JJ

John P · Arch Aqua Wizard · Rocket City Water Wizards™

Where It Started

I cleaned my first pool at 15. Not managing one. Not inspecting one. Cleaning one — skimmer baskets, brushing walls, balancing water by hand. I learned the fundamentals before I learned anything else, and I've never stopped believing that's the only way to actually know what you're doing.

By the time I served, I'd gone from pool tech to installations and never stopped — running jobs as a side hustle throughout my entire Army career. Hawaii, New York, Virginia, Alabama, even a pool setup in the Middle East. Giving people their own small oasis is something I've been doing my whole life.

The Mission

After 20+ years in U.S. Army Aviation with 900+ combat flight hours across 158 months of deployments, I founded Rocket City Water Wizards™ in June 2018 and continue building it into what it is today — the only Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business in the global pool and spa industry. Over 4,500 projects completed and counting as of March 2026.

Aviation doesn't tolerate guesswork. You build systems that work every time, anticipate problems before they surface, and plan three steps ahead. That mindset didn't stay on the flight line — it's the foundation of how we operate in every backyard we touch.

The Education

Two bachelor's degrees, a Master of Engineering (M.Eng.), and currently a doctoral candidate in aerospace engineering and mechanics. When I wasn't turning wrenches on helicopters or balancing water chemistry, I was in the classroom.

Certified Pool Operator, Certified Maintenance Specialist, and Certified Pool Inspector through the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance — recertified annually, not every five years like the industry standard. Better than yesterday isn't a slogan. It's a standard I hold in the classroom, on the flight line, and in your backyard.

Why I Write Here

The pool industry is full of bad advice, YouTube shortcuts, and salespeople who've never balanced water chemistry in their life. Everything I publish is fact-checked and backed by peer-reviewed research — not opinions, not assumptions, not sales tactics. Documented standards from PHTA, APSP, OSHA, and the EPA. When I cite something, I cite the source.

If you're going to take advice on a $30,000–$100,000 backyard investment, take it from someone with 27 years in the water, a master's degree, a doctoral candidacy in aerospace engineering and mechanics, and 900 combat flight hours — not someone who watched a video and bought a test kit.

— JJ Arch Aqua Wizard Rocket City Water Wizards™

America's Only Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Pool Company

833-H2O-WZRD (833-420-9973) · rocketcitywaterwizards.com