Combat Fighter Pilot Gave Up His Dream Of Being An Astronaut To Become The Commander Of The Thunderbirds I Col Justin "Astro" Elliott I AO 36

American Operator

He gave up his dream of becoming an astronaut to lead the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. Col. Justin “Astro” Elliott’s story is one of grit, leadership, and choosing the harder path.

Col. Justin “Astro” Elliott grew up in Houston, with NASA in his backyard and space in his sights. A first-generation Canadian-American, he fought through obstacles—like poor eyesight that nearly ended his aviation career before it began—to become a combat fighter pilot. His journey took him through the grueling halls of test pilot school, combat deployments, and eventually the elite ranks of the Air Force’s Fighter Weapons School—known as the real-life “Top Gun.”

But when the call came to apply for NASA, Elliott made a decision few could fathom: he withdrew his astronaut application to become Commander of the Thunderbirds. Leading one of the most recognizable teams in the world, he found himself at the intersection of precision flying, leadership under pressure, and carrying the weight of inspiring an entire generation.

In this episode, Col. Elliott shares lessons on resilience, trust, and sacrifice. From making split-second life-or-death calls in the cockpit to the power of debriefs, EQ in leadership, and why humility matters more than celebrity—his story reminds us that chasing excellence often means choosing the harder path.

Real stories. Real ownership. Real lessons from the field.
This is American Operator

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