Brian W. Bann — Dallas Bike Commissioner

Who Is Brian Bann

Patriot. Leader. Neighbor.

Brian W. Bann is a decorated Marine Corps fighter pilot, entrepreneur, and passionate advocate for the city of Dallas. With a career that has taken him from Mach-speed dogfights in the cockpit of an F-35 to the boardrooms of Lockheed Martin and Gulfstream Aerospace, Brian brings an extraordinary depth of discipline, strategy, and leadership to everything he touches.

Now rooted in Dallas, Brian has made this city his mission. As a member of the Dallas Bicycle Advisory Commission, he is channeling that same fighter pilot focus into creating safer, more connected streets — because a city where people can move freely is a city that thrives.

"I flew combat missions to protect this country's freedom. Now I'm fighting for the freedom to ride safely through your own neighborhood. Same mission, different cockpit."

A graduate of Duke University's Fuqua School of Business with an MBA, and a founding member of Shackleton Ventures, Brian is as comfortable building organizations as he is pulling 9-Gs at altitude.

Service & Sacrifice

Born to Fly.

Brian's military career is the stuff of legend. As an F-35 pilot with the United States Marine Corps, he didn't just fly the most advanced fighter jet in history — he mastered it. Assigned to the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) at Lockheed Martin Fort Worth, Brian became the first military pilot in the world to log 1,000 flight hours in the F-35 Lightning II.

This milestone — achieved by no one before him — is a testament to the relentless drive, technical brilliance, and sheer grit that define Brian Bann. He earned a Master of Military Science from Marine Corps University and advanced through multiple elite aviation assignments before transitioning to production test piloting at Lockheed Martin and, most recently, Gulfstream Aerospace.

1,000+ F-35 Flight Hours
(1st Pilot, World)

20+ Years of Military
& Aviation Service

4 FAA Type Ratings
incl. GVII & G-280

2 Graduate Degrees
(MBA & Military Science)

★ Historic World Record — First F-35 Pilot to 1,000 Hours ★

For the Love of Dallas

Making Dallas Ride.

Brian Bann didn't land in Dallas — he chose Dallas. After seeing the world from 40,000 feet and studying global markets from Shanghai to Santiago, he came home to the heart of Texas and decided this is where he'd put down roots and make a difference.

As a member of the Dallas Bicycle Advisory Commission, Brian brings his signature approach — rigorous analysis, bold vision, relentless execution — to the challenge of transforming Dallas into a truly bike-friendly city. For Brian, safer streets aren't just a policy goal; they're a matter of freedom and community.

"Every Texan deserves the freedom to get around their city safely — on two wheels, on foot, or however they choose. That's not liberal or conservative. That's American."

🚲

Protected Bike Lanes

Advocating for physically separated infrastructure that protects cyclists of every age and ability — from Uptown to Oak Cliff, from Deep Ellum to the Design District.

🌆

Downtown Connectivity

Building seamless connections between Dallas's urban core and surrounding neighborhoods so residents can ditch the car and rediscover their city at street level.

🛡️

Safety First

Leveraging fighter pilot discipline — zero-error tolerance, data-driven decisions, thorough risk analysis — to design streets where no cyclist or pedestrian is left behind.

A Life of Service

Service Record.

2024 – PRESENT

Production Test Pilot

Gulfstream Aerospace · Dallas, TX

Testing and certifying GVII (G500/G600) and G-280 aircraft — continuing a career defined by pushing aviation to its limits.

2023 – PRESENT

Founder & CEO

Shackleton Ventures, LLC · Dallas, TX

Named for the legendary explorer Ernest Shackleton, this venture reflects Brian's commitment to bold leadership in the face of the impossible.

2020 – 2024

F-35 Production Test Pilot

Lockheed Martin · DFW Metroplex

Evaluated and accepted the world's most advanced fighter jet, ensuring every aircraft met the highest standards before delivery.

2021 – 2022

Leadership Dallas — Class of 2022

Dallas Regional Chamber

Partnered with Jubilee Park & Community Center to raise over $200,000 for a sustainable food pantry serving Dallas's urban food desert.

2017 – 2020

F-35 Flight Evaluator & Chief of Flight Ops

DCMA / Lockheed Martin · Fort Worth, TX

Became the first military pilot in history to log 1,000 flight hours in the F-35 Lightning II.

2010 – 2011

Master of Military Science

Marine Corps University

Advanced study in operational strategy and command — forging the analytical mind that now serves Dallas.

2015 – 2017

MBA — Fuqua School of Business

Duke University

International residencies in Shanghai, Santiago, New Delhi, and Berlin — a global perspective in service of a local mission.

Community & Commitment

Rooted in Dallas.

Brian's commitment to Dallas goes well beyond his role on the Bicycle Advisory Commission. He volunteers with Jubilee Park & Community Center — a non-profit serving East Dallas — and is an active member of the American Enterprise Institute's Dallas Chapter, where he engages in the policy debates that shape our city and nation.

A graduate of the storied Leadership Dallas program — which has developed Dallas civic leaders since 1975 — Brian embodies the spirit of the program: diverse leaders prepared to serve as catalysts of positive change.

By The Numbers — Community Impact

$200K+ Raised for Jubilee Park's sustainable food pantry serving Dallas's urban food desert

5+ Years volunteering with Jubilee Park & Community Center

500+ Professional connections across Dallas, aviation, defense, and civic leadership

Brian W.Bann