THOMAS HUMANN
THOMAS HUMANN served twelve years as a Marine Corps officer, the last five as a White House helicopter pilot and contingency planner. After receiving his commission as a Second Lieutenant and his wings as a Naval Aviator, he deployed twice to the Arabian Gulf as an attack helicopter pilot in the AH-1W Supercobra. Upon return to the U.S., Thomas was accepted into HMX-1, the Presidential Helicopter Squadron. He piloted President George W. Bush, Vice President Richard Cheney, foreign heads of state, and other dignitaries. As with any Marine Corps officer billet, he took on collateral duties. As an advance officer he worked directly with the White House staff, Secret Service, and myriad other entities to ensure smooth presidential travel. The most critical aspect of any visit was the contingency plan – what to do if things went wrong. He surveyed threats and developed plans for using the helicopter in an emergency, often incognito so as not to tip his hand to potential enemies. Thomas visited the locales referred to in The Carnival Diversion during the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He enjoys regaling his audiences with tales of his experiences, but often cannot do justice to the full story. There are too many details that delve into top-secret overseas missions and protection of the president that must be omitted. By deftly weaving between truth and fiction he attempts to paint a more complete picture while honoring oaths to Corps and country. Thomas currently lives in Northern California, where he is a fire pilot for CAL FIRE. CONTACT: thomas@thomashumann.com
Thomas (left) oversees President George W. Bush's arrival in Waco, Texas
visit Thomas on Facebook
