Cool guy, nice to meet u sir, met him at Andrews, in Pg county Maryland, from Michigan, Detroit area.........watched the Lions...

Colonel Nathan "Sheik" Malafa is the commander and leader of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, the official air demonstration squadron. He flies as Thunderbird #1 for the 2024–2025 show seasons. 

Career highlights

• Thunderbirds commander: Malafa was selected as Thunderbird #1 in 2023. His position entails leading the squadron of eight officers and more than 120 enlisted members.
• Command pilot: Before joining the Thunderbirds, Malafa accumulated over 3,500 flight hours, including nearly 850 in combat.
• Test and Evaluation Squadron: He previously served as the commander of the 59th Test and Evaluation Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base.
• Inspiration: Malafa has spoken publicly about being inspired to fly after attending an air show as a child.