Our Story

Bert and Clay met through the First Class Leaders (FCL) Inner Circle, an online pilot leadership network where both discovered a shared passion: helping pilots overcome the barriers that prevent them from advancing in their aviation journey.

Bert brings a unique perspective from decades on aviation's front lines. As Professional Standards Chairman for TWA/ALPA/NetJets, he conducted peer interventions with pilots facing performance issues, substance abuse, and personal crises—focusing on supportive intervention rather than punishment. Combined with his background as a TWA Captain, check airman, and licensed professional counselor, he understands why pilots struggle and what helps them succeed.

Clay, a software company executive, private pilot, and executive coach, specializes in helping student pilots who get stuck in training. Through his coaching work, he's discovered that the root causes are rarely technical—they're mental: limiting beliefs, insecurities, negative self-talk, relationship issues, and lack of emotional intelligence that create real barriers to learning.

Both have witnessed the perfect storm: flight schools focused more on instructor hour-building than student success, combined with pilots who lack the emotional tools to navigate training challenges. The result? Completion rates as low as 20-30%, and even successful pilots lacking the leadership skills needed for career advancement.

Even worse, those who do earn their ratings often lack the emotional awareness and leadership skills needed to navigate an unstable career and advance to captain positions. This impacts flight safety, the supply of qualified professional pilots, and the work-life balance of pilots in uniquely demanding careers.

We've both seen these challenges from the inside. The Command Brief gives you the tools to own your game, regardless of what the industry throws at you.