In this episode of The Naval Aviation Ready Room podcast, host  Ryan Keys is joined by Sterling Gilliam, Director of the National Naval Aviation Museum, to share insights from his 30-year naval aviation career, the preservation of naval aviation heritage, and the museum's mission to inspire future generations.

What You’ll Learn:

• Sterling's journey from accounting student to naval aviator
• The critical role of mentorship in naval aviation and why "setting the example" remains the cornerstone of leadership
• Why the Landing Signal Officer (LSO) program develops both technical expertise and leadership skills
• How naval aviation responded to 9/11
• The art of scaling leadership
• How the National Naval Aviation Museum preserves history while inspiring future generations
  
  

Captain Sterling Gilliam is the Director of the National Naval Aviation Museum, bringing over 30 years of distinguished naval aviation experience to this role. A retired naval aviator with more than 4,600 flight hours and hundreds of missions, Gilliam has commanded naval squadrons, led Carrier Air Wing Nine, and served as an instructor at the highest levels of naval aviation training. Since 2015, he has overseen one of the world's largest aviation museums, managing a collection that includes over 150 aircraft on-site and nearly 1,000 aircraft displayed across 50 states and six countries.

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Highlights and YouTube Chapters:

• [00:00] Introduction
• [03:05] From CPA to Naval Aviator
• [08:18] Recalling 9/11
• [14:32] Letting Go to Lead Better
• [19:33] Why LSOs Matter
• [31:04] From Flight Deck to Museum Director
• [31:50] A Living, Breathing Legacy
• [47:06] What’s Next for Naval Aviation?