Marie is a Lead National Aviation Recruiter at Veterans Alliance. Marie has worked in the Aviation industry since 2004 when she enlisted and served honorably for nine years in the United States Air Force as a Heavy Aircraft Mechanic on C-5, C-17, and KC-10 airframes. After transitioning out of the military, Marie started her career in recruiting. Marie has 10+ years of experience recruiting. Marie currently resides in South Carolina with her husband and two kids. She is passionate about helping her fellow veterans find new career opportunities.
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.
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.
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.
Mandie is a Client Delivery Manager 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).
Amber is a National Aviation Recruiter with Veterans Alliance. Amber has been in aviation staffing for three years and she thrives in the fast-paced, highly competitive staffing industry. Amber received her Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, where she was also a collegiate softball player. Outside of work, Amber plays slow-pitch softball and pickleball competitively. Amber is based out of Woodbury, MN and enjoys time with her family, friends, and boyfriend.
Michael is a National Aviation Recruiter with Veterans Alliance. Michael is a results-driven National Aviation Recruiter and retired U.S. Marine Corps Master Sergeant with over 24 years of combined military and civilian experience in talent acquisition, aviation maintenance, and leadership. A decorated veteran, Michael served from 2001 to 2022, culminating in his roles as a Recruiter & Aviation Program Manager. He earned multiple medals, including two Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medals, two Achievement Medals, Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, and was recognized as Recruiter of the Year during his military tenure. Michael’s family has a deep-rooted background with the military as his dad was in the Navy, his brother was in the Marine Corps for 13 years, his uncle served 32 years between the Marine Corps, Navy, and Public Health Services, his other uncle was in the Navy during Vietnam as a Corpsman, and his grandfather served as a pilot during the Korean War.
Throughout his distinguished military career, Michael worked extensively on a wide range of aircraft, including the CH-46 Sea Knight—where he earned his aircrew wings—along with the KC-130T/J, AH-1 Cobra, and F/A-18 Hornet. His technical expertise in aviation maintenance and program management played a critical role in mission readiness and operational success across multiple duty stations. He also developed a nationally adopted tracking system that increased productivity and readiness across 3,000+ personnel. Michael holds a B.A. in Management with a concentration in Human Resources from American Military University (Cum Laude) and is currently completing his M.A. in Counseling & Human Development at Walsh University.
Michael lives in New York with his wife, DawnMarie, their daughter Gianna, who currently attends Pace University, and their two dogs: Simba, a Golden Retriever, and JoeJoe, a Teacup Pomeranian. When he's off the clock, Michael enjoys hiking, snowboarding, playing football, and playing softball in his community.
Vincent is a National Aviation Recruiter at Veterans Alliance. Formerly a classical musician, he graduated from Juilliard for French Horn Performance and went on to performing professionally with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. During his tenure with the orchestra, Vincent experienced a traumatic performance injury, which led him to a career change to recruiting. He has over two years of experience recruiting in the aviation, aerospace & defense industries. Vincent's grandfather served in the US Navy, and he has a profound respect for veterans. With his understanding of trauma and PTSD, he developed a passion for assisting veterans transitioning out of the military or seeking a new role in aviation. Vincent currently resides in the Charleston, South Carolina area with his husband Chris and two cats, Sunny and Lily.
Leya is a National Aviation Recruiter with Veterans Alliance. Leya brings over three years of aviation staffing experience to Veterans Alliance. While not a veteran herself, Leya has a deep appreciation for military service, a value deepened by her marriage to a Marine.
Born and raised in Fort Worth, TX, Leya brings a diverse background that includes recruiting, retail management, and prior law enforcement experience. Her passion for helping people shines through in her approach to recruitment. With a focus on clear communication and personalized support, Leya ensures every candidate feels valued and well-informed throughout a positive experience. Outside of work, Leya enjoys life’s simple pleasures like spending time with her husband and their three dogs, a Boxer, Bulldog, and Pit Bull. She loves discovering new wines, hosting dinner gatherings, quilting, and finding moments of creativity and connection to unwind.
Jaden is a National Aviation Recruiter at Veterans Alliance. Jaden has over two years of aviation recruiting experience and is very passionate about helping veterans make a smooth transition into civilian aviation careers. Jaden has several ties to aviation as her dad has been in the aviation industry for 30 years, her boyfriend and close friend are both currently flying KC-135s for the US Air Force, and her grandpa and uncle both served in the US Marine Corps. Originally from a small town near Wichita, Kansas, Jaden graduated from the University of Missouri–Kansas City with a degree in Business Administration. She’s proud to combine her aviation background and love for helping others to create a positive experience for each candidate. Jaden's recruiting experience and heartfelt commitment to service motivates her to deliver positive and personalized experiences with every candidate. When she’s not working, you’ll probably find her outdoors (hiking/biking/pickle balling), running with her goldendoodle Indi, checking out cute coffee shops, or spending time with her friends, family, and boyfriend.
Parker is a National Aviation Recruiter with Veterans Alliance. Parker has over three years of aviation recruiting experience, and he takes pride in assisting veterans transition from the military to the civilian aviation industry. Parker has familial ties to the military and the aviation industry due to his father being an Air Force retiree, and his father being a tenured Veterans Recruiter for Boeing. Parker is a native of small-town Florence, South Carolina. He now lives in Charleston, South Carolina where he enjoys fishing, running, and the great restaurant scene.
Joshua is a National Aviation Recruiter with Veterans Alliance. Joshua served in the United States Marine Corps for over 11 years where he embraced early leadership roles, fostering unity and resilience in high-pressure environments. During Joshua's deployment in Afghanistan, he earned a meritorious combat promotion to non-commissioned officer among 300 peers—a profound affirmation of trust amid intense operations.
Answering a deeper calling to aviation, Joshua transitioned to VMA-211 as a senior NCO, specializing in avionics and managing night flight operations on Harrier jets under demanding conditions like heavy seas and deck pitches. He latched onto mentors, mastering intricate systems from inertial navigation repairs to full aircraft diagnostics, and completed his CDQAR certification on his final deployment—ensuring mission-critical readiness for every takeoff and landing. Joshua then moved into a production recruiter role which led him to overseeing the recruiting station until his early retirement. Joshua is eager to pursue the Veterans Alliance mission, drawing on his soul to help fellow veterans find purpose in aviation careers. Outside of work, Josh cherishes quiet moments reading, quality time with his kids, and the thrill of fast cars.
