As a kid, a broken RadioShack RC car changed everything. Searching for parts at a local hobby shop, I looked up and saw radio-controlled airplanes hanging from the ceiling—and discovered my future.
I started building balsa wood RC planes and spending weekends at the local flying field. The adults there didn't just make room for a curious kid; they taught me how to build, how to fly, and how to carry myself. Their mentorship shaped both my skills and my character, setting me on a path to aerospace. I soloed a full-scale airplane before I had a driver's license—and I've kept flying ever since.
Today, as an entrepreneur and aerospace executive, I've helped create 17 aircraft and spacecraft—including SpaceShipOne, the first commercial crewed spaceship, Stratolaunch, the world's largest aircraft, and BlackFly, an all-electric personal air vehicle. I've led teams of 700+ and managed multi-billion-dollar programs. The through-line from those early models to advanced vehicles is simple: the fundamentals matter. Lift, power, structure, control—learn them with balsa and foam, and they scale.
I still fly—full-scale and RC—often with one of my daughters. Watching her discover flight reminds me why this community matters. That's why I serve on the Experimental Aircraft Association's board, focusing on youth STEM and aviation workforce development. Programs that put transmitters and airframes in young hands change lives.
To every AMA member who spends time with a young pilot at the field: you're not just teaching sticks and rudder. You might be launching a career. You did for me.
Ben holds an MS from Stanford and a BS from Purdue, maintains a Commercial Pilot certificate, and has flown 39 aircraft types. He was part of the team awarded the 2004 Robert J. Collier Trophy for SpaceShipOne and was recognized as a Distinguished Engineering Alumnus by Purdue University in 2023.
