Brian Ellis is an accomplished aviation expert with over two decades of experience in rotary wing aviation serving as a Black Hawk aviator. He attended the US Army Warrant Officer Candidate School and Initial Entry Rotary Wing Aviator course at Ft. Rucker, AL (now Ft. Novosel) in 2002. Brian is qualified as an instructor pilot and instrument flight examiner in the UH-60A, UH-60L, UH-60M. He is also qualified as a mission pilot and Maintenance Test Pilot in the MH-60M. A recently retired Chief Warrant Officer 5 (CW5), he served as a Standardization Officer at all echelons from company Standardization Pilot to Theater Standardization Officer in US Army Europe. He performed the Aeromedical Evacuation, VIP, Air Assault, and General Support before favorably assessing with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) and serving as a Night Stalker until his retirement in April, 2024. During his service, Brian deployed to Iraq 4 times, twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF II & OIF V-Surge), twice in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, and to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom X (Afghanistan Surge). Brian has also deployed several times throughout Southern Europe in support of KFOR in Kosovo (2011-2014), and to Turkey in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve (2016). In addition, Brian also participated in domestic support during the summer of 2005 for relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane’s Katrina and Rita.

Brian holds a Ph.D. in Higher Educational Leadership from TUI, an MA in Aviation Education from TUI, and a BS in Professional Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He holds an FAA Airline Transport Pilot – Helicopter certificate and is an FAA Certified Flight Instructor (CFI and CFII) and holds an NVG Instructor endorsement and Small Unmanned Aerial System Remote Pilot certificate. His PhD research studied the Dunning-Kruger Effect in Aviators and it’s Relationship with Aviator Flying Hour Experience. Throughout his career Brian focused on improving the efficacy of aviation training programs by increasing aviator situational awareness through exposure to meaningful training iterations and scenarios. These initiatives have shaped pilot in command training programs and unit level training programs for new and seasoned instructor pilots throughout the Army.

With a deep understanding of how aviators learn, Brian Ellis frequently serves as a consultant to both private and government organizations, contributing to science and technology research as well as research and development programs for human-machine interface and holistic situational awareness and decision-making programs. His deep expertise has led to significantly reduced research and development time in the design of software and hardware in use in Army aircraft.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Brian is passionate about educating and mentoring the next generation of aviation professionals. He contributes as a coach for an aviation mental performance program designed to help aviators improve their mindset and confidence for aviation operations.

Brian now lives in Southeastern, MI with his wife (Beth, who was also a Black Hawk pilot and who deployed to Afghanistan twice) and their son (4) and daughter (2).