About the Author:
Lawrence A. Colby is the #1 Amazon bestselling author of The Ford Stevens Military-Aviation Thriller Series. His books are published in over 12 countries and are enjoyed from the US and UK to India and beyond.
A veteran Marine Corps AH-1W Cobra attack pilot and Air Force Reserve C-130 Hercules pilot, he has worked and flown all over the globe. Over his 28-years in the military, he worked in locations from Iraq and Afghanistan to the Philippines, Pentagon and beyond. Flying under the callsign “Cheese” in the squadrons, he retired from active duty in 2018 and lives in the Washington, DC area.
“Cheese” holds a BA in History from Niagara University, MA in Leadership from Duquesne University, and an MS in National Resource Strategy from The Eisenhower School at National Defense University. His military schools include Undergraduate Pilot Training from both the US Navy (Naval Aviator) and US Air Force (Pilot), in addition to the Naval Postgraduate School’s Aviation Safety Program and the AJPME Program at the Joint Forces Staff College.
He is the author of THE DEVIL DRAGON PILOT, THE BLACK SCORPION PILOT, and his latest military-thriller THE BUFFALO PILOT. He is especially grateful to veteran readers who Cheese feels have pushed each of his books to #1 status.
About the Moderator:
On 1 October 2020, Lieutenant General Michael Rocco retired after 37+ years as an Active Duty Marine. Just one month later he took the top job at Marines’ Memorial– our President & CEO.
Mike Rocco received his BS in Business Administration from St. John’s University in New York and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in May 1983.
Upon designation as a Naval Aviator in February 1986, he was assigned to HMLA-367, Camp Pendleton, CA. In August 1990, he deployed to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Captain Rocco was assigned as a Flight Leader and led over 40 combat missions. He earned two Master’s Degrees while on Active Duty, commanded at every level in aviation, and has flown nearly 4,000 hours.
In 2017, he was promoted to Lieutenant General and assumed the duties of Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs.
LtGen Rocco’s awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal with Gold Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with “V,” Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with “V,” Air Medal with numeral 2, Navy Commendation Medal, and Navy Achievement Medal with Gold Star.
