Prisoner of War and Purple Heart recipient Mike Durant is exploring the possibility of entering Alabama’s 2022 race for the U.S. Senate.
Sources say a poll was conducted that included Durant, which he later confirmed to Yellowhammer News.
Durant served as a special operations pilot for the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) from 1988 to 2001, when he retired from the Army as chief warrant officer 4. His military service is well-documented as he was at the center of the 1993 “Black Hawk Down” incident which remains one of the most intriguing war stories in modern American history.
While on mission at the Battle of Mogadishu during the Somali Civil War, the Black Hawk helicopter he was piloting crashed after being struck by an RPG, which led to Durant being captured by Somali militia forces. Eighteen of his fellow servicemen died in battle. The incident’s lone American survivor, Durant was held captive for 11 days. Upon being freed, Durant continued his service as he went on to resume flying for his Regiment.
In 2006, Durant authored “In the Company of Heroes: The Personal Story Behind Black Hawk Down,” which provides an intimate account of the events that occurred.
Durant is president & CEO of aerospace engineering and product development firm Pinnacle Solutions, Inc. The company is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business headquartered in Huntsville and holds satellite locations in Kentucky and California. Pinnacle provides an array of services to industry partners as well as the Department of Defense (DOD) and NASA.
The highly-decorated war veteran obtained a bachelor’s degree in professional aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where he went on to earn his MBA in aviation.
Durant serves on the boards of directors for Special Operations Warrior Foundation and Still Serving Veterans.
After his military service, Durant became politically active as he held veterans leadership roles for President George W. Bush’s 2004 reelection campaign as well as the 2008 presidential campaign of U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ).
When asked about his potential candidacy for the U.S. Senate, Durant told Yellowhammer News that he will inevitably make a decision based on “what’s best for the state.”
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
Don’t miss out! Subscribe today to have Alabama’s leading headlines delivered to your inbox.