Recommendations From: Lt Col (Retired) Derrick W. Jee

Title: CV-22B Osprey Contract Simulator Instructor Pilot, CV-22B Evaluator Pilot (Retired)

Date of Hire: N/A – Lockheed Martin Contract Instructor Pilot

Primary Phone: 850-699-3226

Alternate Phone: 850-581-2439

Email Address: jeeforce45@cox.net

Years Acquainted: 9

Flying Comments:

It is with great pleasure that I recommend Daniel Florence for employment with a major/legacy

airline as First Officer. I have flown with Dan since he graduated Initial CV-22 Qualification 

Course in 2010 and witnessed his progression to Instructor Pilot. As a CV-22 pilot, Dan is one of 

a handful tasked to operate the most complex aircraft in the Air Force inventory. Dan has 

survived the growing pains of learning a new airframe that is not fortunate enough to have years 

of institutional knowledge in its wake. He has experienced complex emergencies and stressful 

situations in the CV-22 that most aviators will never experience. I have been through several 

flying events with Dan as either my co-pilot or my wingman. In 2011, I was crewed with Dan 

during a joint exercise where we were tasked nightly to fly under low visibility conditions 

through the Cascade Mountain Range in order to get to our target. Due to the limitations of our 

aircraft and customers, we were unable to fly above the mountains and through the weather—we 

relied on a low-level route we previously surveyed in the daytime. During our return to base, the 

weather through the pass began to worsen. At that time, our terrain-following RADAR and icing 

systems failed. With Dan’s calm demeanor and assertiveness as my co-pilot, we were able to use 

our backup systems to successfully navigate the pass and remain under the snow storm, avoiding

dangerous terrain and ice. On a local training mission, I was formation lead with a Distinguished 

Visitor (DV), foreign pilot whose country was interested in buying V-22s. On this night, as we 

fought to navigate around thunderstorms on a low-level route, my weather RADAR failed. Dan 

was my wingman. I knew he could handle my following request—I asked him to take the lead 

and get us to the target on time. He did so perfectly, safely navigating the formation around 

hazardous weather and ground obstacles therefore enabling the success of the demonstration for 

the DV. Later that year, on a Task Force Trainer with a Ranger Regiment, Dan and his crew was 

tasked as the dedicated Casualty Evacuation (CASEVAC) aircraft. Besides his normal duties as 

a CV-22 pilot, Dan remained on-call after infiltrations in the event that our customers became 

wounded. He responded to a dozen time sensitive CASEVACs, penetrating low-level fog in 

order to successfully extract over 150 Rangers. As Daniel’s evaluator on his aircraft commander
check ride, I personally declare that Daniel is a competent, proven aviator in a very complex 

aircraft.

Work Comments: 

Daniel always displays a high degree of integrity, responsibility, and ambition while performing 

duties as CV-22 Instructor Pilot. Dan is definitely a leader, mentor, and combat proven pilot. As 

a Flight Commander for 6 crews and 84 personnel, he has passed on his experiences and lessons 

learned to his flight by building multiple simulator scenarios and running numerous 

contingencies over the shoulder to ensure his crews are ready for combat. As the Chief of 

Training, Dan aced our Aircrew Standards and Evaluation inspection earning an Air Force 

Achievement medal for “Outstanding Achievement”. I am absolutely confident Daniel will be 

an invaluable asset to your organization, and I am happy to give him my wholehearted 

endorsement.