Author RICHARD J. MENDELOW

These are my private views and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Department of Defense or the Department of the Navy.

My Story

I am a Colonel in the United States Marine Corps Reserves. I have three specialties; EA-6B Prowler pilot, Foreign Security Force Advisor, and Joint Staff Officer. In my civilian job I fly the Boeing 777 for a major airline. Both of these pursuits, the Marines and flying airliners, are exciting and challenging. My deepest passion, however, is to speak to people about God and the amazing opportunity we each have to shine His light on those around us. Presenting this message as a guest speaker in churches, at leadership conferences, and in the everyday opportunities of my life is my true calling. In these endeavors, I have seen a lot of the world – good and bad. I have landed an attack jet on an aircraft carrier in the middle of the ocean in the dead of night and I have led Marines in ground combat. I have done three combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. I am also a lifelong student of military history. I graduated from Duke University where I majored in history and I am a graduate of numerous, high level military schools, to include the Command and Staff College. Most importantly, I am a Jew who believes that Jesus Christ was God’s Son, the Messiah, and a warrior who stood against the corruption of the Temple and the entire Roman Empire while offering those around Him redemption and hope. He was the ultimate counter-insurgent.