Board Members
Philong "donger" duong
Founder
Phil grew up in Silver Spring, MD and holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science with minor in Philosophy and an MBA from Columbia Business School. He served as a CH-46E and MV-22B pilot, as well as a foreign military advisor and JTAC on multiple deployments in the Middle East.
jack "chili" guevara
Founder
Jack grew up in Southern California and graduated from the US Naval Academy at Annapolis in 2007 with a BS in Political Science. He commissioned into the Marine Corps and served as an AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopter pilot, Aviation Safety Officer, and Weapons & Tactics Instructor. He deployed on the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit to the Middle East, Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, Afghanistan, and on the Unit Deployment Program to Okinawa, Japan and the western Pacific. He is a proud partner of Service to School - another non-profit dedicated to helping veterans transition into top universities.
ken "bronco" hampshire
Founder
Ken grew up in southern New Jersey and graduated from the US Naval Academy at Annapolis in 2007 with a BS in Aeronautical Engineering. He commissioned into the Marine Corps and served as a UH-1N and UH-1Y Huey utility helicopter pilot and Weapons & Tactics Instructor. He deployed on the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit to the western Pacific and Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, Afghanistan. He has subsequently transitioned from the Marine Corps and is proud to put his energy into The Wingman Foundation.
STAFF
michael "haiku" rogers
Executive Director
Michael grew up in Fremont, California and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2005 with a BS in History Honors and a Minor in Spanish. He later graduated from Hawaii Pacific University with a MA in Diplomacy and Military Studies in 2007. He commissioned into the Marine Corps and served as a CH-53E helicopter pilot, deploying on the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit to the Pacific and Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, Afghanistan. He later served as Adjutant and Executive Officer of 9th Communication Battalion
RICKY "LEROY" SAVAGE
Director of Operations / Mishap Response Coordinator
Ricky grew up in Sacramento, CA, enlisting in the Marine Corps in 1990, subsequently graduating from National University with a BS in Organizational Leadership. He served for 25 years in the Marine Corps, retiring as a MV-22B Osprey Maintenance Engineer Officer and Aerial Observer / Gunner. Ricky has an extensive aircraft background, serving at all levels of Naval Aviation maintenance, as well as obtaining an Airframes and Powerplants rating from the FAA. He has completed ten WESTPAC and combat deployments with fixed wing, helicopter, and tiltrotor assets and is currently the west coast V-22 Osprey IMC Coordinator aboard MCAS Miramar.
Doug "romney" nash
Head of Recruitment
Doug grew up in Houston, TX and graduated from The Citadel with a BA in English. He commissioned into the Marine Corps in 2006, and served as a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter pilot and Weapons & Tactics Instructor. He deployed to both Afghanistan and around the globe with the “Fighting” 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and is currently pursuing an MBA at the University of Texas McCombs School of Business.
MEREDITH RICHARDSON
Donor Outreach Manager
Meredith was born and raised in Branford, CT, and graduated with a degree in Finance from Quinnipiac University in 2007. Upon graduation, she took a job at Sikorsky Aircraft in CT and went on to earn her MBA at Fairfield University in 2011. Meredith relocated to San Diego in 2011 and has developed many friendships in the Naval Aviation community. While continuing to work in the aviation industry, she has seen firsthand how aviation mishaps affect the military community and the need for immediate post-mishap support. She now helps by volunteering her time as the Foundation's Donor Outreach Manager.
TROY "FUBU" VANTREASE
Navy FW Liaison
Troy grew up in West Frankfort, IL and graduated from the US Naval Academy in 2007 with a B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering. He commissioned into the United States Navy following graduation and later graduated from the Air Force Institute of Technology in 2008 with a M.S. in Aeronautical Engineering. He deployed from 2012-2013 with the “Black Aces” of VFA-41 aboard USS JOHN C. STENNIS, flying the F/A-18F Super Hornet in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. He is currently serving on Active Duty with the “Vampires” of VX-9 at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, CA, conducting Operational Test and flying the F/A-18E/F and EA-18G Growler.
stephanie "banana" turo
Public Affairs
Stephanie grew up in Huntingdon Valley, PA and graduated from the US Naval Academy in 2007 with a BS in History and minor in German. She commissioned into the United States Navy and served as a P-3 Naval Flight Officer, deploying to Sigonella, Sicily and Djibouti, Africa in 2009-2010 with the "Tridents" of VP-26. She then laterally transferred to the public affairs community in 2011. She is currently serving on Active Duty and is on a Navy scholarship to Georgetown University to pursue her master's in Public Relations and Corporate Communications. She is married to A.J. Turo.
A.J. "Stanza" turo
Navy FW Liaison
A.J. grew up in Mt. Holly Springs, PA and graduated from the US Naval Academy in 2007 with a B.S. in Physics. He commissioned into the United States Navy following graduation and graduated from the Naval Postgraduate School in 2008 with a M.S. in Systems Engineering. He flew the F/A-18E Super Hornet with the “Sidewinders” of VFA-86 from 2013-2015, while also supporting RIMPAC onboard the USS RONALD REAGAN. He then served as an instructor pilot with the "Gladiators" of VFA-106 and is currently assigned as a department head with the "Pukin' Dogs" of VFA-143. He is married to Stephanie Turo.