Larson was inspired to become a military pilot after regularly attending airshows throughout the Midwest and in his hometown of Davenport, Iowa.
“It was purely airshows that got me inspired to join and hopefully become a fighter pilot,” he told Business Insider.
As a cadet at the US Air Force Academy, he joined the service’s parachute team, Wings of Blue, performing more than 700 skydives as a jumpmaster and instructor.
Upon graduating from USAFA in 2015, he attended pilot training at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas, earning his pilot wings two years later. After being selected to fly the Raptor in 2017, Larson completed an eight-week Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals course, as well as an F-22-specific training course in Florida.
While serving as an instructor pilot at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia, Larson was selected to command the F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team in August 2022.
“Becoming a demo pilot was one of those things I would daydream about, but it was tough to imagine it would pan out the way I’d planned,” Larson said in an Air Force Academy interview. “Now, seeing it from the other side, I know it’s not easy for anyone.”