J.A. Moad II
Pilot / Writer / Professor
Delta Airlines/War, Literature & the Arts
Milestones
My road in life has taken me all over.
I was awarded a scholarship to attend the Air Force Academy.
I served in the Air Force either on active duty or in the reserves for a combined 22 years.
Over that time, I flew C-130s on over 100 combat sorties.
I was selected to teach English at the Air Force Academy.
After leaving the military, I decided to go back to school to get my MA and MFA in creative writing.
I started writing and editing for War, Literature & the Art, and joined the Warrior Writers program.
I also fly for Delta Airlines.
I recently wrote a play about the realities of conflict—I'm performing it in Minneapolis this fall.
Keep following my journey
Education
High School
Career
Pilot / Writer / Professor
I translate the stories that come through me and give expression to those stories on the page.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Writing
Education
Being Creative
Day to Day
If I'm not flying, I get up, have a cup of coffee, eat breakfast, then go upstairs to my attic office, and write for four hours. Then I'll eat lunch, walk the dog, get some exercise, then spend time with my family—my wife and kids. We usually cap off the day by having dinner outside on the front porch. If I'm flying, I try to find a pocket of time on my layovers to write and learn what I can on the road from the people and places I'm fortunate enough to experience.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for college students
If you want to write, you have to study writing, read a lot, and live life. No one really wants to hear what a 21-year-old has to say, so go get some life experiences, and then write about those.
Recommended Education
My career is related to what I studied. I'd recommend the path I took:
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Peers:
"You can't be a writer."
