From military missions to oil rigs, we salute US Navy vet Steve Everage

From military missions to oil rigs, we salute US Navy vet Steve Everage

Promotion with wife Bernice and brother Jeff

For Steve Everage, life has seemingly been one long adventure-with every mission a new chapter.

Just spend a few minutes chatting with Bristow's Chief Pilot and Director of Training for the US operation based in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and you'll learn of his resilience, adaptability, and unquestionable commitment to service. It'll also be apparent how Everage's military service impacted his character and career. But it wasn't smooth sailing for this retired Navy vet.

Everage oversees training, hiring, and pilot development for Bristow's GoM operations. Accomplished, yet remarkably humble, Everage resembles a surfer you might see crossing the Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach, California looking to ride the waves. He's even laid back in the way you might expect a surfer to be. That's no accident.

Born in Pensacola, Florida, Everage didn't come from a long line of military service. He was raised outside the uniformed world until his older brother, Jeff, took a pivotal step. When Everage was just nine, he lost his mother, and he and Jeff moved in with their aunt, a single mom, who was recently divorced. Everage recalls the difficulty of his mom's passing and the uncertainty he faced at such a young age.

Steve (right) with his older brother Jeff as kids

"My aunt's strength was what kept us together," Everage recalls. Brother Jeff, six years Everage's senior who eventually attended the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland and went on to become an elite Navy SEAL, was a towering influence on his younger brother.

"Watching him navigate the Academy and head off to the Navy SEALs pushed me to follow him," he said. "He set a path that I wanted to follow, even if I didn't fully know where it would lead me or what I would face in the process."

By 1993, Everage, with an accomplished academic record in high school, was headed to the Naval Academy himself, a decision he now calls transformative and humbling. The experience taught him lessons in resilience, teamwork, and leadership-values that remain deeply ingrained.

"I thought I was a strong student in high school, but the Academy taught me I still had a lot to learn, especially when it came to time management and discipline," he said. "My first semester I was struggling, trying to balance academics with military duties and inspections."

At the Academy, Everage majored in systems engineering, drawn to its blend of technical knowledge and big-picture problem-solving. "The Academy was all about forming character and developing leadership under stress," he said. "It was considerably more challenging than high school academically, but it set me up for everything that followed."

After graduating in 1997, he headed to flight school, excited to start training but with little thought to the career track that would follow. But a trip to San Diego to visit brother Jeff unexpectedly changed his career path. The trip introduced him to the Southern California lifestyle, where he discovered surfing and a unique Navy community.

"I was hooked on San Diego, the lifestyle, the community, and I wanted to be based there," he said.

Realizing there were significantly more helicopter squadrons than jet squadrons in the area, he requested the helicopter track. "It wasn't the path I'd planned, but it felt right," he said, laughing.

Piloting the MH-60 Seahawk for the U.S. Navy

That decision set him on a path to join the HC-11 "Gunbearers", a helicopter squadron that flew the H-46 Sea Knight and later transitioned to the H-60 Seahawk. The Squadron supported diverse naval operations from search and rescue to logistical support across the Persian Gulf and off the coast of Pakistan during Operation Enduring Freedom.

Ironically, on one of Everage's first major deployments in 2000, Al Qaeda bombed the USS Cole in Yemen killing 17 sailors and wounding 37 others. Everage, stationed on the USS Tarawa at the time, flew missions to support Marine units aboard the ship and provide security around the damaged Cole, a sight he'd never forget.

"Seeing the Cole hoisted on this massive Norwegian vessel, looking like a toy on a floating fortress, was surreal and sobering," he remembered. The blast tore a hole 40x60 feet (12.2X18.3 meters) in the ship's hull.

But a nighttime training exercise over California's waters would be the experience that most shaped his view on the risks of aviation.

During a nighttime training mission, Everage, seated next to an experienced aviator, realized they were descending faster than expected. As he glanced at the instruments, he saw they were only 150 feet above the water, dropping at ~700 feet per minute.

"We had seconds, not minutes," he said. Both pilots pulled back hard on the controls, recovering just 12 feet above the water. "From that moment, I became a skeptic when flying at night," he said. "It taught me to approach every flight with respect for the risks and to trust, but verify, no matter who's beside you."

In 2008, after multiple deployments and diverse roles, Everage transitioned to the Navy Reserve, looking for balance and fresh adventure. He took a trip to Australia with friends, a vacation that turned into a life-changing experience when he met Bernice, who is now his wife.

"Meeting Bernice changed everything," he said. His "short trip" transformed into over a year as he took up youth work in a remote Aboriginal community.

"It was a culture shock in the best way," he said. "One day I'm in San Diego, and the next, I'm in the Australian Outback working with Aboriginal youth. It was humbling, eye-opening, and exactly what I needed at that point in my life."

When Everage returned to the U.S., he joined Era Alaska (now Bristow) as a pilot, flying the Bell 212 for oil and gas firms. Alaska, with its rugged terrain and extreme conditions, provided an adventure of its own.

"Flying in Alaska was like nothing I'd ever done," he said. "The pilots up there were a unique breed, many of them Vietnam vets with decades of experience in some of the most unforgiving conditions."

Everage said that working alongside these pilots reinforced the importance of adaptability. "Those guys taught me humility in the air," he said. "They knew things you couldn't find in any manual."

Between his civilian work with Era, Everage was also called back for military assignments, including a staff tour in Germany with Special Operations Command Africa and a year at the Naval War College. "At War College, I discovered that I had a passion for history and policy. I had always thought of myself as a math and science guy."

In 2022, Everage took on his current role as Bristow's Chief Pilot and Director of Training. The position allows him to blend his love for mentoring with his dedication to safety and team cohesion. A critical part of his role is recruiting new pilots, which includes veterans transitioning from military service.

USS Tarawa Deployment

"The oil and gas industry isn't for everyone, and the demands are high," he said. "I make a point of being transparent with candidates about the job's realities so that they come in with open eyes and clear expectations."

Everage's leadership style, which he describes as "servant leadership," is a blend of humility and encouragement shaped by years of military service. "I'm here to support, not to dictate," he said. "My experience in the Navy taught me that leadership is about understanding your team, building trust, and helping others find their strengths."

As we mark Veterans Day 2024, Everage remembers the friendships and experiences that have left lasting marks on his life, including the memory of his Naval Academy classmate, Mike McGreevy, a SEAL killed in action in Afghanistan. "Mike was the best of us. Losing him reminded me of the strength and sacrifice of so many."

Now officially retired from the Navy as a Captain, he continues to lead with the same focus and dedication that marked his years in uniform.

"Being a pilot is about more than technical skill; it's about trust, accountability, and respect for the job," he said. "Every day, I aim to carry those values forward, whether I'm in the cockpit or training others."

When asked if he'd do anything different, Everage has no regrets.

"I wouldn't change a thing. My wife and I have two wonderful sons. Every experience, every challenge brought me here, and I'm grateful for it all."

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