Mr. Alpha, what do you do for a living?

When I'm in the midst of developing a character, particularly a hero, the occupation is something I spend a great deal of time on. My heroes are pretty alpha. They're usually focused, strong-willed and yeah...arrogant and demanding in many cases :). There's just something about a take charge man, a man who is both controlling and possessive while exhibiting a core of unshakable integrity. Sigh... And of course, it's very satisfying to watch such a man come completely unravelled by the 'right' woman.

Those attributes though lend themselves to certain types of jobs, or probably more accurately, may eliminate a bunch as viable options. An occupation can define who someone is, can drive their goals or be used to achieve them. It can be a source of passion, of angst and can even provide a source of conflict. For me, an occupation has to fit the character first and foremost, but there are a group of common occupations for just this type of hero. Some I've written myself and others I've seen in books I've read. The most used for the typical alpha hero seem to be:

• Fireman
• Cop/law enforcement
• Military/special ops. Navy seal anyone?
• Private security specialist
• Demolitions expert
• Air marshal
• War journalist
• Self made millionaire

 What others would you consider alpha occupations? What jobs have you seen represented in books you've read? What occupations would you like to see more of?