Recommendations From: Lt Col James S Peterson

Title: 7

th Special Operations Squadron Director of Operations, CV-22B Evaluator Pilot

Date of Hire: N/A – US Air Force

Primary Phone: +44 7703 472562 (UK)

Alternate Phone: N/A

Email Address: yourbudjim@gmail.com

Years Acquainted: 9

Flying Comments:

I cannot think of another individual in my 24-year military career that I would rather fly with 

than Daniel Florence. Daniel and I were crewed together on the CV-22 Osprey for several 

exercises and a deployment to Afghanistan. On one exercise, Daniel was going through his 

aircraft commander upgrade during a Combat Search and Rescue scenario. His impressive 

leadership as acting PIC during this event helped our “customers” understand the capabilities of 

the Osprey and often brought survivors home quicker and safer than conventional assets. Daniel 

led our formation into mountainous terrain, using night vision goggles and terrain-following 

RADAR, in order to execute one of the most challenging rescues along the edge of a cliff, 

thereby extracting live “survivors” from a 100 foot rescue hoist. Additionally, Daniel and I were 

crewed together during a 100+ day deployment to Afghanistan. He was handpicked as a 

functional check flight (FCF) pilot for 30 of those days, flying over 10 daytime combat FCF 

missions under the constant threat of small arms fire and RPGs. Daniel’s heroic efforts enabled 

over 150 on time missions. For the remaining duration of this deployment, we flew nightly into 

some of the most challenging conditions possible, landing in direct proximity to hostile forces on 

a regular basis. We flew over 30 direct action assault missions inserting and extracting our 

Special Operations customers in order to capture over 100 enemy combatants. Daniel’s heroism

continued at home. As flight lead copilot on a training mission, his wingman crashed during a 

live fire event. Daniel and his crew quickly inserted three of their crew members near the crash 

site. Due to a malfunction in the aircraft, Daniel’s radios were the only working radios on board. 

He coordinated with five agencies over four different radios as the airborne on-scene 

commander. Daniel rescued a survivor from a 200 foot hoist over the trees and burning 

wreckage while fighting aircraft malfunctions of his own. He coordinated with ATC in order to 

medically evacuate the survivor to the nearest hospital. His resolve under an extremely

emotional and stressful event allowed for the immediate extraction of the remaining survivors 

via civilian and US Army helicopters. For his actions that day he was awarded an Air Force 

Commendation Medal for “Act of Courage”. Not only is Daniel an exceptional aviator and 

officer, he is a guy anyone would enjoy being around. He is a natural leader both within the 
cockpit and in the midst of tough circumstances. If you would like to speak in length about 

Daniel's qualifications, I am always available on my cell or via email.

Work Comments: 

Daniel is a valuable asset outside of the cockpit as well. He possesses the rare work/play balance 

that allows him to motivate everyone he comes into contact with. During my four years of 

working with Daniel, I witnessed him succeed at any task he was given. He was vital as our 

Tactics Officer, incorporating 39 changes and re-writes into our tactics manuals. Daniel was 

nominated in 2012 for Hurlburt Field’s Base Safety Award for numerous safety feats to include 

handling multiple aircraft emergencies over the year. Finally, Daniel was selected by our 

Commander to lead CV-22 air plans for US Special Operations Command’s largest exercise 

integrating 74 aircraft and four Special Operations ground teams over the course of 47 missions.

Choose to hire Daniel, and you will inherit an amazing, whole-person aviator.