Left: Jordan Austin, left, of ALPA’s Government Affairs Department interviews Rep. Jack Bergman during ALPA’s 2017 Legislative Summit. Right: U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant General Jack Bergman.

Capt. Jack Bergman (Northwest, Ret.) understands the importance of giving something back. After flying as an airline pilot for three different carriers and serving as a three-star lieutenant general in the U.S. Marine Corps, he ran for and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2016.

“I was raised in a family that believes in service,” he said, adding, “For me, it seemed like a transition from service in uniform to service in a suit.” Representing the first district in Michigan, Bergman divulged, “Running for political office was never part of any grand plan.” The seat was available where Bergman’s family had lived for decades, and he recalled, “I just decided I’d throw my hat into the ring and let the voters decide.”

As a senior military official, Bergman spent time addressing policy matters on Capitol Hill. However, he acknowledged that airline flying was the experience that best prepared him for this latest chapter in his life. “The structured nature of flight taught me how to stay focused on the things I’m doing in Congress, whether I’m addressing veterans’ affairs, the budget, or natural resources, which are the three committees I work on,” he remarked.

Bergman identified four components of flying as an airline captain that he continues to use to navigate the corridors of government. To be successful, Bergman maintains a mindset of responsible, accountable behavior; weighs all the facts before signing off on the “flight plan”; understands the big picture but focuses on the task at hand; and recognizes that flying is a constant state of correction. The sooner challenges are identified and resolved, the smaller their impact will be. Bergman said that applying these four operational insights can provide a clarity of purpose to almost any mission.

It’s also important to maintain some perspective. As an example, the Republican congressman recalled landing a DC-9 at Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport on a winter day in the 1990s. At the gate, he thanked the passengers as they disembarked. An older gentleman asked why the landing was so hard. Noting the shortness of the runway and the icy conditions that day, Bergman relayed that it was either that or join the traffic on the nearby interstate. “Oh, nice landing!” the man replied with a smile.

Bergman began flying shortly after college, when a Marine recruiter told him he should become a pilot. “I signed on the dotted line and went to flight school,” he commented, adding, “My first flight was in a T-38B, and I was hooked. I never knew how much I loved flying until then.” Bergman soon transitioned from fixed-wing aircraft to helicopters, flying Bell Jet Rangers and Hueys. He served in Vietnam and remained in the Marines after the war.

In 1978, Bergman went to work for Continental Airlines where he flew for two years before being furloughed. He was later recalled but eventually decided to make a change and was hired by Republic. His new carrier merged with another airline a year later, and the Michigan native became a Northwest pilot. Bergman flew for Northwest until 2007, when he retired from airline flying. During his tenure as an ALPA member, he endured two strikes: one with Continental and the other with Northwest. These experiences taught him the true value of unity and its necessity for success.

Meanwhile, Bergman held progressively more influential military positions, including commander of the largest Marine Corps Mobilization Station. He moved between active duty and reserve status over the course of several decades and was eventually placed in charge of the Marine Forces Reserve/Marine Forces North before retiring in 2009. As a lieutenant general, Bergman became the highest-ranking military veteran to be a Member of the House.

The Michigan congressman observed that whether flying an aircraft or commanding a military unit, he had to work with others to accomplish a common goal. Success in each of these endeavors required cooperation and teamwork. Bergman noted that the same holds true for policymaking. And with the current political atmosphere of divisiveness and reluctance to compromise, others in Congress could certainly benefit from his perspective.