Hello and welcome to the Fighter pilot podcast. I am your host Vincent Ayello. You long time

listeners know that on this show, we generally avoid hot buttons, social topics and politics,

not because we think they're unimportant, but rather, we want the Fighter pilot podcast

to be a place where you can take a break from such matters and simply enjoy learning about

military aviation. Well, today is an exception because after hitting it pretty hard for the

past couple of months, we're taking a break from our normal program in this week and with the

recent Independence Day holiday here in the States, we figure what could be more patriotic than

introducing you to a friend of ours who is running for public office. Luke Mixen, welcome to the

Fighter pilot podcast. Vincent, thanks for having me, man. Pleasure to be here. Awesome. So Luke,

there are many ways to describe you no doubt, but relative to this show, you were a naval officer,

an F-18 Hornet pilot, top gun graduate, weapon school instructor, squadron commander, and so much more.

Now, you're also an airline pilot and throwing your hat in the political ring, for which office are

you running and from where? You know, the bio, Vincent, one port that I'll mention in there is

that born and raised in Louisiana. You know, my wife is from here as well and when my active duty career

was over, we knew we wanted to move back home. We've been back in Louisiana now for six years,

and you know, just a little dissatisfied with the way things are in our country and our state right

now. So I am running for the United States Senate right here back home in Louisiana. Fantastic.

Now, how do you feel your military leadership and flying experiences have prepared you to be a

lawmaker on Capitol Hill? I mean, in so much as any profession prepares somebody for a role in a

what government buy the people and for the people? I think in two ways, Vincent, we like to say that

these are serious times that require serious leaders. You know, if people are looking for this 30-year

career politician who's seeking some personal ambition to climb the ladder of politics, I'm probably

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