Jerry “Jake” Jacobs was born and raised in Florida. He grew up playing football, surfing, and playing video games. Being from Florida, Jerry was able to watch shuttle launches from the street and attend airshows with his parents when he was young. He joined the USAF after graduating high school and was stationed back home in Florida; served for more than six years and left service at the rank of Staff Sergeant. After leaving the Air Force, Jerry worked with various companies in the aviation industry, including a news outlet where he was the live on-air broadcaster and videographer onboard a news helicopter. The mentorship he received from the pilots at this company were invaluable assets in guiding his pursuit of aviation. Jerry credits his passion for aviation, first and foremost, to his parents, and then to all the industry professionals he has met over the years. He pursued his passion, earned his ratings and became a CFI/II and MEI at Epic Flight Academy. He hopes to impart his love of aviation into his instructing, and one day inspire the next generation of aviators as he has been inspired by the aviators that came before him.