Former drum major finds dream job by Evelyn Boswell William Bennett, '01 Music, former drum major for the Spirit of the West Marching Band, knew early on what he wanted to do in life. "I wanted to go to MSU since I was a fetus," says the Bozeman native, who later joined a long list of family members who graduated from or worked at MSU. Bennett is the grandson of Johan Asleson, who retired as dean of the College of Agriculture in 1980. Bennett's second goal emerged when he was just a toddler and starting to speak. Perhaps hinting at his current occupation, his first word was Papa. That was another name for Asleson, who started flying before World War 11 and was a flight instructor in the Navy. Bennett's second word was "hopeine," which meant airplane in kid language. Bennett is now a commercial pilot for Chautauqua Airlines out of Greensborough, N.C. Less than three years out of MSU, he flies a 50-passenger regional jet that makes regular stops in Greensboro, New York, Pittsburgh and Boston. "It beats working for a living," Bennett said from a Florida beach during one of his days off. "I'm paid to stare out the window and enjoy the view at 37,000 feet." A few days earlier, Bennett had visited Kitty Hawk, N.C., in advance of the 100th anniversary of powered flight. He was amazed to realize that the first sustained flight lasted 12 seconds. Orville Wright flew about 10 feet off the ground for 120 feet in 1903. By contrast, Bennett flies 37,000 feet high for two hours at a time. He reaches speeds greater than 500 mph. "It just blows me away," Bennett said. Bennett flew an airplane for the first time at age 12 and earned his pilot's license and instrument rating while attending MSU. He worked at the Gallatin Airfield Airport in the mornings or afternoons when he wasn't in class. He later became a flight instructor in Florida and started working for Chautauqua in 2003. "I still don't know why they let a musician fly a jet," joked Bennett who continues to play the trumpet and has volunteered in a high school music program. While at MSU, Bennett was Band Member of the Year in 2000 and received the Franchem Memorial Scholarship. He was drum major in both 2000 and 2001. Photo Credit: William Bennet