Ep 351 Commanding a Navy Reserve Squadron with Ted Kyriopoulos

May 25, 2026 · 24 min · Season 2026 · Episode 351

About this episode

Nik Fialka interviews Ted Kyriopoulos about his experiences commanding a Navy Reserve Squadron and the challenges of military aviation.

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. CONNECT WITH US Are you ready to take your preparation to the next level? Don't wait until it's too late. Use the promo code "R4P2026" and save 10% on all our services. Check us out at www.spitfireelite.com ! If you want to recommend someone to guest on the show, email Nik at podcast@spitfireelite.com, and if you need a professional pilot resume, go…

People in this episode

Host: Nik Fialka

Guest: Ted Kyriopoulos

Topics covered

Navy Reserve
Aviation Journey
Military Logistics
Leadership
Family Life

Keywords

Navy Reserve
C-40
Aviation
Leadership
Military Flying

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: VR-58 "Sun Seekers", Spitfire Elite

Places: Naval Air Station Jacksonville, FL