Lieutenant Commander Ted Steelman is native of Star, Idaho, and graduated from Meridian High School in 1991 where he lettered in wrestling, track and cross-country. He attended the United States Naval Academy earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Control Systems Engineering in 1995.

Ted reported to Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Florida, for aviation indoctrination in September 1995. He completed primary flight training at NAS Whiting Field, Florida, and transferred to NAS Meridian, Mississippi, for intermediate and advanced flight training. He received his wings of gold in February 1998.

Ted reported to Marine Strike Fighter Squadron 101 (VMFA 101) at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar, California, for training in the F/A-18 Hornet. In August 1999 he reported to the VFA 113 "Stingers" where he completed a deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). While with the "Stingers," Ted served as the schedules officer, line division officer, command security manager, air-to-air training officer, and landing signals officer. His deployment included extended operations in the Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch.

In December 1999, Ted transferred to the VFA 122 "Flying Eagles," where he served as an F/A-18E/F Super Hornet instructor pilot, schedules officer, T-34C phase head, and low altitude tactics training phase head. In January 2004, he was selected to the F/A-18 Super Hornet flight demonstration team. While on the team, Ted performed across the United States before three million spectators.