Virginia Beach, VA, resident Robert Anthony Nolan started flying in 1984 and obtained his license as a commercial pilot three years later. Since then, he has earned a host of other flight FAA certifications and advanced training including that of Search and Rescue Pilot, Mission Pilot In-Command, Powered Parachute Pilot, and Experimental Aircraft Test Pilot. Over the course of his career, Robert Nolan has logged over 6,300 fixed-wing flight hours as a Pilot in Command and nearly 3,000 flex-wing hours in VA and beyond.

Robert Nolan previously served with US Navy and was selected to study at the US Naval Academy by Congressional appointment by then Congressman Newt Gingrich, although he had to forgo attending because US government operations required him to be present elsewhere during that period. His time with the US Navy was punctuated by several recognition's and awards, including selection as the 1988 Sailor of the Year for the aircraft carrier USS America, CV-66. He also garnered the title of Sailor of the Quarter for the third quarter in 1987 while aboard the same carrier which he served on-board for 7.5 years consecutively. In addition to these honors, the VA resident earned the Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy Unit Commendation, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal, Southwest Asian Service Medal w/star, Good Conduct Medal w/star as well qualifying as an Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist. Since Nolan is fluent in both Spanish and the Miskito Indian languages, he was often called upon to serve as both the Commanding Officers translator and the 7th Fleet Forces Interpreter specifically for the Admiral of the fleet.

Beyond his professional pursuits, Nolan is involved in various homeless organizations, supporting the Miskito Indians living on the Miskito Coast of Nicaragua, dog/animal rescue as well as a motivational public speaker for diabetics. Additionally Nolan enjoys scuba diving, downhill snow/water and jet skiing, horseback riding, rappelling, whitewater rafting, canoeing, mountain bike and motorcycle riding, flying airplanes and power-parachuting. He holds the unofficial World record for altitude in a powered parachute, having obtained an altitude of 28,840 above sea level.