Trevor Findlay has always had his sights on the skies. Several of his family members worked for Boeing, so he grew up learning about planes and helicopters. As a young boy, he set a goal to one day be in the cockpit of a Boeing AH-64 Apache helicopter. Now as a helicopter pilot for the US Army, he is living out his lifelong dream.
"I was fortunate enough to find a career that was exactly what I was looking for," Findlay says. "This experience is a culmination of many years of hard work."
To pursue his goal of becoming a pilot, Findlay accepted a scholarship to join the BYU Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) in 2009. He spent all four years of his undergraduate career as a member of the ROTC, taking time off only to serve a mission in St. George, Utah.
Findlay has fond memories of learning land navigation, first aid, and other basic soldier tactics alongside his fellow cadets. "The ROTC program was the highlight of my undergraduate career," Findlay says. "It's a great program, and I absolutely enjoyed the time that I spent there, working with my peers and developing leadership skills. All the things I learned I now use on a daily basis."
Over summer breaks, Findlay was deeply involved in training with the US Army; during the school year, he spent his time not only training with the ROTC but also forecasting cash flows and assessing risk as part of the finance program. He chose to study finance because it combined his interests in math and business.
Following his 2015 graduation, Findlay was selected to go to Army Aviation School, beating out thousands of other candidates for the choice opportunity. For the next two years, he underwent intensive training on leadership, survival, and flight skills at Fort Rucker, Alabama. "Flying a helicopter is exciting," Findlay says. "The magical feeling of being in the air hasn't worn off yet."
Upon completion of flight school, Findlay was assigned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, as part of the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade. He lived and trained there until his team was deployed to Iraq for eight months. As part of Operation Inherent Resolve, he participated in strikes against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
Findlay recently finished his final days as a platoon leader, as he has been promoted to captain. As platoon leader, he oversaw the training of air crews and maintainers at Fort Campbell. He also ensured all helicopters and associated equipment were prepared for future attack, scouting, or security missions.
With the promotion, Findlay, his wife, Monse, and their pet husky, Tundra, are back at Fort Rucker for captain training. Once he completes training, Findlay will be assigned to a new unit. He looks forward to the new opportunities in the army and someday hopes to transition back to the business world.
"I love finance and would love to get an MBA or move to the US Army acquisitions branch later in my career," Findlay says. "To get back into the industry will be a little scary because I don't do finance on a daily basis, but I look forward to that transition. I hope to work with people because that's something I do well."
