The Naval Aviation Ready Room Podcast with Ryan Keys

In this episode of The Naval Aviation Ready Room podcast, host Ryan Keys sits down with Dave Lorenzo, a former US Marine Corps fighter pilot and Vietnam veteran, to share his remarkable journey from Naval Academy graduate to F-8 Crusader pilot, airline captain, and dedicated museum docent at the National Naval Aviation Museum.

Dave recounts the harrowing experience of being shot down over Laos during his 98th combat mission in the Vietnam War, and how his military and aviation career evolved after that life-changing event. Listeners will gain a behind-the-scenes look at the tactical challenges of combat aviation...

This special compilation episode of The Naval Aviation Ready Room Podcast weaves together extraordinary firsthand accounts from multiple generations of naval aviators, each offering unique insights into the human dimensions of military aviation. Host Ryan Keys curates these stories to highlight common threads of leadership, split-second decision-making, and the profound impact of critical moments on aviators' lives and careers.

The episode features diverse experiences spanning eight decades of naval aviation: from WWII Black Cat night raids over the Pacific to the tragedy of 9/11, from POW survival in Vietnam to modern Coast Guard rescue operations. Each story illuminates different...

In this compelling episode of The Ready Room Podcast, host Ryan Keys interviews Captain Clyde "Cash" Barber, a decorated WWII and Korean War veteran who served with distinction in the legendary "Black Cat" operations. Flying PBY Catalinas across the Pacific Theater, Barber was part of VP-11 squadron—a unit credited with sinking over 100,000 tons of enemy shipping during daring 16-hour night missions.

Enlisting at just 17 years old, Barber began his career as an aircraft mechanic and rose to become a trusted crew chief and pilot’s assistant. He shares how early radar technology, stealth tactics, and innovative cros...

In Leadership Under Fire, The Naval Aviation Ready Room Podcast welcomes Captain Tim “Lucky” Kinsella, U.S. Navy (Ret.), whose tenure as Commanding Officer of NAS Pensacola tested every dimension of leadership.

From the 2019 active shooter tragedy and Hurricane Sally’s devastation to the COVID-19 shutdown that paralyzed Navy training pipelines, Capt. Kinsella recounts a relentless series of crises that demanded clarity, compassion, and conviction. He describes the moment he received the first call on the morning of the shooting, his decision to lead with calm under global scrutiny, and how his team’s unity became their lifeline...

In this episode of the Naval Aviation Ready Room podcast, host Ryan Keys sits down with Dr. John P. Albano, Program Manager at the Robert E. Mitchell Center for POW Studies at NAS Pensacola. Dr. Albano, a retired Army Colonel and flight surgeon with more than 25 years of clinical research, academic, and executive medicine experience, provides an inside look at how Vietnam-era POW studies continue to shape the future of military resilience and medical preparedness.
Founded on decades of research into the health, psychology, and reintegration of Vietnam War POWs, the Mitchell Center has become a cornerstone of military...

In this deeply moving episode, host Ryan Keys welcomes Captain Charlie Plumb, a United States Naval Academy graduate, decorated U.S. Navy fighter pilot, former Vietnam War POW, and renowned motivational speaker whose life was forever shaped by six harrowing years in captivity. A 1964 Naval Academy graduate, Plumb flew 74 successful combat missions over North Vietnam before being shot down on his 75th, leading to 2,103 days in prison camps during the Vietnam War.
During his captivity, Plumb and his fellow POWs endured isolation, deprivation, and relentless mental and physical challenges. Yet they forged innovative ways to survive and stay...

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of The Naval Aviation Ready Room Podcast, host Ryan Keys welcomes Captain Steve Scheibner, a veteran naval aviator, commercial airline captain, and leadership mentor whose career and life were forever altered by a fateful twist of history. Beginning his career as a U.S. Navy P-3 Orion pilot, Scheibner played a vital role in Cold War anti-submarine warfare, where decentralized command and trust were essential to mission success. Transitioning into commercial aviation with American Airlines, he expanded his skills and perspectives as a professional aviator.
On September 11, 2001, a last-minute scheduling change...

In this special edition of The Naval Aviation Ready Room Podcast, retired U.S. Navy Captain and guest host Pat Everly takes the interviewer’s seat to spotlight Ryan Keys, exploring their parallel paths in naval aviation. From early days preparing for the Naval Academy to leading helicopter squadrons, the episode captures candid reflections on leadership, mentorship, and the pressures of maintaining squadron effectiveness during demanding deployments.

Keys shares how family influence, critical career decision points, and the pinnacle experience of squadron command shaped his 20+ year career. Together, Everly and Keys discuss the nuances of balancing operational demands wi...

In this compelling episode of The Naval Aviation Ready Room Podcast, host Ryan Keys welcomes Commander Michael Ross, USCG, Executive Officer of Coast Guard Air Station San Diego, to explore a unique career that bridges two distinct military aviation traditions. Beginning as a U.S. Army Black Hawk pilot flying combat missions in Iraq, Ross later transitioned to the Coast Guard through the Direct Commission Aviation program, where he mastered MH-65 Dolphins and MH-60 Jayhawks in some of the most unforgiving environments on earth.

Ross’s experience spans kinetic combat operations, treacherous Alaskan rescues, and today’s complex miss...

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 aviatorThe critical role of mentorship in naval aviation and why "setting the example" remains the cornerstone of leadershipWhy the Landing Signal Officer (LSO) program develops both technical expertise and leadership skillsHow naval aviation responded to 9/11The art of...

In this powerful episode of The Ready Room Podcast, host Ryan Keys speaks with Commander Hunter Scott, USN, whose childhood curiosity evolved into a national campaign that reshaped naval history. At just 12 years old, Scott launched a school project investigating the tragic sinking of the USS Indianapolis, the Navy’s worst sea disaster, and the controversial court-martial of its captain, Charles McVay.

Motivated by a brief mention in the film Jaws, Scott’s research turned into a years-long quest for justice. He gathered survivor testimony, navigated political resistance, and ultimately influenced Congress to pass a resolution exonerating McVay. His...

The Ready Room Podcast is the official podcast of The Naval Aviation Museum Foundation, offering in-depth stories from the past, present, and future of naval aviation. Through compelling interviews and immersive storytelling, the podcast brings listeners into the world of naval aviators, engineers, and leaders who have shaped aviation history.

From the Battle of Midway to modern-day international flight training, each episode features firsthand accounts from veterans, aerospace experts, and global partners. The series explores the human side of aviation—courage, innovation, leadership, and the enduring spirit of service—while highlighting the STEM principles that drive progress in air...