Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Henry.
Hi Jason, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up in Palm Desert, California — a real “desert rat.”
My childhood home was always full. Four siblings, friends of friends, kids constantly coming and going — our house was never quiet, never empty. My mom worked as an escrow officer, and my stepdad owned his own construction business. He worked long hours, completely dedicated to building something of his own. Watching him grind day after day planted something in me early — the understanding that success isn’t given, it’s built.
My mom, on the other hand, was free-spirited and open-minded. She believed in letting us live our own lives and find our own paths. She didn’t force structure on us — she trusted us to learn through experience. She gave us freedom, support, and space to become who we were meant to be. That kind of upbringing creates independence — and courage to choose your own direction.
School never fit me. I rarely went to class, failed most of them, and had no interest in traditional education. My real education came from the streets — skateboarding, staying out late, exploring town, learning life through movement, mistakes, and experience. I wasn’t chasing grades — I was chasing life.
Eventually, I moved to Huntington Beach to live with my dad when I was 16, he was an aircraft mechanic at LAX. That’s where my interest in aviation began. When I was 16, he bought me my first surfboard — and everything changed. I fell in love instantly. I surfed every day, sometimes multiple times a day. The ocean became home. The beach lifestyle wasn’t a hobby — it became my identity. I eventually dropped out of high school completely. There was no chance I was going to graduate when my entire world revolved around the ocean.
I started working at Rite Aid right around the age of 18, and that’s where I met my future wife — 20 years and counting. At that point in my life, I had no structure, no direction, and no real plan for success. But I had a deep desire to see the world and experience more than the small world I knew. So, I joined the Air Force. We got married, and she stood beside me without hesitation.
Before I could even enlist, I had to attend adult education in Long Beach just to qualify. When I took the ASVAB, I scored extremely low — hospital cook was the only job I qualified for. And honestly, I didn’t care. I wasn’t chasing a career — I was chasing experience, travel, and a chance to see the world.
A year into service, I was stationed in Japan — and my world expanded overnight. We lived near the ocean, and I surfed constantly. Surfing became my bridge into the culture. I connected with locals, built real friendships, and experienced life outside of America in a way most people never do. Japan changed me — it taught me humility, discipline, and perspective.
Two years later, the massive 9.2 earthquake hit (2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami). Everything changed. Fear, chaos, destruction — and then the nuclear reactor crisis. Women and children were evacuated from base. I was separated from my wife for seven months. That season forced maturity, perspective, and resilience. It taught me how fragile life is — and how strong commitment really looks.
During that separation, I made a defining decision: I was done living without direction.
I went to the library and checked out “ASVAB for Dummies.”
I studied relentlessly. I retook the test — and my scores changed my future. I qualified for new career fields and was offered ATC (Air Traffic Control) — one of the most demanding programs in the military. A 60% wash out rate, only about 40% make it all the way through to full certification. Training takes nearly two years. Failure is common.
I said yes anyway.
We moved to Biloxi, Mississippi for training. My wife and I lived in a hotel for six months — microwaved dinners, long nights, nonstop studying. She turned my coursework into flashcards, quizzed me constantly, supported me relentlessly, and believed in me when I doubted myself. Without her, I would not have graduated. My career exists because of her commitment to my future.
After graduating, we moved to Utah to complete certification. I trained with an incredible group of people — men who became brothers. We pushed each other, supported each other, and built bonds that still exist today. To this day, we are all air traffic controllers, still connected, still family.
I spent 8 years in Utah on active duty. I deployed. I traveled the world 2 times over. I built discipline, structure, confidence, and purpose. But no matter how far I went, I missed California — the ocean, the lifestyle, the culture, the water. Surfing wasn’t something I did — it was part of who I was.
After 14 years of active duty, I made another leap of faith.
The FAA was in desperate need of air traffic controllers. I saw an opportunity to build a civilian career and get back home. At the same time, we joined the Air National Guard in Oregon so I could stay connected to the brothers I built my career with — reuniting every three months to serve together.
I was picked up by the FAA, sent to Oregon, and eventually transferred to Carlsbad, California — Palomar Airport. Back home. Back to the ocean. Back to the culture that shaped me.
Living in San Diego, surfing again, and grounded in purpose and stability, I felt something new growing in me — the desire to build something of my own. Not just a career, but a legacy.
Around that time, I read a book by Rick Rubin, the legendary music producer, where he said:
“What you’re passionate about doesn’t have to be your job. Your job can support what you’re passionate about.” “Your job is your job, and the rest of your hours are devoted to your purpose” That line hit me hard.
I love my career as ATC. It’s a profession I respect deeply; one I worked incredibly hard to earn. But what truly fuels me has always been surfing, skateboarding, and the culture around them — the freedom, creativity, and identity that come with that lifestyle.
I was also surrounded by motivated, self-made entrepreneurs during this period, and for the first time, I truly saw how possible building something of your own really was. That’s when I launched my clothing brand — Pacific Life Apparel. Not for trends. Not for hype. Not for status.
But to give back to the culture that raised me — surfing, skating, and the Southern California lifestyle.
It’s more than clothing, it’s identity, its history, its community, it’s a lifestyle like no other.
I started the business out of my guest bedroom. I sold shirts wherever I could — on the streets, at pop-ups, to friends, to anyone who believed in the vision. I built a website, took it online, and just kept moving forward.
Today, I still work full-time as ATC in Carlsbad. I’m set to retire from the military in 2026, after 14 years active duty and 6 in the Oregan Guard and I run the clothing company with my wife, Laurie, during our free time. Building this life together has been a real blessing.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s never a smooth road — and honestly, it’s not supposed to be. That’s life. Everyone’s path has bumps, wrong turns, setbacks, and moments where you have to start over. Those aren’t failures — they’re the moments that shape you, build character, and teach you who you really are. I struggled with that for a long time; I was so afraid of failure. But the more I failed the more I became passionate about achieving what I was trying to do.
I started seeing the “struggles” as tests. Moments that forced me into uncomfortable situations, pushed me beyond what I thought I was capable of. Every challenge sharpened me. Every setback redirected me. Every uncomfortable season made me better prepared for the next one.
Nothing meaningful comes from comfort — it comes from uncomfortable situations that you’re willing to put yourself through to seek out what you feel passionate about.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Professionally, I’m an Air Traffic Controller at Palomar Airport in Carlsbad, California, where I work in one of the most demanding, high-responsibility environments in aviation. It’s a career built on discipline and precision. — and one I worked extremely hard to earn. I specialize in high-pressure decision-making, situational awareness, and maintaining safety in complex, fast-moving environments where mistakes aren’t an option.
At the same time, I’m also the founder of Pacific Life Apparel, a Southern California-based surf and skate lifestyle brand. The brand isn’t about trends or hype — it’s about culture, identity, and storytelling and the values that shaped my life. I built it from the ground up — starting in a guest bedroom closet, selling shirts on the street, at pop-ups, to friends, and eventually taking it online and growing it organically.
What I’m most proud of isn’t just the careers themselves — it’s the journey it took to build them. I went from a high school dropout with no clear direction, to 20 years of military service, to one of the most difficult technical career fields in the armed forces, and then into a successful civilian aviation career — all while building a business driven by passion and purpose. That transformation didn’t come from talent or privilege — it came from discipline, consistency, resilience, and the willingness to keep stepping into uncomfortable spaces.
I’m most proud of building a life where my career supports my passions, my passions support my purpose, and my purpose supports the people around me — especially my family. That balance is something I’ve worked a long time to earn, and it’s what defines success to me.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have strong mentors and influences throughout my life — people who shaped not just my career, but how I think, how I move through life, and how I make decisions.
One of the most influential early mentors in my Air Traffic Control career was Jason Fass. He had a rare ability to be both serious and humorous at the same time — disciplined, but approachable. What made him special was how methodical he was about life. He had a way of analyzing every decision, helping me understand the long-term impact of my choices, and mapping out paths that could actually get me where I wanted to go. He taught me how to think strategically, not emotionally — and that mindset helped shape the foundation of my career.
Another major influence in my life has been Matt Parra, who I met in 2021 when we both joined the Oregon Air National Guard. Matt was in his late 40s/early 50s at the time and had joined to support his daughters, who were entering active-duty military service. He was also an Air Traffic Controller at one of the busiest facilities in the country (SoCal TRACON). Matt inspired me through the way he lived — fully, boldly, and without hesitation. He constantly pushed me to go after more, ignore doubters, and never shrink down. He reminded me to keep enjoying life, to stay connected to my passions, and to never let comfort limit growth.
Another important influence was Michael Holbert, a successful entrepreneur and Air Traffic Controller, I spent time with right when I was starting my business. He strongly encouraged me to follow what I was truly passionate about and gave me the confidence to take the leap into ownership. His belief in me during that early stage made the idea of building my own company feel real and attainable, he would always express to me how important it was to have time in your life for your passions.
And of course, my military brothers—who to this day continue to support and cheer me on—deserve a lot of credit. They’re also the same ones who keep me humble, constantly roasting me for anything I mess up or do that might seem a little idiotic. It’s their way of keeping me grounded, and honestly, that humility is something I value deeply in life.
Pricing:
- T-Shirts range $18-$28
- Sweaters range $45-$55
- Hats $22-$25
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pacificlifeapparel.com/
- Instagram: @pacificlifeapparel
- Facebook: Pacificlifeapparel
