but air force lieutenant colonel rob waldman has faced his fears. the hard way. >> one two zero. >> screaming engines, mind-numbing speeds of over 1900 miles an hour. this was lieutenant colonel waldman's daily ride. he had what many would consider one of the coolest jobs in the world. >> it's an amazing jet. >> but an innocent diving trip would change everything. >> three years into my flying year i almost died in a scuba accident in the caribbean. >> 30 feet underwater, rob's scuba mask broke. physically he was fine, but mentally he was shaken to the core. he developed severe claustrophobia. >> so if you can imagine barely being able to move with this helmet and mask on, gloves, your head two inches from the canopy. you're like in a little coffin, enough for a guy with claustrophobia to really feel pan automaticy. i had to live with this fear of having a panic attack. >> but a panic attack while going mock 0 two would be devastating. >> when you're strapped into a jet, you can't say pause, on combat missions where there was a job to do and my wing