Lieutenant Colonel Dan “Noonan” Rooney is a USAFR Fighter Pilot, PGA Professional (PGA of America link), CEO/Founder of the Folds of Honor, author of two books, golf course developer, motivational speaker (WSB), and host of Fox Nation show Fly Into The Wind. Rooney joined the United States Air Force and was commissioned as an officer in 2000; Rooney is a two-time recipient of the Top Gun award and was honored with the Spirit of Attack award as a top graduate of F-16 training.
He has received multiple decorations, including the Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Medal, Anti-terrorism Medal, Combat Readiness Medal, Air Expeditionary Medal, and Distinguished Service Medal. Lt. Col Rooney continues to fly fighters as an aggressor pilot in the 301st Fighter Squadron at Eglin AFB in Destin, Florida. Rooney is a class A member of the PGA of America and founding partner in The Patriot Golf Club, designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr, and American Dunes Golf Club, designed by Jack Nicklaus.
Rooney was born in Stillwater, OK, on December 18, 1972. He is the child of Dr. John and Sandra Rooney and the youngest of three children. He graduated from Stillwater High School in 1991. Rooney attended the University of Kansas, where he was on the golf team and helped lead the Jayhawks to back-to-back NCAA tournaments in 1995 and 1996. He was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity.
Rooney graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Kansas in 1995 and then attended graduate school with an emphasis in Sports Psychology under his advisor Dr. David Cook, a renowned sports psychologist. He graduated with a Master’s degree in 1996. During his time in Kansas, Rooney met his wife Jacqy during his first year, and they have five daughters. He was honored as a distinguished graduate of the University of Kansas.
In 2007, Lieutenant Colonel Rooney established the nonprofit Folds of Honor in the tiny space over his garage. Its sole objective is to give children and spouses of disabled or deceased military service personnel financial aid for their education. Rooney’s return trip after his second combat tour in Iraq marked its beginning as that is when Rooney understood the hardships families experience when a loved one serving in the military is injured or killed.
The pilot said they had Corporal Brock Bucklin’s remains on board when his plane touched down. Lt. Colonel Rooney saw Corporal Bucklin’s twin brother as he solemnly made his way to the family’s waiting vehicle next to the flag-draped coffin. Jacob, the infant son of the slain Corporal, was one of them. Since that evening, Lt Col Rooney has dedicated his life to supporting the spouses and kids of America’s lost or disabled service members through the Folds of Honor.
Jacob Bucklin became the first Folds of Honor scholarship recipient in 2007. Since then, Folds of Honor has provided over 44,000 academic scholarships totaling over $200 million. Among the students supported, 41 percent are minorities. Established in 2007, Patriot Golf Day is the largest grassroots fundraiser in the country. Proceeds from Patriot Golf Day have provided 10,000 scholarships totaling 50 million dollars.
