Beyond the Cockpit: Dave Berke’s Journey Flying 4 Iconic Fighters

Dave “Chip” Berke
F/A-18, F-16, F-22, F-35B
Episode 140 Afterburn Podcast

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Only Marine Fighter Pilot to Fly the F-22 Raptor

Among the elite pilots who’ve mastered the skies, Dave "Chip" Berke stands out, not just for his skill but for his unparalleled experience. The only Marine to qualify on both the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II, Berke has also flown the F/A-18 Hornet and F-16 Viper, blending Navy and Air Force legacies.

His latest venture, The Need to Lead: A TOPGUN Instructor's Lessons on How Leadership Solves Every Challenge (released October 2025), with a foreword by Jocko Willink, transforms these cockpit hours into leadership gold. This blog dives into his fighter pilot stories 2025, exploring how each jet shaped his philosophy.

Early Days: From El Toro to the Hornet’s Nest

Dave Berke’s aviation journey began at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California, where his childhood fascination with jets took flight. Growing up near the base, he watched F-4 Phantoms and A-4 Skyhawks, igniting a passion that led him to the U.S. Naval Academy. Commissioned as a Marine aviator, his first assignment was the F/A-18 Hornet—a versatile, carrier-based fighter that defined his early career.

Berke’s initial deployment aboard a Navy carrier during the Y2K transition tested his mettle. “My first trap on the boat was a wake-up call,” he recalls on the podcast. The Hornet’s agility in combat operations over Iraq and Afghanistan cemented its status as his “first love.” This phase taught him adaptability, key to surviving carrier landings and combat missions — lessons later echoed in The Need to Lead. For aspiring fighter pilot stories 2025, Berke’s Hornet days offer a blueprint of resilience under pressure.

Jet Analysis: Berke’s Takes on Four Legends

Berke’s career spans four iconic aircraft, each with distinct strengths. Here’s how he breaks them down, drawn from his #AfterburnPodcast insights:

• F/A-18 Hornet: Berke’s entry into combat, excelling in multi-role missions. Its carrier capability shaped his early leadership, focusing on team coordination under tight constraints.

• F-16 Viper: Transitioning to the Air Force’s nimble Viper, Berke marveled at its cockpit visibility. “You see everything,” he notes, a metaphor for situational awareness he later applied to ground combat.

• F-22 Raptor: The stealth marvel pushed boundaries. “It’s ridiculous how it moves,” Berke says, highlighting its edge in dogfights—a lesson in innovation for leaders.

• F-35 Lightning II: As the only Marine dual-qualified, Berke praises the F-35’s B (STOVL) and C (carrier) variants for Marine flexibility. “It’s about mission fit,” he explains, tying to strategic decision-making.

These fighter pilot stories 2025 showcase Berke’s versatility, a theme central to The Need to Lead, where he argues leadership adapts to context—much like choosing the right jet.

The Need to Lead Connection: Leadership from the Skies

Berke’s cockpit experience transcends aviation, forming the backbone of The Need to Lead (Extreme Ownership #3, with foreword by Jocko Willink). On https://youtu.be/qWX5OcjVVAQ, he connects flying to leadership principles. The Hornet taught him humility under pressure, the Viper sharpened awareness, the Raptor inspired innovation, and the F-35 demanded strategic thinking.

A standout moment is his Ramadi 2006 deployment as a Forward Air Controller. Coordinating airstrikes amid “bullets flying overhead,” Berke lost a teammate but learned compartmentalization, focusing on the mission to survive. “Target fixation kills you,” he warns, a cockpit lesson applied to ground leadership. This resilience fueled his PTSD recovery (“Stop talking, start listening”), a personal victory mirrored in the book’s emphasis on self-awareness.

For 2025 leaders—navigating hybrid work or AI disruptions—Berke’s insights offer a universal framework. “Humble, credible, approachable” (a mantra from Top Gun) becomes actionable, as does his advice to avoid ego traps. The Need to Lead distills these lessons, making it a must-read alongside this podcast.

Conclusion: Take Flight with Berke’s Wisdom

Dave Berke’s journey from El Toro to the F-35 cockpit is more than a fighter pilot story 2025—it’s a masterclass in leadership. His #AfterburnPodcast episode reveals how each jet shaped his philosophy, now captured in The Need to Lead. Whether you’re an aviation enthusiast or a professional seeking edge, Berke’s narrative inspires.

Grab the book via https://amzn.to/4nlA67m, subscribe for more deep dives into military aviation and leadership, and join the conversation on X with #AfterburnPodcast. What’s your favorite jet from Berke’s lineup? Share below!