Scott D. Lofman: From Air Force Pilot to Airline Captain | 22,000 Flight Hours & Leadership in the Skies

In this episode of Living History with Alex, we sit down with Captain Scott D. Lofman, a retired U.S. Air Force pilot and longtime commercial airline captain with more than 22,000 flight hours.Scott shares how growing up in Miami and chasing his dream of flight led him from early lessons at Tamiami to earning a degree and joining the Air Force—combining service to country with jet experience that helped launch a decades-long airline career.He reflects on the influence of his family’s military legacy, including the story of his brother, a pilot who died in Vietnam, and how that shaped his purpose and mindset.From the cockpit, Scott walks us through unforgettable moments from airline flying: engine failures, a wind shear go-around, a near midair collision, and one of the most intense experiences of his career—an inflight cockpit security incident after 9/11.He also shares the items that represent his journey: rank progression, unit patches, medals, aircraft memories, and the tradition of the water salute on his retirement flight.🌟 Topics Covered:✈️ Early life in Miami and becoming a pilot🎓 Education path that led to the U.S. Air Force🪖 Military aviation: training aircraft and Air Force service🛫 Airline career across National, Pan Am, and United⚠️ “Scares in the air”: emergencies, wind shear, and close calls🔐 Cockpit security incident after 9/11🎖️ Medals, patches, and career memorabilia💡 Leadership lessons: “Follow me” and leading by exampleIf you enjoy real stories from the people who lived them, like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes of Living History with Alex.📩 If you know a veteran or aviation professional who should be featured, reach out.🔔 Stay tuned for more conversations that keep history alive.