Meet Kirby Horrell | U.S. Navy SEAL (retired) | Analyst at the Navy for the Lessons Learned Program. Hot Rod car Builder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kirby Horrell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kirby, what is the most important factor behind your success?
One of the basic factors behind my success in life has been to believe in myself.

Nothing is impossible if you want to accomplish your personal goals bad enough.

You must have the capability of doing anything and everything that I want to do to build a better life for you and your family.

Work Smart and be dependable and stay strong.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Because I had so many people that I grew up who mentored me and put me in the right direction, teaching me so many things about survival and life skills, it has enabled me to give back and pay it forward. For the past 40 years I have tried hard to mentor young people and SEAL Team Members in doing the right things to self improve and to be the best you can be, the best version of yourself. Being a mentor is very satisfying and rewarding. As a long time member of the SEAL Community we all live by the SEAL ethos, we remember that in our job we are paid my our nation to stay strong and ready at all times. The phase that best describes her lifestyle is “The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday. We work hard as individuals and we work harder as a team. Being part elite team you could accomplish anything you set your mind to do. This belief is transferred to everything you do in life after the military. You strive to do your best at any job that you take on and you must maintain a busy schedule after you retire. Hobbies and traveling are part of your every day schedules after retiring.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

Pick them up at the San Diego airport and immediately take them to the San Diego waterfront for lunch at Coasterra on the Bay for lunch and drinks. Get them back to the house to recover have little home cooking and glass of California wine and watch the sunset over the ocean.
Day #2 We will do breakfast and coffee at the local bakery and head to the San Diego ZOO for the day and head
back to the house to freshen up and off the local sushi bar for sushi and beer.
Day #3 We do have breakfast at the famous Broken Yoke restaurant and head to Point Loma to wonder through the tide pools and visit the Point Loma lighthouse. Jump back in the car and head out to La Jolla to visit the Cove and walk along the ocean front and see all the wildlife and sea creatures that inhabit this area. Head back to the house to freshen up and then head to one of the local casinos for a smorgasbord/buffet dinner.
Day #4 We will have breakfast at Janet Montana’s restaurant in Alpine and head east to mountain Community of Julian and enjoy the quaint little town with tons of shopping and cool things to see. On the way back to the house we would pick-up a few Julian pies to enjoy a dinner. Dinner will be cooked at the house that evening.
Day #5 would be a slow day and a quick run to the bakery and some home brew coffee. Return to the house for breakfast on the patio. Then head to the San Diego waterfront to enjoy the Maritime Museum. USS Midway and Seaport Village. Watch the sunset over San Diego Harbor.
Day #6 Early morning trip back to the San Diego Airport and set them back home,

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I owe many people credit for their belief in me and for helping me to achieve my personal life goals.

First and foremost was my Mom who was a single mom with six children which she was raising by herself in a not so good neighborhood in St. Louis.

I was never a great student in grade and High school. I was a problem child in most of my classes but I still want to thank my teachers for putting up with me all those years.

I also want to thank the machinist and the mechanics at County Speed Shop in St. Louis Missouri for giving me my first official job working on Hot Rods and building race cars. I learned many things from them.

I would also thank Judge Roberts for giving me the opportunity to make the choice of joining the US Navy. This put me on right track for joining the US Navy SEALs and a magnificent career in the military.

Last I want to thank my wife of 36 years for loving me and keeping me on the right path.

Image Credits
All these photos are personally taken. Except for one of our platoon and Vietnam was taken by a combat photographer (unknown)