John P. Stewart (1945-2011) started taking photographs of aircraft when he was five years old and continued throughout his aviation career. He received his pilot's license during high school and also had his own aircraft. After high school he attended the United States Naval Academy and after graduation served in a submarine during the Vietnam Conflict. After his discharge from the Navy, he took a job with Pan American Airways as an operations manager in San Francisco. Next Stewart was transferred to Turkey and Saudi Arabia to work with the Pan Am Hajj flights. After his stint in the Middle East, Stewart was transferred by Pan Am to Detroit, Michigan, as an operation manager. After he was let go due to downsizing, Stewart worked for a number of small airlines in the Michigan area, such as Reliant, Zantop, Air Trans, and Air America. He also started his own training company and traveled giving mandatory federal training to various airlines. Stewart eventually joined the FAA in Detroit, and later Homeland Security. He helped coordinate flight rescue and relief in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Stewart retired from Homeland Security in 2011, shortly before his death