Heflick was born in Akron, Ohio. He grew up on a farm outside of Marion, Ohio and attended Pleasant High School, after moving into a more residential farming community. He graduated in 1987. Wanting to go to college to earn his biology degree, but not having the money for it, Heflick joined military service and volunteered to go to Central America. He enrolled in Wright State University to gain a degree in biology and met his future wife, Jennifer, the first week he was there. He graduated in 1994 and married Jennifer before moving down to Melbourne, Florida to enter graduate school at the Florida Institute of Technology.
