Jim Wallace

Jim Wallace, D-3497, began his skydiving journey on a dare on October 31, 1970. What started as a spontaneous challenge evolved into a lifelong pursuit of excellence in instruction, competition, innovation, and entertainment.

Before dedicating himself fully to skydiving, Wallace served a two-year stint in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam conflict. That experience would shape his discipline and leadership style, both of which became hallmarks of his skydiving career.

In 1982, Wallace became a skydiving instructor and ten years later founded the Jim Wallace Skydiving School at Skydive Perris in California. Over the decades, he built a reputation as one of the most respected and accomplished instructors in the world, training thousands of students and influencing generations of instructors and competitive skydivers.

As a competitor, Wallace was a member of the 1975 U.S. 10-way formation skydiving team, known as Captain Hook’s Sky Pirates, which won the world championship. He went on to win three national championships and held 11 world records in formation skydiving.

He holds multiple instructional ratings including USPA AFF, Static-Line, and Tandem Instructor Examiner, and has served as a USPA Safety & Training Advisor. Wallace also holds FAA rigger and commercial pilot credentials, underscoring his deep technical expertise.

Outside of competition and instruction, Wallace has led a professional demonstration team that has performed in front of global audiences at events such as the Rose Bowl in California and the Marina Bay Sands Resort in Singapore. These high-profile demonstrations have helped bring skydiving to the mainstream public.

Wallace is also a member of the Screen Actors Guild and has worked as a stunt skydiver and aerial stunt coordinator for numerous films and television commercials. His credits include Point Break, Terminal Velocity, The Bucket List, and Iron Man, among many others, where his expertise ensured both safety and cinematic impact.

In recognition of his many contributions to the sport, Wallace received USPA’s Gold Medal for Meritorious Service in 2006. His legacy spans more than five decades of skydiving excellence, with a career marked by innovation, mentorship, and a profound love for the sport.