Tom Bunn, the author of Panic Free, is a retired airline Captain, licensed therapist and author of SOAR, Conquer Fear of Flying.
He founded SOAR, a ground breaking program for the fear of flying in 1982; and to offer the most effective help possible, he completed graduate school to become a therapist. He spent five additional years in training at psychological institutes, finally developing a therapy that has made it possible for everyone to fly.
With this background, expertise and knowledge as well as having worked with many clients, he has learned about panic and more importantly, how to overcome panic.
Although Tom Bunn started his fear of flying program as an airline pilot in 1982, he worked on the very first fear of flying course as far back as 1980.
TOM Bunn in the USAF
After graduating from Wake Forest University in psychology, Tom Bunn entered the U.S. Air Force. Number one in his class when he got his wings in 1960, he was given his choice of assignments, and chose to fly the Air Force's first supersonic jet fighter, the F-100.
FLYING F-100 AND F-150
He served from 1961 until 1965 with the 9th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany flying the F-100 and F-105. In addition to flying, he did accident investigation and developed a safety device for the F-100.
RACING THE LOLA
While in Germany, Captain Tom raced a Lola Mk5 Formula 3 at the Nurburgring, Zolder, Zandvordt, and Rouen. When returning to the U.S., he converted the car to SCCA Formula C specifications, and won a U.S. National Championship in 1965.
FLYING COMMERCIALLY AS AN AIRLINE PILOT & CAPTAIN
From 1965 until 1986, he flew DC-8s, 707s, and 747s internationally with Pan Am.
From 1986 until 1996, he flew 747s, 757s and 767s at United Airlines.
THERAPIST EXPERTISE HISTORY
The first fear of flying program was started at Pan Am by Captain Truman "Slim" Cummings. Tom Bunn worked with him on that program until founding SOAR in 1982 to develop more effective methods for dealing with flight problems. This led to graduate school at Fordham University where he earned a Masters Degree with top honors, and several years of postgraduate study at the Gestalt Center Of Long Island, the New York Training Institute For Neurolinguistic Programming, and The Masterson Institute. He was licensed as a therapist in 1990.
Other activities include Ski Patrol, SCUBA diving, and developing and patenting a retractable ski binding.
Director | International Masterson Institute
Panic Free delivers. I have been both a clinician and a researcher for over thirty years. Yet, this book still imparts to me new knowledge and skills.
Chair | Touro College Research Collaborative
Panic Free allows everyone to embrace their full potential with specific, focused, clearly explained and practical steps to break free from panic attacks. Hurry, buy the book and transform your life.
Licensed Psychologist
Department of Psychology | Smith College
Professor of Psychiatry | University of North Carolina