On Friday, October 3rd, Berkeley Engineering hosted a special Aerospace Seminar featuring Captain Jim DiMatteo (BS ’85), legendary U.S. Navy pilot and distinguished Berkeley CEE alumnus. Captain DiMatteo, renowned in military aviation circles, spoke from 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m in the Grimes Engineering Center.
After graduating from Cal, Jim DiMatteo built a remarkable 27-year career as a U.S. Naval Aviator, becoming the first to command both TOPGUN Adversary Squadrons. After retiring as a Captain, he directed the Red Bull Air Races for 14 years, led the Breitling Jet Team’s U.S. tour, and ran the world’s largest airshow, Oshkosh AirVenture.
Today, he still flies the F-5 Advanced Tiger with Tactical Air Support, providing adversary training for Navy and Air Force pilots. With more TOPGUN Adversary flight time than anyone in history, Jim was inducted into the Aviation Hall of Fame in 2018 and has earned numerous honors, including F-14 Fighter Pilot of the Year, Navy Adversary Pilot of the Year, and the U.K.’s prestigious Britannia Award.