LT Ian Hopper, USCG,

DIrector

Lieutenant Ian Hopper is an active duty Coast Guard helicopter pilot currently stationed in Washington, DC. A Houston native, he began his college journey at the University of Richmond, where he joined Army ROTC and met his wife, Emma, before earning an appointment to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.

At the Academy, he rowed crew and studied Operations Research before pursuing Naval Flight Training, where he earned his wings in 2022.

Ian's first tour was in Corpus Christi, TX where he flew the MH-65E Dolphin on missions throughout the southern Gulf Coast. He received his DFC while flying as the Aircraft Commander on the nationally acclaimed rescue of 165 campers stranded during the historic floods at Camp Mystic, near Kerrville Texas. He is currently assigned to Washington, D.C. where he is operating in Coast Guard aviation special missions.

Ian and Emma have three children. Beyond aviation, Ian is passionate about faith and worldview conversations, seeking to understand not only what people believe, but why they believe it.

In his free time, he enjoys working out with his kids in the garage, riding bikes in the neighborhood, and finding any chance to spend time with  his family.