The Sky's the Limit for Edmonds Grad Tyler Ekse
Three years ago, Tyler Ekse was standing on a Mercedes-Benz showroom floor, the youngest salesman in the building. He had the job many of his peers envied: high-end cars, commission checks, and corporate potential. But for Ekse, something was missing.
Ekse’s path to the cockpit wasn’t a straight line. By his own admission, he was a "mediocre" student in high school. His purpose was more focused on being captain of the varsity wrestling team than on textbooks. But his dedication on the mat as a team captain helped him develop leadership skills that have fueled his current trajectory.
When he decided to pivot from sales back to education, he chose Edmonds College—his "next-door neighbor"—to find his footing. At Edmonds, the transformation was immediate. Ekse credits the small class sizes and personal mentorship for his academic turnaround. He went from a struggling high schooler to an honors student every quarter at Edmonds. He boasted a 3.85 GPA when he applied to the ENJJPT program and has made the Dean’s List at the UW in most quarters.
"Edmonds gave me that environment to prove myself once again," says Ekse, who will graduate from UW this June. "I found academic success there that I hadn't found in high school. The confidence was built at Edmonds, and it became the stepping stone to bigger things."
One of the most remarkable aspects of Ekse’s journey is how he balanced his education. Through a unique "cross-town agreement," he was able to remain an Edmonds College student while participating in the Air Force ROTC program at the University of Washington.
His schedule was grueling. As a commuting student, Ekse’s days often began with a 3:50 a.m. wake-up call to make it to Seattle for early morning physical training. He would lead drills in his uniform at UW, then drive back to Lynnwood to finish his business credits at Edmonds.
Fast forward to his senior year at UW, where his discipline has paid off. On Jan. 28, 2026, he took over as “Raptor One,” the lead wing commander of the 88 cadets for his detachment at the University of Washington. In his role, Ekse is the highest-ranking cadet, responsible for leading, mentoring, and managing the entire cadet wing. His key duties include directing training, ensuring compliance with detachment goals, facilitating communication between cadets and cadre, and overseeing wing staff. It is a role that his commander, Colonel Sarah Babbitt, is confident he can excel in.
“He's a really impressive young man, and he's gonna be a great officer,” said Col. Babbitt. “There are a lot of things on his plate this coming term, but I’m confident that he can do it. He knows all about grit, challenges, overcoming hard times, and leading people, including a diverse group.
“To be able to take a diverse team and lead them towards a singular mission is very impressive, and he’s shown that he can do it.”
Other decision-makers in the Air Force clearly echo Col. Babbitt’s confidence in Ekse. This year, he earned a coveted slot in the ENJJPT program at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas. The statistics are staggering: the Air Force selects only about 8-10% of pilot applicants each year for this elite, NATO-specific track.
When Ekse commissions this summer, he will join a class of about 20 students who will spend the next year partaking in intensive academics, simulator instruction, and primary flight training before ever touching the cockpit of a jet. Along the way, he will know exactly where he stands in the program, as students are ranked based on their competencies in each drill and task. At the end of the year, each candidate participates in “Drop Night,” where they will get “pinned” and learn which aircraft they will train to fly in.
The school is a coalition of NATO allies in which top recruits from 14 countries, including the U.S., Germany, Italy, the UK, and more, train together. Unlike standard flight schools, ENJJPT is a "fighter-Bomber" only track—graduates are destined for "pointy and fast" aircraft like the F-16 or F-22.
While most selectees are engineering or STEM majors, Ekse is the only history major to be selected for the program this year.
He explained his decision to switch from business to history, “I was looking forward to my career in the United States military, and I wanted to understand what conflict looked like before I got involved, as well as some understanding of the political aspects of what I would be tackling as an officer.”
Despite the prestige of his NATO appointment, Ekse remains grounded in the lessons he learned as a wrestling captain at Mountlake Terrace and as a student at Edmonds.
"Ten years from now, I want to be leading airmen to the best of my abilities," Ekse says. "Whether I’m in the cockpit or not, it doesn’t matter to me. I want to make my Air Force better."
For the Edmonds College community, Ekse’s story is a powerful reminder that "where you start" doesn't define "where you land." From a local showroom to the elite skies of NATO, Ekse’s trajectory is just beginning.
