San Luis Obispo, California
Peter
Metcalfe
Commercial Pilot · Systems Engineer · Offshore Delivery Captain
1,504 flight hours. A solo 3,000+ nautical mile Pacific crossing. Four California fire seasons. Different cockpits, one standard: stay calm, read the systems, make the right call.
Profile
Command judgment, wherever the environment gets unforgiving.
Peter is a commercial pilot and systems engineer finishing a B.S. in Aviation at Liberty University with a 4.0 GPA, graduating June 2026. His background spans custom electrical and mechanical systems engineering, offshore yacht delivery command, and four seasons as a CAL FIRE firefighter/EMT.
The throughline across all of it is the same: staying composed and systematic when the environment stops cooperating — whether that's a failing subsystem mid-ocean, a wildland fire under ICS command, or instrument conditions on a cross-country leg.
Flight experience
The logbook.
Commercial Pilot — Airplane Single & Multi-Engine Land
Experience
Three careers, one operating standard.
Systems Engineer
Veritas Vans · California- Engineered electrical and mechanical systems for custom van builds — power, climate, water, and ancillary subsystems designed for off-grid reliability.
- Set up and maintained production machinery, supporting manufacturing automation and consistent build quality across the line.
- Worked directly with company ownership on system and product design — technical analysis, troubleshooting, and practical engineering solutions.
Yacht Delivery Captain
SY Achilles & SY Kessel · Multiple ocean basins- Commanded crewed transoceanic deliveries — directing watch teams and onboard service while coordinating with shipyards, port officials, and owners.
- Completed a single-handed 30+ day, 3,000–4,000 NM Pacific crossing — sustained command judgment, weather routing, and systems troubleshooting in remote conditions.
- Refit and prepared vessels for offshore delivery, rebuilding mechanical, electrical, and navigation systems independently of a maintenance facility.
Firefighter / EMT
CAL FIRE, San Benito-Monterey Unit · Pebble Beach, CA- Responded to structure fires, wildland fires, technical rescues, vehicle accidents, and medical emergencies under strict Incident Command System followership.
- Instructed and certified fellow firefighters in technical high-angle rope rescue; mentored academy graduates on engine company operations.
- Maintained crew accountability and equipment readiness through continuous training and disciplined procedure.
B.S. Aviation — 4.0 GPA
Liberty University · Lynchburg, VA- Undergraduate aviation degree completed alongside full-time systems engineering and offshore command work.
Beyond the résumé
Volunteer work and personal record.
Volunteer — Angel Flight West
Command Pilot
Transports medical patients and their families to specialized care at no cost — donating aircraft, fuel, and pilot services across the western United States.
Volunteer — California
Climbing Instructor
Instructs beginner-to-intermediate climbers in safety systems, technique, and decision-making within high-consequence vertical environments.
2015
Pacific Crest Trail Thru-Hiker
Completed the 2,650-mile continuous hike from Mexico to Canada.
2014
Eagle Scout
Led a volunteer team to complete a community public-works service project — the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America.
Gallery
Snapshots from my life.
