Lt. Col. William Pope (seen here as a major in pilot training) took an unusual path into the pilot’s seat, and as challenging and frustrating as his journey was at times, his determination and faith, and his commitment to being with his flight surgeon wife and children, helped him break through the walls to reach his flying goals. Today, he’s the director of operations for the 96th Flying Training Squadron at Laughlin, where he believes his greatest career successes are tied to guiding students through the undergrad flying process. (U.S. Air Force photo by Janis El Shabazz)