"As the former Deputy Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration I was personally and intimately involved in the training and testing of pilots and air traffic controllers. I know firsthand how complicated and important the process can be to assure the thorough training and qualifications of applicants who may in the future be making life and death decisions on behalf of other people. When Captain Metcalf contacted me told me his intentions, and asked if I would consider serving as an instructor, I not only agreed but also insisted on writing a letter to the Maritime Training Center of the Coast Guard with my highest recommendation for Atlantic Captain's Academy. As one of his former students, his knowledge of the subject matter was immediately evident to me, but more impressive is his ability to transmit information in a variety of ways to accommodate a group of students that are highly diverse in their own nautical backgrounds and still maintain a high level of motivation and interest by the class as a whole."