Do Not Put Away Your Flight Suit
Commander Mike “Verbal” Nunziato, U.S. Navy (Retired)
The Walkthrough at Tailhook
There is something truly awesome about Tailhook. For naval aviation professionals—past, present, and future—it is more than a symposium. It is a reunion, a proving ground, and a place where reputations are remembered and built. This year, as I walked the exhibit halls, conference rooms, and evening receptions, I was struck by how quickly old friendships reignited. Even though I had not worn a flight suit since 2016, the conversations with shipmates, squadron buddies, mentors, and mentees, picked up like we had never missed a beat.
During one of the socials, a colleague and friend I trust offered an interesting comment. They said, “Verbal, I gotta tell you, I was initially concerned when you were hired for your role at Pratt and Whitney. I’ve known you for a long time, but your years out of the cockpit as a FAO … I was worried that you would struggle rebuilding your naval aviation network.” That comment stuck with me because of what it says about the importance of maintaining our operational network, even after we transition into new identities as foreign area officers (FAO), diplomats, or civilians.
You Are Always One of Them… Until You Are Not
Becoming a FAO is often described as a second career. We step away from the tactical fight to serve our country in embassies, think tanks, headquarters, and foreign capitals. We specialize in strategy, relationships, languages, and culture. We work beside ambassadors and generals, often translating not just languages—but intent, nuance, and policy.
But the truth is, as the years go on and the patches fade, the communities we once flew or fought with can start to forget our operational edge. And we can start to forget theirs. Not intentionally. Not maliciously. Just gradually. Through the slow erosion of time, deployments, duty changes, and the natural progression of military careers.
Unless… we do not let it erode.
The Network You Built in Uniform Still Matters
Many FAOs are meticulous about nurturing international relationships, whether with defense attachés, partner nation military leaders, or interagency counterparts. But too often, we let our U.S. operator network drift.
That is a mistake.
Because whether you are in uniform or transitioning to industry, the network you built as an operator is your foundation. It is your reputation, your credibility, and—frankly—your ability to influence outcomes. And more importantly, it is the common language you will always share with those still flying, driving ships, or running joint operations.
At Tailhook, I did not need to pass out business cards. I didn’t need to re-introduce myself. I showed up and reconnected with people I knew from deployments, from workups, from squadrons. And what I found was that those relationships still held power—because I had maintained them with care.
Being a FAO Does Not Mean Leaving the Fight
Our community takes pride in being warfighters-turned-diplomats. But warfighters still respect other warfighters. And for many of us, that is the shared DNA that made our FAO careers work so well.
I am not saying we need to go to the simulator every month or wear our flight jackets to work. But we do need to maintain relevance—by staying informed, staying engaged, and showing up where the community still gathers.
Tailhook reminded me that operational communities still value our perspective. But only if we have continued to value theirs.
Industry Often Misunderstands What We Are
I have found that in the defense industry, especially on the corporate side, the term “Foreign Area Officer” is still unfamiliar. Some interpret it narrowly—assuming we’re only fit for overseas engagement or foreign military sales. Others see it as too niche, not understanding the full scope of skills we bring.
But the truth is: we bring more than international acumen. We bring a blend of strategic thinking, cultural intelligence, acquisition know-how, and warfighter perspective. We have led diverse teams in complex environments. We have influenced policy. And many of us have experience in the joint, interagency, and coalition world that industry sorely needs.
And yet, unless we have maintained that operator credibility—unless we can still walk into a room and speak as a peer to pilots, maintainers, or commanders—some folks will still see us as “the international guy” and not the integrator we actually are.
Relevance Is Earned, Not Assumed
Credibility is not a given. And being a FAO, especially one who has left the fleet for nearly a decade, means you have to work a little harder to stay current. But that effort pays off. Whether you are seeking to support programs in industry, working a tough embassy portfolio, or mentoring the next generation of FAOs, you will find that your voice carries further if it’s still tethered to your roots.
Final Reflection: Do Not Put Away Your Flight Suit
I may have hung up my actual flight suit in 2016. But I never put it away. I still follow the community. I still reach out to squadron mates. I still find ways to tie our work back to the warfighter—because that is who we serve, whether we wear a uniform or a sports coat.
I would offer this to any FAO, junior or senior, in or out of uniform:
Stay connected. Relationships are not transactional. They are transformational.
Stay relevant. Learn the programs, the lingo, and the pain points of the community you came from.
Stay visible. Show up. Tailhook, AUSA, Sea-Air-Space, embassy receptions, virtual panels—just be there.
Because you never know when that one conversation, that one reconnection, or that one moment at a symposium will be the bridge to your next opportunity—or the way you help someone else find theirs.
So, no matter where your FAO career takes you, do not put away your flight suit.
You may not wear it—but you will always be wearing what it means.
About the Author
Commander (retired) Mike “Verbal” Nunziato is a retired E-2C Hawkeye Naval Flight Officer and European Command (EUCOM) FAO. He currently serves on the Executive Board of the Foreign Area Officer Association and is the Navy Lead Integrator at Pratt and Whitney, an RTX Business
.