LtCol Christy holds a master’s degree in aeronautical engineering from Princeton and is an associate member of Experimental Test Pilots. As a Marine fighter pilot, he flew two tours of duty in Vietnam, one as squadron Commanding Officer, and commanded the flight test division at NAS Point Mugu. In 1976, LtCol Christy formed Golden Jet Airways in Los Angeles, and in 1980 co-founded The Air Group, a business jet sales and charter service where he was the executive vice president for operations. LtCol Christy retired December 2007.