WORK LOCATION: Lakeland, Florida

ABOUT THE FLORIDA STATE GUARD (FSG)

The Florida State Guard serves Florida as a cornerstone of statewide crisis and emergency response. The mission of the Florida State Guard is to protect and preserve the life and property of the people of Florida from all threats to public safety through rapid deployment of ground, maritime, and air capabilities in partnership with state and local agencies. The Florida State Guard is a Division of the Florida Department of Military Affairs.

OUR BENEFITS INCLUDE:

• Health Insurance

• Life Insurance

• Dental, Vision and Supplemental Insurance     

• Retirement Benefits   

• Vacation and Sick Leave

• Paid Holidays

• Opportunities for Career Advancement

• Tuition Waiver for Public College Courses

• Training Opportunities

• For benefit information available to [redacted] employees, go to [redacted]

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

1. New employees of the Florida State Guard will be required to pass a pre-employment drug screening.

2. New employees of the Florida State Guard are required to participate in a direct deposit/electronic transfer program. 

3. The Florida State Guard is paid monthly.

4. As a CANDIDATE, you may be required to provide documentation (i.e., High School Diploma or Equivalency, College Transcripts, ETC.) to verify meeting these Minimum Qualifications.

NOTE

To be considered for this position, application must be fully completed, your responses to qualifying questions for this position must be verified by documentation provided through the electronic application process and clearly stated within the employment history.   

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Federal Aviation Administration certifications awarded from accredited civilian aviation programs OR must have aviation certifications from accredited military aviation schools:

• Commercial Instrument Rating for Fixed Wing Aircraft

• Valid FAA Class II Medical Certificate

• 500+ hours of multi-engine flight time

• 100+ hours of night flight time

• 100+ hours of actual instrument time

Preferred Qualifications

• Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certificate with 4,000+ total flight hours

• King Air B300 (Super King Air 350) type rating

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Oversee aviation missions and coordinate all fixed-wing flight operations for the Aviation Response Squadron.

• Develop and maintain squadron policies, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and safety manuals.

• Report directly to the Chief Pilot regarding mission success, crew status, and operational challenges.

• Manage training documentation and track crew readiness to ensure all personnel meet strict performance benchmarks.

• Serve as the primary pilot for all state-owned or leased fixed-wing aircraft.

• Ensure total safety, compliance, and operational readiness for every assigned flight and asset.

• Enforce regulatory compliance across Part 135 operations and Public Use Operations frameworks.

• Execute all post-flight administrative duties, including logging flight times, recording aircraft discrepancies, and filing mission reports.

• Coordinate maintenance tracking by reporting squawks and mechanical issues to maintenance personnel immediately following a flight.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Aviation Regulations: Thorough knowledge of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) principles, regulations, and techniques, specifically regarding Part 135 and Public Use Operations.

• Aircraft Operations: Advanced knowledge of the principles, techniques, and safety procedures required for operating complex fixed-wing aircraft.

• Emergency Management: Strong knowledge of emergency management frameworks, disaster response protocols, and aviation-specific emergency procedures.

• Aviation Leadership: Knowledge of the principles of organizational leadership, crew resource management (CRM), and basic management practices within an aviation squadron.

• Personnel Management: Knowledge of policies and practices involved in managing aviation personnel, with a demonstrated ability to supervise, motivate, develop, and direct flight crews.

• Mission Coordination: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and coordinate multiple flight missions, operational tasks, and complex projects under shifting timelines.

• Critical Decision-Making: Demonstrated skill in exercising exceptional judgment during emergency or high stress flight situations, with the ability to make rapid, safe decisions.

• Technical Literacy: Knowledge of computer-based flight tracking, report preparation, and database management, with the ability to maintain records and generate operational status reports.

• Professional Communication: Skill in communicating effectively and professionally both verbally and in writing with chief leadership, government organizations, and public stakeholders.

• Teamwork & Independence: Ability to operate with a high degree of autonomy as a pilot-in-command while seamlessly collaborating as a leader within the broader Aviation Response Squadron.

• Field Adaptability: Ability to travel extensively and operate in demanding field or austere environments during active disaster conditions.