Michael “Thorny” Brewer is an active pilot with United Airlines, adjunct professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and is also currently serving in the United States Air Force Reserve as an F-15E Instructor Pilot.  He has over 25 years of flying experience; accumulating over 7,000 hours in over 50 types of general aviation, transport, and military aircraft. 

Brewer is a 2005 graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, Arizona and commissioned from Officer Training School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama in 2010.  He attended Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training at Vance AFB, Oklahoma. After completing Pilot Training as a Distinguished Graduate, recipient of the AETC Commander’s Trophy, and Flying Training Award in 2012, Brewer served as an F-15E Strike Eagle pilot in multiple assignments.  He has more than 2,000 hours in the F-15E and F-16, including more than 315 combat hours over Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Inherent Resolve.  Prior to his current position, Brewer served as a Demonstration Pilot for the United States Air Force Thunderbirds, was the team’s Training Officer and Lead Instructor Pilot.  He has also served as an F-15E Instructor Pilot and Flight Commander at Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina and RAF Lakenheath, England.    

Brewer is an accomplished civilian pilot and skilled instructor, having held evaluator positions at Mesa Airlines and a Part 135 bank mail company.  In 2020 Brewer earned his Master’s Degree in Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Worldwide specializing in Adult Education in Aviation.  Armed with years of teaching experience and a passion for instruction, Brewer overhauled and redesigned the Thunderbird’s training program by fusing military and civilian teaching concepts while utilizing advanced adult instructional techniques.  He continues his passion for teaching by serving as an Adjunct Professor in Aeronautics for Embry-Riddle Worldwide and is the recipient of numerous decorations including Adjunct Faculty of The Year and Visionary Educator awards.

When not flying professionally, Brewer can be found advocating for aviation through public speaking events.  He also enjoys traveling with his wife and 4 sons and teaching them to become pilots themselves in the families Cessna 150.