491. Colonel Justin “Astro” Elliott talks with Dan Hesse about the Uniting Force of Human Achievement in the Name of Selfless Service

In this episode of THE MENTORS RADIO, Host Dan Hesse talks with Colonel Justin “Astro” Elliott, the Commander of the 96th Operations Group at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. Colonel Elliot is the only person in history to complete all three of the Air Force’s elite flying programs: Fighter Weapons School, Test Pilot School, and the Thunderbirds. He is a Yale University ROTC graduate with three engineering degrees. His combat time in the F-15E during OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM is featured in the book Red Platoon. As a test pilot, he flew more than 3,000 hours across 33 aircraft, with operational experience in the F-15, F-16, and F-35. Colonel Astro Elliot’s command as “Thunderbird 1” is featured in the Emmy- nominated Netflix documentary Air Force Elite: Thunderbirds, showcasing the team’s commitment to values, culture and a shared purpose of being a beacon of excellence demonstrating the uniting force of human achievement in the name of selfless service. Listen to episode below, or on ANY PODCAST PLATFORM here. BE SURE TO LEAVE US A GREAT REVIEW on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share with friends and colleagues! SHOW NOTES: COLONEL JUSTIN “ASTRO” ELLIOTT: BIO: BIO: Colonel Justin J. “Astro” Elliot BOOK: Red Platoon: A True Story about American Valor, by Clinton Romesha NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY: Air Force Elite: Thunderbirds PRESENTATION: Courage with Purpose: The Charge of Elite Organizations, given by Col. Justin “Astro” Elliott at the U.S. Air Force National Character & Leadership Symposium U.S. SPACE FORCE: NORAD TRACKS SANTA, with Col. Justin Elliott