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Steven Paul Kirik is a distinguished FAA Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) serving the Chicago and Rockford regions with over 11,000 hours of flight time. His extensive aviation career began in the U.S. Air Force, where he served as a decorated fighter pilot flying the F-15C Eagle, including 43 combat missions during Operation Desert Storm. Following his military service, he served as an instructor pilot and examiner in the T-38 Talon before transitioning to the civilian sector. Currently, he serves as a First Officer for a major airline, operating Boeing 757 and 767 aircraft, while continuing to provide expert evaluations as a civilian examiner.
Specializing in high-performance and experimental aircraft, Kirik is a recognized expert in jet warbirds, including the L-39, T-38, F-5, and F-86. As a key member of the Warbird Heritage Foundation and the L-39 Hopper Flight Demonstration Team, he maintains a rigorous safety-first mindset rooted in his extensive combat and military instructor background. Throughout his decades of flight, Kirik has maintained an exemplary safety record, utilizing his depth of experience to ensure the highest standards of technical proficiency and risk management for every pilot candidate he evaluates in the Midwest.