Dan Sheehy | 20 Under 40
Dan Sheehy
First Officer
United Airlines
Dan Sheehy is a first officer for United Airlines, flying the Boeing 737 out of the Denver Flight Operations base. Before joining United, he built a diverse career in aviation: flying the Airbus A321 for Spirit Airlines, working as a corporate pilot, flying for United Express–ExpressJet Airlines and flying medical flights with LifeTeam Air Ambulance.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in professional pilot from Kansas State University, with a minor in business. Outside of the cockpit, Dan is a devoted husband and father. He and his wife, Danielle, are proud parents to Hailey and Aedan.
What’s a lesson you’ve carried with you throughout your life? How has it shaped you?
One lesson I've carried my whole life comes from my father: hold yourself to a higher standard than what's required. It's easy to meet the bar when everyone else is too — the real test is demanding more of yourself when no one is watching. That lesson and personal drive has shaped the father, husband, employee, and leader I am today.
What are you most proud of outside of your career? Why?
Outside of my career, what I'm most proud of is my family.
I'm proud of the wife I have in Danielle — loving, caring, compassionate, and the steady heart of our home. Together we've raised two incredible kids. My daughter, Hailey, is smart and driven, with a genuine care for everyone around her. My son, Aedan, is bright and strives to be his best in everything he competes in, and he has a remarkable ability to sense when the people around him need extra love and support.
I'm also proud of my two brothers, who've built extraordinary careers and wonderful families of their own.
None of this happened by accident. It all traces back to the guidance and love our parents raised us with — the foundation that shaped who we became and who we're now raising our own families to be.
What led you to your career?
Two people led me to the career I'm so proud and thankful to have.
I found my love of airplanes on Saturday trips to the airport with my father to go fly with him. It's one of my fondest childhood memories — climbing into the plane and having to sit on a pillow just to see over the dash. Watching him fly was awe-inspiring, and it made me want to be just like him.
But it wasn't only my father who drew me toward aviation. My grandfather hand-built remote control airplanes and flew them as a hobby. I spent countless hours with him learning to build things with my hands, guided by his mantra: "measure twice, cut once." He taught me to fly those model airplanes too, and it only grew my passion for aviation.
Between the two of them, I didn't just inherit a love of flying — I inherited the patience, craftsmanship, and discipline that would end up shaping the career I have today.
What does good leadership look like to you? Why?
Good leadership starts with building trust within your team. Those you lead need to know they have your full support, and that you're doing everything in your power to help them succeed.
Success comes when the whole team is pulling in the same direction, with a clear vision of the objective and a clear plan for how to get there. Without clear, driven leadership, a team is set up to fail from the start — but it's the team that ultimately drives success and the betterment of the organization.
I truly believe that if the team fails, it's on me as a leader. But if the team succeeds, it's because they all worked together to make it happen.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? Why?
The best piece of advice I've ever received came from my mentor, Marvin Miller, my flight instructor from a young age.
While I was preparing for my check rides — first for my private pilot certificate, then eventually my commercial — Marvin always told me that I know roughly 15% of everything there is to know about flying airplanes, my instructor knows about 25%, and my examiner knows about 35%. No one knows everything when it comes to the rules and regulations of flying. You won't know the answer to every question you're asked on a check ride, and that's okay.
He taught me to have the courage and discipline to admit when I didn't know something, but to follow it up with, "Let me look that up so we both know the answer." I've carried that as a life lesson ever since: you don't have to have all the answers, but you do have to be honest and resourceful enough to go find them.
What’s one thing you’ll always say yes to? Why?
One thing I'll always say yes to is the opportunity to spend more time with my family.
My job takes me away from home for days at a time. I miss school drop-offs, hugs and kisses goodnight, soccer, football, and baseball games — moments I know I'll never get back as an airline pilot. So whenever I get the chance to be home, I say yes to it, and I do everything in my power not just to be there, but to be fully present with my family while I am.
