from Sea level to C level

Book excerpt: From Sea Level to C Level is written through the eyes of a former Navy fighter pilot who turns his Naval experience into a hugely successful career, first in corporate America, then as a thriving entrepreneur. The book draws upon the Navy's unparalleled approach to planning, execution, strategy, and leadership and offers a completely unique and proprietary set of tools that men and women in any profession can use to drive their careers to new heights. After 15 years and 44 combat sorties in the cockpit of F/A-18 Hornet, E. Matthew Buckley - call sign: Whiz - was preparing for a career with American Airlines when the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center changed the trajectory of both his career and his life. With the airline industry in turmoil, he turned his attention to corporate America, consulting with such notable firms as GE, Cisco, Gilead Sciences, and AT&T. At age 38, he went from Managing Director of a $2.5B options trading firm on Wall Street to CEO of a financial media company, all the while applying fighter pilot techniques to front office planning and execution. Now a highly sought-after public speaker and founder of TOPGUN Options and chairman of the TOPGUN Fighter Foundation, the many lessons Whiz focuses on in From Sea Level to C Level include the art of the brief, the value of the debrief, how to "red team," and how to create a "corporate battle rhythm." His story is motivating; his leadership and business lessons are transformative.