"We plan to make a jump in freefall from the edge of the atmosphere at 40,000 meters…"

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Miguel Garcia

Born in Madrid, Spain, 1954

University Diploma Business Administration

Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 1978

Licenciature Business Administration

Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 1982

Masters in Business Administration

ICADE, Madrid, 1989

Field of work

Business administration

Areas of interest outside work

Hiking, speleology (caving), scuba diving, reading and meditating

I was born on July 24, 1954 in Madrid, where I grew up. With the exception of my military service in Zaragoza I have always lived in this city.

I started school at the age of 6. After school I went to the University where I obtained my first degree in Business Administration. I continued in the University and after two more years got the Licenciature in Business Administration, with a specialization in Marketing. While a student, I also worked for a bank as an administrative assistant.

In 1988 I took a job with SemaGroup, which became part of Schlumberger in 2001. I continued my studies and received Masters in Business Administration. During my time at SchlumbergerSema I worked as a consultant in banking organization and quality assurance. At the same time, due to my interest in business, I started my own company as a part time job, actually a hobby, as I was not making money. This company is involved with the importing and exporting of products related to skydiving. I was trying to put into practice my knowledge about business administration, marketing, etc.

Also during this period I got my Private Pilot License with ratings for small aircraft, ultralight aircraft and sailplanes.

My interest in parachutes started as a child when my father told me how to make one with a plastic bag, a bunch of lines and a toy soldier. At that time the only way to jump was to be in the military and I was too young. By 1975 it became possible to make sport jumps in Spain and it was in that same year that I made by first jump. I got my certification as Instructor in 1984 and as a Senior Parachute Rigger in 1999. This certification was issued in the USA by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration). I organized and competed in a National Championship in 1984, but I have never been a serious competitor. I have always been more interested in the management of the drop zones, the instruction and the care of the equipment.

Currently, I am involved in a research investigation with a Spanish University as a consultant for skydiving. The goal of the project is to study the adaptation of the human body to extreme stress. We plan to make a jump in freefall from the edge of the atmosphere at 40,000 meters (about 125,000 feet). Making this jump would be the pinnacle of my career as a skydiver.

Now I have the challenge or running my own business. My company is no longer a hobby and is running well now. We have started selling in South America. My wife is a psychologist. She runs a school for children and I help her with the administration.

Besides skydiving, I love hiking, speleology (caving) and scuba diving. Next will be mountain climbing. My other area of interest is reading and meditating about the spiritual development of individuals, myself included, as a goal in this life.