This Veterans Day, First Class Air proudly recognizes 28 of our team members whose military service reflects a lasting commitment to our country and the values of leadership, teamwork and dedication.
Across the First Class Air family, we are fortunate to work alongside men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces. Their experiences span multiple branches of the military, different responsibilities and years of service, but they share a commitment to serving others that continues to make a difference today.
Military service develops qualities that extend far beyond the uniform. Discipline, resilience, technical expertise, accountability and the ability to work together under challenging circumstances are just some of the strengths our veterans bring to their roles throughout our organization.
This Veterans Day, we're proud to recognize the individuals across First Class Air Support, Cargo Repair, Cobalt Aero Services, Innodyne Systems, Survival Products and Vertical Aerospace who have served our country.
Recognizing Our Veterans
Cargo Repair
Adam Sneed - U.S. Marine Corps | Sergeant | 5 Years of Service
Adam served in the Marine Corps as a Huey and Cobra helicopter mechanic (6114). His advice to someone beginning a military career is simple: "Volunteer for everything." Among the experiences that stayed with him was seeing how people responded when faced with difficult circumstances.
Cale Cook - U.S. Air Force | Senior Airman (E-4) | 6 Years of Service
Cale served six years in the United States Air Force, achieving the rank of Senior Airman. We proudly recognize and thank him for his military service and the experience he brings to the Cargo Repair team.
Cobalt Aero Services
Lawrence Benoit - U.S. Army National Guard | Sergeant (E-5) | 8 Years of Service (Currently Serving)
Lawrence continues to serve in the Army National Guard. His advice to those entering the military emphasizes humility, learning, integrity and taking care of fellow service members. He recalls training at Fort Polk, where difficult conditions helped create some of his strongest memories of teamwork and camaraderie.
John Clark - U.S. Navy | Radioman Second Class | 4 Years of Service
John served four years in the Navy as a Radioman Second Class. His advice to anyone considering military service is to enlist, and one of his most memorable experiences was the opportunity to travel overseas.
Enrique Rivera - U.S. Navy and U.S. Army | Petty Officer Third Class / E-4 | 11 Years of Service
Enrique served a combined 11 years in the Navy and Army, including seven years in the Navy and four years in the Army. He encourages future service members to enjoy their military experience, even during challenging times. Among his favorite memories are the teamwork he experienced with people from different backgrounds and regions of the country.
Rachael Chancey - U.S. Army | Specialist (E-4) | 3 Years of Service
Rachael served three years in the Army. Her advice to new service members is to learn about the benefits available to them, including education, healthcare and veterans' resources, and understand how those opportunities can positively impact their futures. She remembers the small moments shared with the people serving alongside her.
Derrick Johnson - U.S. Navy | Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Aircraft Handling) Second Class (E-5) | 13 Years of Service
Derrick served more than 13 years in the Navy. He encourages future service members to make the most of their careers and maintain a positive attitude through challenging experiences. His military memories range from witnessing F-18 aircraft launch from an aircraft carrier to sailing through the Suez Canal and seeing the ocean glow at night. But one of his most meaningful experiences was participating in military funerals, folding and presenting the American flag to the families of fallen veterans.
Ronnie Horton - U.S. Marine Corps | Sergeant (E-5) | 5 Years of Service
Ronnie served five years in the United States Marine Corps, achieving the rank of Sergeant. We thank him for his service and proudly recognize him as a member of the Cobalt Aero Services team.
Larry Helton - U.S. Army | Specialist (E-4)
Larry served in the United States Army as a Specialist. We are grateful for his military service and proud to recognize his contributions as part of the Cobalt Aero Services team.
Richard "Skip" Anderson - U.S. Navy | Chief Petty Officer (E-7) | 23 Years, 9 Months of Service
Skip dedicated nearly 24 years to the Navy, achieving the rank of Chief Petty Officer. His advice to future service members is to embrace the opportunities that military service provides, particularly overseas travel and exposure to different cultures. His memories include making lifelong friends, experiencing aircraft carrier operations and the many accomplishments that came with his service.
Tim Moran - U.S. Army | Corporal (E-4) | 4 Years of Service
Tim served four years in the Army. His advice to those beginning their military careers is to make a career out of their service. Among his most memorable experiences was spending time in Europe.
Carl Vincent - U.S. Army | Sergeant (E-5) | 11 Years of Service
Carl served 11 years in the Army, achieving the rank of Sergeant. His advice to future service members emphasizes discipline and personal responsibility. He remembers the teamwork and team-building experiences that were part of his military career.
Nikki Christian - U.S. Marine Corps | Corporal (E-4) | 5 Years of Service
Nikki served five years in the Marine Corps. Her advice is to hold on through the difficult moments because military life becomes more interesting as new experiences unfold. She particularly remembers overseas travel and the opportunity to experience different cultures.
Roman Gay - U.S. Marine Corps | Sergeant (E-5) | 4 Years of Service
Roman served four years in the Marine Corps, achieving the rank of Sergeant. He encourages new service members to manage their expectations and absorb everything they are taught. One of his favorite memories is the lasting friendships he built during his service.
David Young - U.S. Marine Corps | Corporal (E-4) | 4 Years of Service
David served four years in the Marine Corps. His advice to those beginning their military careers is to persevere and consider the opportunities that come with a longer military career. One experience he remembers vividly is cold-weather training, including swimming across subfreezing water.
Gary Holcroft - U.S. Navy | Petty Officer First Class | 12.5 Years of Service
Gary served 12.5 years in the Navy. He believes military service offers valuable life lessons and encourages others to consider the experience. Among his favorite memories is simply being at sea.
First Class Air Support
Dustin Collins - U.S. Army | Specialist (E-4) | 4 Years of Service
Dustin served four years in the Army. His advice to future service members is to get into good physical shape before beginning their military careers. One of his proudest memories is graduating from Apache Avionics School, reflecting the specialized technical training he received during his service.
Mike Rivera - U.S. Marine Corps | Lance Corporal, Aircraft Structures Mechanic (6092) | 5 Years of Service
Mike served five years in the U.S. Marine Corps as an Aircraft Structures Mechanic. One of his most memorable experiences was completing boot camp, which he describes as a defining moment that helped shape the person he is today. His advice to those beginning their military careers is simple: “Embrace the challenges as they will only make you stronger.”
Innodyne Systems
Josue Rivera Morales - U.S. Army | Logistics, E-6 (Promotable) | 23 Years of Service
Josue served 23 years in the Army, building extensive experience in military logistics. We proudly recognize his long-standing commitment to military service and thank him for the dedication and experience he brings to the Innodyne Systems team.
Survival Products
Brian Shipman - U.S. Army | Staff Sergeant (E-6) | 12 Years of Service
Brian served 12 years in the Army, achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant. Of the many lessons he learned, one stands out above the rest: "Lead by Example." He believes leadership is earned through character, work ethic and the respect shown to others, regardless of rank. When reflecting on his military career, Brian remembers the brotherhood, friendships and camaraderie that developed through shared experiences. From the people he served alongside to the laughter and lasting bonds formed during assignments, he describes a special connection among soldiers that stays with them long after their service ends.
Vertical Aerospace
Raymond (Tray) Siefried - U.S. Air Force
Tray served in the United States Air Force. We proudly recognize his military service and thank him for the experience and dedication he brings to the Vertical Aerospace team.
Nathaniel Weaver - U.S. Marine Corps
Nathaniel served in the United States Marine Corps. We are grateful for his service and proud to recognize him as part of the Vertical Aerospace team.
Rick Shaw - U.S. Marine Corps
Rick served in the United States Marine Corps. We thank him for his commitment to serving our country and proudly recognize his military service.
Burt Wood - U.S. Navy
Burt served in the United States Navy. We are honored to recognize his military service and the contributions he makes as a member of the Vertical Aerospace team.
Justin Campbell - U.S. Marine Corps
Justin served in the United States Marine Corps. We proudly recognize his military service and thank him for his dedication to our country.
Tammy Rice - U.S. Air Force
Tammy served in the United States Air Force. We are grateful for her service and proud to have her as part of the Vertical Aerospace team.
Brian Long - U.S. National Guard
Brian served in the National Guard. We thank him for his military service and proudly recognize his contributions to the Vertical Aerospace team.
Josh White - U.S. Army
Josh served in the United States Army. One of his most meaningful memories was serving as a member of a military base honor guard, providing military honors at veterans' funerals. It was an opportunity to pay tribute to fellow service members and their families.
A Legacy of Service. A Continued Commitment.
The experiences shared by our veterans are a reminder that military service is about much more than individual accomplishments. It is about dedication to a greater purpose, supporting those around you, overcoming challenges and taking pride in the work you do.
These are qualities we value throughout the First Class Air family of companies. From parts distribution and engineering to maintenance, repair, manufacturing and other specialized aviation services, our success depends on our team members who bring experience, accountability, teamwork and a commitment to excellence to their work every day.
We are proud that so many of our team members who have served our country have chosen to continue their careers as part of First Class Air.
To the 28 veterans recognized here, and to all veterans who have served our nation, thank you for your courage, your sacrifice and your service. We are honored to work alongside you and grateful for everything you have contributed, both in uniform and beyond.
Happy Veterans Day from the entire First Class Air family!
