New York Times bestselling author Dan Schilling, Lt. Col., USAF (ret.) spent more than 30 years in special operations, primarily as a Combat Controller and Special Tactics Officer, but began military service as an infantry paratrooper.  
His combat, clandestine, rescue, and humanitarian missions have taken him worldwide. He includes Operation Gothic Serpent, popularly known as Black Hawk Down, where he is credited with saving the lives of a Ranger and Team Six SEAL while under heavy enemy fire. He later conceived, founded, and then served as the first commander of two special operations squadrons, one of whose name and purpose remain classified. His military certifications include HALO and static line master parachutist, Special Forces combat diver, parachute rigger, and Combat Control pipeline instructor. His final military assignment was the Joint Special Operations Command Weapons of Mass Destruction U.S. interagency and intelligence community director.