Terry Deitz Terry Deitz ( born October 10 , 1959 ) is a retired U . S . Navy pilot , television host , and former contestant on the American reality television show " " ( he placed 3rd ) . He is currently a commercial airline pilot and host of " Great Planes " on the Military Channel . Biography . Deitz was born and raised in Matawan , New Jersey . He was a student at St . John Vianney High School and attended the United States Naval Academy where he graduated from in 1982 . He attended pilot school in Pensacola in 1984 . He served on the USS " Carl Vinson " with VF - 51 flying the F - 14 Tomcat and then served at the west coast Replacement Air Group as an instructor . Deitz left active service in 1992 , and continued flying in the Navy Reserves with VR - 52 , on Logistics missions around the world . He retired in 2001 with the rank of Commander and is currently a pilot with American Airlines . Deitz married his wife Trish in 1991 . The couple have two children , Kayla and Daniel , and reside in Simsbury , Connecticut . Deitz has been an athlete throughout his life and competed in baseball , basketball , football , swimming , and wrestling . He earned 11 varsity awards in high school and was named to the All State Baseball 1st Team . He was the quarterback of his high school team and led them to their first undefeated regular season and first state playoffs . In college , he played four years of Varsity Division I baseball . Survivor : Panama . Deitz competed on " " in 2006 . He was noted for dominating the challenges , with an unbroken string winning five immunity challenges and four reward challenges . He was also the first contestant to find a hidden immunity idol at Exile Island . However , because of his prowess in the immunity challenges , he never had to play it . Deitz finished in third place , behind Aras Baskauskas ( winner ) and Danielle DiLorenzo ( runner - up ) . After Survivor . With the newfound " Survivor notoriety " , Deitz has been called upon to appear , speak and provide motivation to many groups and Charity Organizations to include , Cystic Fibrosis , Aids , Juvenile Diabetes , ARC , FAVARH , Breast Cancer , and many others . On November 1 , 2006 , Deitz hosted The History Channel ' s " Modern Marvels " show on the final flight of the F - 14 Tomcat . In December 2007 , Deitz was hired by Afterburner Seminars . A team of 50 men and women fighter pilots who travel around the world working with Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies and other top organizations , teaching and preparing them for a fighter pilots view of " Flawless Execution " . As a main speaker for the group , he interacts with the leaders of these companies to mold presentations and programs . In 2008 , Deitz began work on a pilot combining " history with some elements of " Survivor " and " Survivorman " " with his cousin , former " All My Children " actor Mark La Mura . After his appearance on " Survivor : Panama " , Deitz was considered as one of the ten castaways to return for " " , but was ultimately cut . In the spring of 2012 Deitz took over the reins from Maj . Paul " Max " Moga when Deitz began hosting the third season of the TV series " Great Planes " on the Military Channel , ending each show with his personal tagline , " " Your six is clear " " .