Before I became a sci-fi author, I was a Navy pilot, writing and living real-life leadership. Today, those same lessons power the starships and plasma battles in my books. My first non-fiction book, Leaders Are Made, Not Born, grew out of years of experience in aerospace, technology companies, and service as a combat pilot in the U.S. Navy.
So how did I go from a Navy pilot to a sci-fi author ?
From Navy Skies to Starships
It started with a realization: the leadership lessons I lived and still teach don’t stop at Earth’s edge. In fact, the stakes in space — survival, loyalty, courage, and decision-making under pressure — only amplify those lessons in fascinating ways. Science fiction gave me the freedom to explore them fully.
That’s how The Host Saga and Records of the Argos series were born.
Leadership Lessons Beyond Earth
Aboard the Argos, Captain Nick Hall may command a ship in deep space, but he faces the same challenges any real-world commander does:
- How do you unite a diverse crew?
- How do you handle conflicting objectives?
- And how do you make the right call when every option carries risk?
My own time in the Navy shaped how I approach these questions. I’ve been in command. I’ve seen what works, what fails, and what happens when you must act without complete information. That urgency and responsibility are at the heart of every decision Nick — and other captains — make.
Command, Culture, and Crew Dynamics
Military culture also helped me understand how crews function. Ships, whether on the sea or in orbit, run on discipline and trust. Everyone matters. Every task contributes to the mission. That sense of structure and purpose permeates the Argos and its crew.
But science fiction lets me push the question farther:
What happens when
- Your XO is from another planet?
- When an evolving AI advises your tactical officer?
- When the stakes are not just a mission, but the survival of an entire species?
Bringing Real Lessons to Fiction
That’s the leap I made — from non-fiction to fiction. But I carried all my experience with me, including leadership.
So while the Argos and other Federation and Guardian Force ships may be fictional, the leadership, the command structure, and the ethical dilemmas are very real. They’re drawn from a lifetime of service, adapted to the stars: real-life leadership in sci-fi. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Closing Thought
If you’d like to see how these lessons play out in deep space, start with Crucible, the first book in the Records of the Argos series. It’s my way of sharing the lessons I’ve learned in the cockpit and in business with readers who love starships, strategy, and the human side of leadership.
By the way, I have started work on Defiance again. I first had to add some ideas towards the end that required some “world-building.” For now, that is done, and I can proceed with a better picture of what the end will look like.
