Cancer couldn’t keep 27-year-old James Balutowski from fulfilling his lifelong dream of flight.
Balutowski, a Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputy who has overcome leukemia, has been accepted to the U.S. Navy Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Fla.
“It’s a dream I had since I was 8 years old,” Balutowski said of flying.
The dream was sidetracked about five years ago when Balutowski was diagnosed with cancer while he was studying at Metropolitan State College of Denver.
Balutowski went through more than a dozen chemotherapy sessions, 16 spinal taps and four bone marrow biopsies.
He graduated with honors from Metro and received a degree in aviation. He entered the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office while finishing his treatments.
“I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything in the world,” he said of his cancer, “but I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. It helped to develop my character. After going through that, you really know what you want.”
Balutowski wanted to fly for the military.
“When he applied, we talked about the challenge we would have,” said Chief Warrant Officer Raymond Jackson, Balutowski’s recruiter.
The pair worked together for about 12 months.
“We kept fighting through and fighting through. We kept getting approvals and then going one step further,” Balutowski recalled.
“I told him, if I didn’t get anyone else in the Navy this year, as long as I got him in, I would be happy,” Jackson said.
Balutowski reports to the Navy on June 24 to start a 12-week program.
He is taking a leave from the sheriff’s office. He hopes to make it through school and follow up with an 8-year Navy commitment.
If he passes, Balutowski will be commissioned a naval flight officer. He’s hoping to be assigned to a combat jet and be responsible for communications, weapons and radar systems.
“I’ll do everything on the aircraft except fly it,” he said.
Balutowski envisions returning to Jefferson County when his flight career is complete.
“He’s an exceptional deputy,” said Sgt. Jack Junkala of the sheriff’s office. “We’re impressed that he’ll be serving his country. It will help him be an even greater asset to this department in the future.”
Things are falling into place for Balutowski. He’s planning to get married next month to April Register, an aerospace engineer from Tucson.
“We have the whole flying thing in common,” he said.
Balutowski hopes his success can inspire others who are facing long odds.
“Anyone who finds himself struck with cancer or any other obstacle, strive for your dreams,” he said.
“I wanted to be able to overcome the cancer and achieve everything I wanted in life.”
Staff writer Kieran Nicholson can be reached at 303-820-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com.
