Who is Brett Godfrey?
Author. Trial Lawyer. Engineer. Air Force Officer. Pilot.
Also: competition skydiver, painter, gunsmith and lecturer on a national speaking circuit.
To say that Brett Godfrey has led an an exciting life is an understatement.
“When I was a boy, all I wanted to do was live in a world of adventure. I grew up reading fiction novels, watching TV shows about action heroes, and wanting to be like the main characters.
“As I got older, I decided to be a trial lawyer like my father, but along the way I became obsessed with martial arts. I studied under Dan Inosanto, Richard Bustillio, Tim Tackett, Ted Lucay Lucay and other great instructors of Jeet Kune Do and Filipino martial arts. As a trained combat shooter, I’ve studied for years at Gunsite Academy in Arizona, and learned from Ken Hackathorn, Larry Vickers, Rob Leatham, Steve Hendricks and other Tier One operators and world champions.
“I received a degree in chemical engineering and worked for a while as an engineer for the Williams Companies. Then I went to law school. While I was studying law, I obtained my pilot’s license, and then dropped out of law school to really learn how to fly—in the US Air Force.
“When I left the military, I returned to law school, finished my law degree and entered private practice in Denver. I’ve tried over 100 jury trials. I was the first lawyer in history to enforce a United States subpoena on South African soil. I am the leader of the most technologically advanced litigation firm in the country; we handle cases throughout the nation, and I’ve worked on legal matters in eight countries. For 17 years, I traveled almost exclusively in our firm business aircraft, which I usually flew myself—which by itself was a fabulous adventure.
“One night while returning from a massive class-action jury trial in Oakland, California, I was piloting our Cessna Golden Eagle at midnight with another lawyer on board, flying over a major snowstorm at 23,000 feet, when I lost first one engine, then the other. I was ‘dead-stick’ over the worst part of the Rocky Mountains with no power, descending through a blizzard, wings icing up, struggling to re-start at least one engine. Our chances of survival were poor indeed! We were sinking like a rock, headed for impact on the thin ice of Lake Utah. Air traffic control had written us off as dead when we’d dropped below radar coverage. When we were at about 200 feet off the ground, ten seconds from impact, I managed to re-start one engine and keep it running just long enough to get us to the runway eight miles ahead. Just as we were flaring to land, that engine died again. The good news is that we made it home unscathed, and went on to win the trial! I wrote an article for Flying Magazine about this event under the monthly column: “I Learned About Flying From That.” The article went viral, and I found myself giving lectures to pilots throughout the country on how to survive the un-survivable emergency.
“I’ve been in street fights against armed assailants, survived parachute malfunctions, given emergency first-aid to dying accident victims (one of whom lived to thank me later) and learned to live through the loss of both of my parents and several friends. I’ve counseled drug addicts, helped married couples through difficult times and lectured at colleges, law schools and professional associations.
“Using what I’ve learned, I’ve started giving motivational speeches and I’m now working on a book about the topics I teach: how to focus your power and overcome obstacles, using your dreams and goals as your means of navigating life’s curve-balls and unexpected opportunities.
“Throughout all of that, I’ve never lost the dream of being a writer of fiction novels. I’ve had the great good fortune forming friendships with Wilbur Smith and Marc Olden, and meeting Stephen Hunter, Daniel Silva, John Gilstrap, C.J. Box and other great writers.
“My first published book, Black Sunrise, draws heavily on my life experience and my love of the genre of suspense thrillers.”
Brett Godfrey is currently working on two new novels: Convergence of Demons, the sequel to Black Sunrise, and Kilik’s Detour, the first in a new series about a man who traveled further than any man in history and made history in the process.
Learn more about Brett Godfrey at www.brettgodfrey.com.
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