Airboat Captains

Employed by the Park for: 9 years

Hobbies: Gaming, and playing the drums

Nickname: M.J.

Favorite Food/Drink: Sushi, pizza, ramen, Monster Energy

Personality: Serious, laid back

Additional Info: Former musician, metal head, science and nature nerd

Employed by the Park for: 6+ years

Hobbies: Fishing or riding motorcycles

Nickname: Captain Chaos

Favorite Food/Drink: Sweets, Monster Energy drinks, and piping hot coffee from Dunkin Donuts

Personality: Funny but sometimes serious

Additional Info: Like the name implies, Captain Fantastic is about as good as they get!

Employed by the Park for: 5+ years

Hobbies: Reading, going to church, and time with family

Nickname: Jimbo

Favorite Food/Drink: All food

Personality: Don't take life so seriously

Additional Info: Well-traveled and friendly

Employed by the Park for: 7.5 years

Hobbies: Video games, hunting, and being a ninja

Nickname: Jone (One)

Favorite Food/Drink: Pizza, tacos, and Dr. Pepper

Personality: Funny and laid back

Employed by the Park since: Nov 2014

Hobbies: Fishing, hunting, video games, D&D, and NASCAR

Nickname: JR, Josie, Joe, Joseph, and O’large one

Favorite Food/Drink: Fried shrimp and Mello Yello

Previous Experience: "Well, I sold airboat tickets"

Personality: Funny, slightly serious

Additional Info: Big Star Trek fan, previous electrician, ironworker, retail experience, and of Spanish and Cuban descent

Employed by the Park for: 6 years

Hobbies: Astronomy, music, motorcycles, biking, and fishing

Nickname: Rockstar

Favorite Food/Drink: Steak, ice tea, and seafood

Previous Experience: Fishing for years in the Everglades

Personality: Laid back and funny

Additional Info: I’m a retired electrician and love to play guitar

Employed by the Park for: 4 years

Hobbies: Film, video games, music

Nickname: Rockstar

Favorite Food/Drink: Big as yo’ face burritos with Dr. Pepper

Previous Experience: My Grandpa Rocky was an airboat captain out here for 14 years and I’ve been coming out to the park ever since I was 9 years old

Personality: Just go with the flow

Additional Info: I play many instruments and enjoy making films

Employed by the Park for: 2 years

Hobbies: Hunting, fishing, and riding motorcycles

Nickname: Choss, Sev, Sba

Favorite Food/Drink: Pasta, burgers, and Dr. Pepper

Previous Experience: Hunting on personal airboats and fishing on Jon boats

Personality: Laid back and funny

Employed by the Park for: 1 year

Hobbies: Aerial, Fire Spinning, Hiking, Backpacking, and Exploring the Everglades

Nickname: JoJo

Favorite Food/Drink: Watermelon Redbull

Previous Experience: Solo traveled the USA!

Personality: Adventurous

Additional Info: Born & Raised Gladeswoman Extraordinaire

Employed by the Park for: 1 year

Hobbies: Airboats and family

Nickname: Captain Chris

Favorite Food/Drink: Pizza & Monster Energy

Previous Experience: Worked in education

Personality: Laid back

Additional Info: College Graduate / Masters Degree

Employed by the Park for: 7 years

Hobbies: Aviation, railroading, and sailing

Favorite Food/Drink: Maine lobster or a nice ribeye steak

Previous Experience: Aviation & maritime

Personality: Laid back, serious when safety oriented

Employed by the Park for: 6 months

Hobbies: Fishing, building engines, motorcycles

Favorite Food/Drink: Asian food and can make the best homemade orange chicken

Previous Experience: Fishing and hunting in the Everglades

Personality: Likes to have fun and learn things

Additional Info: FAU Bachelor's of Architecture

Employed by the Park for: 1.5 years

Nickname: Gus

Previous Experience: Lifetime Gladesman

Personality: Intellectually funny

Additional Info: USMC Vet, security contractor, and wilderness survival instructor

Employed by the Park for: 2 years

Hobbies: Fishing, camping, finding wildlife

Nickname: The Chosen One

Favorite Food/Drink: Cheeseburgers

Previous Experience in the Glades: Teaching conservation at the Milwaukee County Zoo

Personality: Adventurous and laid back

Additional Info: Up-and-coming wildlife conservationist

Employed by the Park for: 1 year

Hobbies: Cars, building models, hiking, surfing, and snowboarding

Favorite Food/Drink: Pasta and smoothies

Previous Experience in the Glades: Parasail captain and jet ski rentals

Personality: Don’t take life too seriously, enjoy the little things

Additional Info: bachelor's degree in aviation science, FAA certified pilot, USCG Master Captain, and PADI rescue diver

Employed by the Park since: May 2025

Hobbies: Fishing, scuba diving, or freediving

Favorite Food/Drink: Black coffee, beef jerky, and the occasional Cuban sandwich

Previous Experience in the Glades: Grew up fishing in the Glades

Personality: Easygoing but detail-oriented, keeps it real and will make you laugh

Additional Info: Helps people truly connect with the Everglades, and leave with a story to tell

Employed by the Park for: 10 months

Hobbies: Gym, beach, video games

Favorite Food/Drink: Sushi and root beer

Previous Experience in the Glades: True Floridian

Personality: Funny, extroverted, active and kind

Additional Info: 28 year old Army veteran

Employed by the Park for: 4 months

Hobbies: Fishing, boating, guitar, reading, jiu-jitsu, motorcycles

Nickname: The Wisco Kid

Favorite Food/Drink: Spaghetti and milk

Previous Experience in the Glades: Avid smallmouth bass fisherman, canoeing enthusiast, former camp cook in Alaska

Personality: Dashing, debonair, charming, and witty

Employed by the Park for: 4 months

Hobbies: Hiking, camping, collecting spiders, reading, mapping, herping, and fishing

Favorite Food/Drink: Potatoes

Previous Experience in the Glades: Driving pontoon boats recreationally

Personality: Bubbly and witty

Additional Info: Florida native, born and raised