Anthony Dyer hails from the small Appalachian town of Sylva, North Carolina and served in the US Air Force for over 20 years. Enlisting in July 2000, Dyer’s extensive military career began as a weapons loader on F-15E Strike Eagles before he realized his goal of becoming a Special Missions Aviator on the AC-130H Spectre gunship. Driven by a desire to leave a lasting impact after 9/11, he deployed to combat zones in Afghanistan, Iraq, and East Africa with the 16th Special Operations Squadron, where he provided critical close air support and participated in high-stakes rescue missions.