He is also an instrument rated private pilot with a degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Arizona. His diverse experiences include working in Mission Control Center at NASA, Johnson Space Center, during the initial flights of the Space Shuttle, and flying in fighter jets, as a flight surgeon, for the New Mexico Air National Guard. His hobbies include travelling the countryside in his motor home, practicing jiu jitsu, and spending time with his six children and three grandchildren (which he swears takes more energy and is more rewarding than anything mentioned above). He currently resides in Lubbock, Texas, with his wife Buffey and their two youngest daughters.