Ep 351 Commanding a Navy Reserve Squadron with Ted Kyriopoulos
Ready 4 Pushback
Nik Fialka
5.0 • 797 Ratings
🗓️ 25 May 2026
⏱️ 24 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In this special on-location episode, Nik sits down with Ted Kyriopoulos, Commanding Officer of the VR-58 "Sun Seekers," moments after his change-of-command ceremony at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, FL. Ted shares his aviation journey – from early flights in a Cessna as a teenager to flying the T-34, MH-53, MH-60, and ultimately the C-40, a military variant of the 737 – while offering insight into the squadron's global logistics mission supporting Sailors, Marines, and operations around the world.
Nik and Ted dive into how Navy reserve squadrons plan and execute long-haul C-40 missions, the key differences between military and airline flying, and the leadership demands of commanding a 240-person squadron operating at a high tempo. They close with a candid conversation on leading with intention and balancing command with family life.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hey, Pilot, welcome to Ready for Pushback. I'm Nick Fialca. Here we are another episode together. |
| 0:07.6 | So thank you for joining me. If it's your first time, what's up? It's good to meet you. |
| 0:11.9 | My name is Nick. And today's conversation is a little bit different than it normally is because |
| 0:17.8 | typically I am doing something remote. |
| 0:21.8 | So you see my studio and you see the person I'm talking to and they're different. |
| 0:26.7 | I'm actually with Ted here. |
| 0:28.0 | I went to his change of command at the VR 58 Sun Seekers, which is a Navy squadron based in NASJ Jacksonville, Florida. And we have this conversation |
| 0:41.7 | right after his change of command about what he does, what his squadron does, what the mission |
| 0:48.1 | is about. And so we sit in his office, in the squadron, and so I've got my little, my little mic and all that |
| 0:56.4 | stuff. |
| 0:57.8 | A lot of fun to do these. |
| 0:59.4 | I really enjoy going out and sitting down in front of people and having these conversations. |
| 1:05.3 | So I hope you like it. |
| 1:06.8 | Let me know your feedback on this flavor because I'm just kind of figuring it out. I want to do |
| 1:12.2 | what you think is valuable. So if you like this, let me know. If you don't, let me know. |
| 1:17.5 | And I'll try to do more or less of them. Okay. So sit back, relax. Let's get ready for pushback. |
| 1:25.6 | It all started as a spark. |
| 1:29.1 | Maybe it was the sound of jets racing across the sky. |
| 1:33.2 | Or the feeling of your heart racing as you watch CropDuster flying low and slow. |
| 1:39.6 | Even then, you knew you were meant to fly. |
| 1:43.4 | For pilots, it's more than just a job. |
| 1:46.0 | It's a calling. |
... |
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