Meet Reed Roller” Barrett | Fighter Pilot & Keynote Speaker”

We had the good fortune of connecting with Reed “Roller” Barrett and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Reed “Roller”, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Risk, while it can be scary, can also be the most rewarding step you take toward your goals. Whether it was performing as a magician in Las Vegas at the Bellagio or its strapping into the F-16, I never would’ve had those opportunities had I not taken the risk to put myself out there for the job. I can vividly recall the day I was medically separated from the United States Air Force in 2014 and feeling like my dreams of being a fighter pilot were completely crushed. Nearly 10 years later I’m a fully qualified F-16 Fighter Pilot for the Washington DC Air National Guard.
With risk comes perseverance, just because you take the leap doesn’t mean everything will workout as planned. You have to be willing to hear the word no over and over and be patient for the right person to say, yes! That’s when risk meets reward and you realize how important it was to never give up.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My career has been nothing short of crazy, as mentioned before it all began in 2014. I was a student at the University of Wyoming where I graduated with a degree in Psychology and commissioned as an Air Force officer headed to pilot training. Things were looking up, this had been my childhood dream! Just as Pilot Training would begin, I’d come to discover a cardiologist had made a mistake and actually misdiagnosed me. They told me my valve (I have a Bicuspid Aortic Valve) was fine and there was no need for further follow up. Luckily someone caught the mistake and realized that gone unchecked this could be extremely dangerous.
At this moment all of my dreams were crushed and I didn’t know where to go in life. During the soul searching that occurred over the next 5 years, I’d pursue my love of the performing arts as a sleight of hand magician. I thought this might be my best landing spot as I had worked at it since the age of 8 and never really had the opportunity to pursue it full time. It took me all over the United States and in front of household names I never dreamed of working for. While this was a very fun and exciting something was still “missing”, it was my urge to get behind the controls of a military fighter jet.
A good friend of mine would introduce me to the Air National Guard as a potential option to chase my dreams for a second time. The dream seemed like a long shot but there was nothing to lose…. literally nothing. I began the process of finding a doctor who would write me a letter that would clear me from a civilian stand point. I probably visited 6-9 cardiologists and did away with any report that said I wasn’t qualified. ONE doctor wrote me the all clear and I was full afterburner toward the next roadblock… the military. I looked up every single case of my condition to exist for pilots and found the reports of those who were waived to keep flying. Those cases would become my “proof” that I could do this job.
Once I had a case built for myself I began firing off my application to as many units as possible who were hiring fighter pilots or heavy pilots. Any shot in the door I was going to take, this was my dream and I wasn’t about to let go. Luckily for me the 121st Fighter Squadron in Washington DC would give me my dream job of flying the F-16. I went back through the entire medical process for a second time and even saw the doctor who disqualified me – you can imagine the shock on his face when I was back for round two! Ultimately I proved my case and was given the all clear from the doctors, a few months later I’d find myself at Air Force Pilot Training at Vance AFB in Enid Oklahoma.
Over the next 2 years I’d spend all of my time knee deep in academics, learning how to fly some of the most nimble aircraft ever designed by the Air Force. It was stressful, exciting, aggravating, challenging, but most of all humbling. The jet didn’t care where you came from, what your experience was, who you knew, how many hours you had before, etc… The only thing that mattered was how much work you were willing to put forward to ensure you were always in a position to win and when you didn’t win how quickly you could recover and press forward.
If my story does one thing for the person reading this, I hope it lights the fire inside your heart to go after your wildest dreams. There might be 1,000 people who tell you “no”, but there’s one who will say yes. Find that person and don’t stop until you do. We’re all so lucky to wake up each day and love our family, spend time with our friends and live our dreams. Don’t take any of it for granted, there’s too many people who already have.
Your Hearts Beating, Give It A Reason.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If I was still living in Denver I’d immediately ask that they visit during the winter months and I’d take them to the mountains to snowboard. There’s nothing quite like a Colorado winter in the mountains with your family and friends. Next up would be a concert at Red Rocks followed by drinks in the city.
Now that I live in Washington DC there are endless opportunities for activities. Some of my favorite include heading to downtown DC and doing the typical tourist day consisting of museums, sight seeing, and great food. If you’re ever visiting the area make sure you contact your local representative and get a White House tour or Capital tour. These are unforgettable experiences that most of the public doesn’t get access to. If you’re looking for great food, head to Old Ebbitt located east of the white house by just a few feet! It’s the oldest restaurant and bar in Washington DC and has the best oysters. Follow those up with drinks at the VUE bar just a block south and you’ll have a killer view of DC while you sip on some of the finest cocktails. Sometimes you’re lucky enough to see the Marine One helicopter land on the south lawn just 50 yards away from you!
By far the most humbling place you can visit is Arlington National Cemetery where men and women of all military branches have been buried over the years. It’s also the final resting place for JFK and his wife Jacqueline among many other notable names who have helped shape our nations history. While you’re there make sure you stop by the changing of the guard, you’ll never forget it.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My shoutout goes to my mom, Kathy.
After my dad passed away suddenly in 2004 my mom became my bedrock. She is and always has been my biggest cheerleader since day one. whether it was helping me obtain my pilots license at 16 when we barely had enough money to get by, or it was being the loudest voice in the audience during my magic shows, she is no doubt the reason I’m where I am today.
Website: www.ReedBarrett.com
Instagram: Reed__Barrett
Linkedin: Reed “Roller” Barrett
Youtube: @RealReedBarrett
Image Credits
Toastmasters International Headshots – Karl Pfeiffer