Military Spotlight: Leadership Qualities Exhibited Early for Evan Monseu

Former SPHS Soccer Captain Is An Air Force Flight Instructor

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Evan Monseu played on Severna Park’s boys’ soccer championship team in 2013 and was voted team captain in 2014.

Monseu then used those leadership skills honed in Severna Park through a rigorous Air Force ROTC program at the University of Tampa. Upon graduation, he was stationed at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma, where he underwent pilot training and graduated in 2020.

On “drop night,” Monseu was selected to be one of the few graduates to be named a first assignment instructor pilot (FAIP), which will allow him to use his knowledge and leadership abilities and teach new pilots how to fly for the Air Force.

“I always wanted to be a pilot,” Monseu said. “While I was in my freshman year at the University of Tampa, I saw a notice for joining the Air Force ROTC program and I wanted to give it a shot.”

Monseu went through three years of ROTC training that included summer field training in Alabama and Mississippi.

Upon graduating from Tampa, Monseu received his orders the next day to undergo pilot training at Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma.

“It was a dream come true,” Monseu said. “I was ecstatic with my selection.”

Monseu went through challenging classroom and flight training and flew several types of airplanes. A flight instructor was with him for these training flights, which prepared him for the eventual test of flying aircrafts on his own.

“My first solo flight was a combination of confidence and anxiousness,” Monseu said. “I was trained very well by the instructors, and it was a great experience to fly by yourself; I really enjoyed that moment.”

Now Monseu will be the one providing that training to future pilots only a few months from his own graduation. Monseu was given this honor that is bestowed to only a few graduates.

Monseu reflected that his sports background helped him with gaining confidence. By listening to coaches and having great practices, when the games and competition started, he was able to handle that stress and react to any situations that may occur in games.

“I have such great memories of my time playing soccer at Severna Park,” Monseu said. “Winning the state championship was an unforgettable experience, and to be champions with my best friends was very cool.”

Monseu was honored to be chosen as captain of his soccer team his senior year and liked being held to a higher standard during that season.

He still keeps in touch with his former head coach, Ryan Parisi, and they meet for coffee at The Big Bean when he comes home.

“I’ve been fortunate to keep in touch with many of my players and Evan is one of them,” said coach Parisi. “Evan was a three-year varsity player for us and led by example, and the players took to his leadership style. He was a very hardworking and dedicated kid and practiced very hard and took those skills into our games.”

Monseu was raised in Chartwell and enjoys coming home several times a year to see family and friends. He misses many aspects of Severna Park but really misses the water as there are not many bodies of water in Oklahoma.

Once his Air Force commitment is over, Monseu will look at many options including being a commercial pilot or something in the international business and finance sector, in which he received his degree at the University of Tampa.

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