Following aviation indoctrination at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, he entered flight training in Texas in 1989; he was a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Navy Pilot Training program and was designated a Naval Aviator in August 1991.
Затем он продолжил авиационную подготовку на базе морской авиации в Пенсакола ("Naval Air Station Pensacola"), штат Флорида и в 1989 году лётную тренировку в Техасе.