over a decade of military testing experience to my Director and Chief Testing Officer roles at Gear Fool. As the former Lead UH-1 Developmental Flight Test Crew Chief for the U.S. Marine Corps, I led the H-1 Developmental Flight Test Program with Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 21 (the “Blackjacks”) in a senior enlisted capacity for both the UH-1Y “Huey” and AH-1Z “Cobra” helicopters while performing research, development, testing, and evaluation (RDT&E) of aircraft systems, weapon systems, and personal flight equipment. My personal military awards include the Air Medal with Numeral “5,” Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (1), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3), Afghanistan Campaign Medal with “2” Stars, and the Marine Corps Combat Aircrew Badge with “30” Gold Stars, to name a few.

As a graduate of the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course (most described as the modern “Top Gun” school for the most advanced aviators and aircrew), I have also achieved the highest level of aviation instructor designation. Experienced in modern warfare tactics, techniques, and procedures, I specialized in training junior pilots and aircrew during high-risk flights as well as testing and evaluating developmental flight equipment and weaponry. Today, I apply those same rigorous standards to backcountry gear, conducting stress tests under real-world conditions to assess durability, reliability, and function in support of our customers. This mission-critical approach to testing is what sets Gear Fool apart.

I don't just test gear, I verify capability.