Meet Rob "ICE" Ffield
I grew up in Orchard Park, New York during the 1960s-70s in a middle-class household where my father worked as a Superintendent in the steel industry to support my brother, sister and I, while my mother successfully raised three independent and ambitious children.
Background
Initially inspired by Formula One auto racing and downhill skiing legends such as James Hunt, Niki Lauda and Franz Klammer, my passion for high-speed activities took hold during my collegiate studies at Clarkson University while captaining the school's alpine skiing team.
After earning my Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, I shifted my aspirations from racing to piloting jet fighters, and found myself as an officer in the United States Navy.
Career Highlights
- Commanding Officer and Flight Leader of the Blue Angels
- Commanding Officer of Carrier Air Wing 7 (CVW-7)
- Squadron Commander of the "Knighthawks" (VFA-136)
- Instructor and Executive Officer of the Navy's Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor program (TOPGUN)
Post-Navy Career
After retiring from active duty in 2009, I started devoting more of my time to refining my personal philosophy of individual excellence development and organizational leadership grounded in my 27 years of experience with America's most elite combat forces.
Today, I've shifted my mission from instructing elite fighter pilots to training today's business leaders, applying the same methods, strategies, and tactics from my years as a Naval Officer, Blue Angel Flight Leader and TOPGUN instructor.
CATSHOT Group
I founded CATSHOT Group to focus on helping organizations large and small in areas such as executive leadership training, strategic planning, tactical execution, corporate culture transformation, personal transition planning, and global business development.
Advisory and Consulting Experience
- Boeing Commercial Aircraft
- Boeing Military Aircraft
- Boeing Phantom Works
- IBM
- Konica Minolta
- Rockwell Collins
- Kroger Foods
- Material Handling Institute (MHI)
- University of Denver Daniels School of Business
- University of Colorado
- Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey (CIANJ)
- R & M Material Handling
- Entrepreneur Organization Alchemy (EO)
- Interstate Restoration
- US Navy
- Blue Angel Foundation
- ManTech
Fast Facts
- Logged nearly 6,000 hours in fighter jets including the A-4, F-14, F-16 and F/A-18
- Enjoy flying a variety of sport and business aircrafts, driving my highly modified 1966 Corvette, and riding my motorcycles cross-country
- Dedicated to my profession and always looking to learn from the best
- Follow many forms of individual and team sports including motor racing, downhill skiing, as well as the classic American and world league sports
- Avid outdoor sports enthusiast and keep active by participating in alpine skiing, mountain biking, sailing and water skiing
Personal Life
My wife is an active duty USAF officer and KC-10 pilot with a performance sports and professional background similar in many ways to mine.
We spend our free time flying ourselves around the country, visiting our three older daughters, and raising our youngest newborn daughter.
Professional Accomplishments
- Author of two books
- Presented lessons to Fortune 1000 companies
- Active volunteer with the Blue Angels Foundation supporting wounded veterans
- Earned Master's in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College
- Recipient of numerous professional awards, including recognition for skills as an aviator, Blue Angel Flight Lead, and TOPGUN instructor
Books
