Andrew is a Lead National Aviation Recruiter at Veterans Alliance. Andrew has been in the Aviation industry since 2013. Andrew started his aviation career in the United States Air Force as an Avionics Technician working on F-15s. After transitioning out of the Air Force, Andrew worked for Lockheed Martin's Advanced Development Program as a Flight Electrician and Instrumentation Mechanic. After his time at Lockheed Martin, Andrew worked for Northrop Grumman’s Advanced Technology Development Center as a Test and Integration Engineer. Andrew resides in Fresno, California with his wife and two sons, Landon and Ryker. Andrew enjoys working on classic cars, playing soccer, and spending time with his family.
Jon is a Lead National Aviation Recruiter at Veterans Alliance. Jon recently retired from the United States Navy after nearly 23 years of service. He spent nine years as a Damage Controlman making three overseas deployments to the Indo-Pacom theater. He later transferred to NRD Phoenix where he spent three years as Navy Recruiter, earning numerous awards and 11 “Gold Wreaths” for recruiting excellence. He was meritoriously advanced to the next pay grade for his efforts. After the recruiting tour he made the decision to follow his passion and convert to the aviation community as a Naval Aircrewman (AWF). He flew on both the C-130T and the C-130-30 platforms as both the Squadron NATOPS Instructor and Wing Evaluator, training and qualifying more than 50 Aircrewman in earning their “Gold Wings” and accumulating more than three thousand flight hours. He left the service with 1-Commendation Medal, 10-Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and 2-Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medals.
After a successful career in the military, Jon went on to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management from American Military University and began a career in Aviation staffing with a focus on assisting transitioning service members and Veterans in finding meaningful careers in the aviation community. Jon enjoys spending time with his wife, Jill, and their six children, Kylie (20), Koryn (18), Davron (15), Blakely (10), Tinsley (8) and Jera (3), as well as surfing, wakeboarding, snowboarding, or anything outdoors.
Jett is a Lead National Aviation Recruiter at Veterans Alliance. Jett was born into the aviation industry because his father has been in the aviation industry for 40 years. Jett grew up in a hangar, so he has always been fascinated by aircraft. Jett has recruited in the aviation industry for two years placing aircraft maintenance mechanics. He plans to use his recruiting experience to help our nation's veterans build their aviation careers and provide them a successful future. Jett currently resides in the sunshine state of Florida with his girlfriend and their two-year-old golden retriever.
Bernard is a National Aviation Recruiter at Veterans Alliance. Bernard is an USMC veteran with eight years of aviation experience. In the Marines, Bernard worked on F-18 A-D as an Avionics Technician. After his military service, Bernard worked as an Avionics Technician developing the AW-609, the world's first commercial tilt-rotor aircraft, at Leonardo Helicopters. Bernard then moved into an Aviation Recruiter role where he was responsible for staffing aircraft maintenance professionals across the United States. Bernard lives in Charleston, South Carolina with his 4-year-old daughter and his Golden Retriever. In his free time, he enjoys fishing, camping, and watching sports. Bernard is passionate about helping his fellow veterans find career opportunities that align with their skills and experience.
Brooke is a National Aviation Recruiter with Veterans Alliance. Brooke Smith is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and an alumna of High Point University in North Carolina. She pursued a degree in political science and international relations, with a minor in French. Brooke comes from a family with a strong military background, as her grandfather received a prestigious French Medal of Honor for his efforts in liberating France during World War II, while her brother currently serves in the United States Air Force. After completing her studies, Brooke found her passion as a recruiter, particularly within the aviation industry, and felt a deep connection to supporting veterans. Brooke is looking forward to dedicating her time to serving those who have served our country. While originally from Pittsburgh, Brooke now resides in Charleston with her boyfriend and their dog, Goose.
Dakota is a National Aviation Recruiter with Veterans Alliance. Dakota was born and raised in beautiful Colorado. She has a wonderful husband and four amazing kiddos. Dakota joined the Colorado Army National Guard the day after her 19th birthday as a 91B- Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic. Dakota served as a full-time Technician in the military hydraulics section of the Combined Support Maintenance Shop. She then transitioned into an Active Guard Reserve position as Unit Administrator for the 1157th Forward Support Company. In 2017, Dakota was asked to go to Infantry training and reclass to 11B to assist the State of Colorado in the female integration into combat arms. Dakota served as a team leader for Alpha Company of the 1-157th Infantry Battalion while continuing Unit Administrator duties. She was then assigned as a recruiter for Recruiting and Retention Battalion for the Army where she worked closely with Aviation, Space, Infantry, and many other units. Dakota transitioned out of the Army as a Staff Sergeant in 2021 after a little over 10 years of service. Since then, Dakota has been working as a civilian recruiter in the staffing industry and she is looking forward to continuing her career with Veterans Alliance.
Garrett is a National Aviation Recruiter with Veterans Alliance. Garrett has over two years of aviation recruiting experience, and he takes pride in assisting veterans transition from the service into the civilian aviation industry. He has had ties to aviation his entire life due to his grandfather being a retired KC-135 Air Force Pilot, and his father being a tenured FAA Air Traffic Controller. Garrett is a native of small-town Culpeper, Virginia and a student-athlete alumni of Hampden-Sydney College in Farmville, Virginia where he played four years of football and found lifelong friends. He now resides in beautiful Charleston, South Carolina where he enjoys the historical scenery, awesome beaches, and great food.
Blakelyn Gartman is a National Aviation Recruiter with Veterans Alliance. While Blakelyn is not a US Veteran herself, she is currently engaged to be married to a US Marine Corps Veteran and they have plans to “tie the knot” in the early months of 2025. Blakelyn grew up surrounded by staffing industry conversations as her father started his own staffing firm in 2000 in her hometown of Mobile, AL. She has spent the last six years working at her family’s staffing agency that specializes in meeting the labor needs of major clients in the US Naval Shipbuilding, maritime, industrial, and aerospace/aviation industries. Blakelyn decided to leave her family’s company in determination to “make a name for herself” independently from her family and is thrilled to be joining a company whose values and reputation are in line with her own. Blakelyn spends her spare time in her hometown of Mobile, AL enjoying nearby beaches, spending time with her fiancé and her two cats, and creating and selling her original artwork in large retail venues across the gulf coast.
Gary is a National Aviation Recruiter with Veterans Alliance. Gary’s family has a diverse military background including Naval Officers, National Guard Soldiers, and Army Special Forces. He started his career in the US Navy working as an Avionics Tech on the F/A-18 platform for six years. Gary completed his MBA while on Active Duty becoming the first member of his family with a graduate degree. After finishing his Navy service, he worked as a Field Engineer in the Semiconductor Industry for four years before started his recruiting career. Over the past nine years he has found employment for other veterans in 45 US states as well as overseas. He has been married for 18 years to his childhood sweetheart and they have 3 children (14,10,6). In his free time, he loves fishing with his kids and being outdoors with the family.
Kevin is a National Aviation Recruiter with Veterans Alliance. With a grandfather who fought in World War II, Kevin has a deep respect for those who serve. Kevin hails from Chicago and he holds a bachelor's degree in financial planning from the University of Illinois. He brings two years of recruiting experience and three years in the aviation industry to his role. Kevin is passionate about changing lives, helping individuals find the right fit, and being genuinely useful and supportive. He approaches his work with honesty, transparency, efficiency, and clear communication. The most rewarding part of his job is receiving acknowledgment of a job well done and hearing how much his assistance has positively impacted others' careers. Kevin currently resides in Tampa, Florida, with his girlfriend and their dog, Xena, and he is in his first 100 hours of flight school.
Annie is a National Aviation Recruiter at Veterans Alliance. Annie's family is deeply connected to the military, as her maternal grandfather served in WW2 as a Navy Pilot and her paternal grandfather served in WW2 as a captain in the Army Medical Corps. Annie has since had uncles and cousins who have also proudly served with honor. Annie went to the College of Charleston, where she majored in Sociology and Psychology. After graduating, Annie found her purpose in aviation recruiting, and passion in helping veterans navigate their career. She now resides in beautiful Charleston, SC with her boyfriend and sweet dog, Luna.
Mandie is a National Aviation Recruiter at Veterans Alliance. Mandie brings nearly 10 years of recruitment experience to her role. With a deep respect for military service, having a grandfather and cousin who both proudly served in the U.S. Army, Mandie is passionate about helping service members transition into civilian careers. She specializes in connecting veterans with meaningful opportunities in the aviation industry, assisting them in starting their next chapter after military service. Outside of work, Mandie enjoys quality time with her family, including her husband Dave, son Jake, and their three beloved dogs: Maya, Millie, and Bruin. On weekends, you’ll often find her at the horse farm, where she can unwind and indulge in her love of horses.
Miguel is a National Aviation Recruiter at Veterans Alliance. Miguel is a US Navy veteran who served eight years as a Naval Aircrewman and Rescue Swimmer. Having developed a passion for helicopters and aviation in general, Miguel dove into an aviation focused career specializing in helicopter rescue operations, medical transport and fixed wing aircraft maintenance repair and overhaul operations. Most recently, he found his calling in aviation recruiting where his diverse background helps him fulfill his true passion of serving the veteran community. While originally from Southern California, Miguel now enjoys everything sunny Florida has to offer with his beautiful wife Chelsea, sons Landon and Matthew, daughter Maddison, and their corgi Chiquita (yes, like the banana).
Kayla is a National Aviation Recruiter with Veterans Alliance. Kayla is a seasoned National Aviation Recruiter with over three years of experience recruiting in the industry. Additionally, she has a rich background as a collegiate athlete, having played Division I Women's Soccer at Charleston Southern University, where she balanced a rigorous academic schedule with a demanding athletic commitment. Kayla holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science with a minor in Sociology, graduating Cum Laude. Now residing in Colorado, Kayla has a passion for serving veterans within the aviation industry and has deep ties to the military through her grandfather's service in the Merchant Marines during WWII and the Army in the Korean War, as well as her granddad's service in the Air National Guard. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking and fly fishing in the Rocky Mountains. She continues to make significant contributions to the industry, driven by her commitment to excellence and her ability to inspire and motivate others.
Chason is a National Aviation Recruiter at Veterans Alliance. Born into an Air Force and later Army family, Chason experienced life on various bases across the United States, fostering a deep understanding of military culture and values. In 2013, Chason enlisted in the United States Navy, where he served as the Lead Electronic Technician on the USS Stockdale. In this role, he was responsible for maintaining and managing all shipboard communication systems, ensuring seamless operations and mission success. After departing the Navy, Chason pursued a bachelor’s degree in information technology, further enhancing his technical and analytical skills. Over the past four years, he has specialized in recruiting, leveraging his military background to connect technically skilled veterans with opportunities in various high-tech electronic industries. During this time, Chason has become dedicated to effectively matching veterans with positions that most suit their skills and career aspirations. Chason is now leveraging his experience to pivot into the aviation industry, where he aims to connect talented veterans with impactful careers. Chason resides in Huntsville, Alabama, with his wife and dog. In his free time, he enjoys rock climbing, kayaking, and exploring new travel destinations.
Case is a National Aviation Recruiter at Veterans Alliance. Born and raised in Texas, Case is a proud graduate of Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO. With over two years of experience in recruiting for the aviation industry, Case has developed a deep understanding of the sector and a strong commitment to connecting top talent with innovative companies. Inspired by his grandfather, a retired veteran, Case is passionate about supporting veterans in their professional journeys. Case actively works to create opportunities for those who have served to thrive in their post-military careers. Through his work in recruitment and his dedication to helping others succeed, Case brings energy, compassion, and expertise to every project he undertakes. Now based in Tucson, AZ, Case lives with his fiancé and their two dogs. In his free time, Case enjoys rock climbing, biking around town, and hitting the slopes to ski whenever possible.
