key Team Biographies

Rick "Sarge" Myers 

Rick retired from the United States Air Force in 2008. He is an ICAS qualified Shooter in Charge (SIC). His background within the service includes munitions (AMMO Troop), ground radar supervisor technician at Mountain Home Range Complex, Base Ground Safety NCO, Base Flight Safety NCO, and Base Weapons Safety NCO. 

He was a member of the Gunfighter Skies Airshow staff for several years and during that time he became an airshow performer as a pyrotechnician. He has organized and performed at air shows internationally and across the United States for more than 22 years. Through his love of aviation, he also obtained his Private Pilot's Certificate. 

Rick has done both civilian and military shows throughout the United States and Internationally including Australia, El Salvador, China and on location movie special effects for IMAX-Fighter Pilot – Operation Red Flag. 

Rick is the owner of Firewalkers International and calls Boise, Idaho home.

 "Airshow Amanda" 

Amanda has been in the airshow industry for over 20 years. She has been in aviation for most of her life and worked at Purdue University Aviation alongside the aviation professors, instructors, and students. She later began working at Grissom Air Base in 2003 where they housed an airshow, and she was placed in charge of hospitality for the performers. This led her to become a part of the airshow family. Since then, she has worked for numerous civilian performers, airshows, and assisted military teams.

Firewalkers brought her on the team at the end of 2023. She continues to learn the backbone of pyrotechnics while providing her expertise within the airshow industry. 

Amanda obtained her Private Pilot’s Certificate as well as her tailwheel endorsement. She continues to fly for fun and to keep her skills up. She is also a Business Professor with Ivy Tech College, an Officer Liaison within the airshow industry, the CFO of Conductors of Indiana Train Club, and homeschools her son. Aurora, Indiana is where she calls home. 

Dennis “Tow Mater” Betterton

Dennis is an ICAS qualified Shooter in Charge (SIC) and a Team Lead.

  Dennis retired from the United States Army and is from Portland, Indiana. 

 Rick “Utah” Stong 

Rick is an ICAS qualified Shooter in Charge (SIC) and a Team Lead.

Rick retired from the United States Air Force. 

Stacey Matthews 

Stacey has been involved with pyrotechnics since 2008. She is an ICAS qualified Shooter in Charge (SIC). Her father did the same thing within the industry, and she found her mutual love and passion after working with him for a couple of years before he retired. Traveling with the team and adding to her airshow family is what she enjoys most. 

Stacey brings her experience of the airshow industry as well as her background of 28 years in healthcare to assist in keeping the team safe. 

Stacey resides in Elgin, Illinois. She has her Associates Degree in Science and an Associates Degree in Arts. She has her Louisiana Blaster's License. 

She has the team's best laugh that makes anyone smile and a heart of gold. She delights in her knowledge of making a perfect drink or cocktail as she works as a licensed bartender and manager part-time. 

Tom “Buzz” Farrankop 

Tom has been involved in aviation and airshows since birth. He is an ICAS qualified Shooter in Charge (SIC). He was just months old when he went flying with his father in general aviation airplanes and began attending airshows. Later, his family owned and operated a fixed base operation for several years at the San Carlos Airport. KSQL is where Buzz was able to conquer its notorious crosswinds and earn his pilot’s certificate. 

Being what some call a ‘ramp rat,’ led to Buzz crewing for numerous airshow performers, Reno Air Race planes, and even a NASCAR team. In 2000 he accepted a long-standing invitation to work with the Firewalkers and began to learn each detail of pyrotechnics.

 Buzz is a Public Works Construction Inspector for a municipality in the San Francisco Bay Area and calls Redwood City, CA home.

Buzz is also a two-time cancer survivor and brings his joy of life everywhere he goes.