Veterans and Guard members LockLeed has worked with since 2015, and where their civilian careers have taken them.
From Marine military police to plant managers, Army Rangers to engineers, these are some of the people behind LockLeed’s work. Each story first appeared in our “Where are they now?” series on LinkedIn.
Roles are as of each person’s LinkedIn feature in 2026.
Mechanic, Dart Transit
Brian served six years as a Marine Corps military policeman (MOS 5811). In 2015 he became the first person LockLeed ever placed, starting as a mechanic at Dart Transit, the trucking network based in Eagan, Minnesota. More than ten years later, he’s still there.
Value Stream Manager II, Andersen Windows
Valente was a helicopter power plant mechanic stationed in Jacksonville, North Carolina, responsible for supervising and training his teams and keeping them safe. His awards include the Presidential Unit Citation and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal for actions in Marjah. He joined Andersen Windows more than four years ago and also serves as the company’s liaison to Beyond the Yellow Ribbon.
Personal Trainer, Prairie Island Indian Community Fitness Center
Melody was a materials handler managing multiple sites and projects. She was promoted to Staff Sergeant during a deployment to Qatar and was recognized for deploying equipment to Afghanistan for 400 Airmen. LockLeed placed her at King Solutions in 2018. Today she trains clients, teaches kickboxing and recently organized a 5K.
Program Manager, Saint Paul College
John came to LockLeed in 2017, returning to civilian life after deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. Since then the Eden Prairie native has built a Twin Cities career across sales, project and operations management, and training development. He recently joined Saint Paul College as a Program Manager.
Senior Sales Account Executive, BearCom
Christopher specialized in electronics, especially radio and wireless communications. LockLeed started working with him in 2016 and placed him at Advanced Wireless Communications as a field technician. He later became a project foreman and now pairs that technical depth with a sales role. He is also part of LockLeed’s outreach team.
Grain Elevator Operator, Bartlett
Jeffrey led construction teams in the Guard and Reserve and earned the Army Commendation Medal, then built civilian experience in shipping, materials handling and cable services. LockLeed met him in 2022 and placed him at Bartlett, the agribusiness company, as a grain elevator operator in 2023. He’s still there.
Production Manager, Fierce Firearms
When Pete told his grandmother he was joining the Army, she said at least it wasn’t the Marine Corps. That settled it. He served two tours in Iraq as a corporal and machine gun section leader and was awarded the Purple Heart. Since he started working with LockLeed in 2015, he has been a production supervisor at The Toro Company and a plant manager at GPK Products, and he now manages production at Fierce Firearms in Redmond, Utah. He also visits bases out West with LockLeed’s military outreach team.
Station Manager, Alaska Airlines
Tom spent more than eight years as a radio systems operator in the Army National Guard, then about three and a half years as LockLeed’s lead recruiter, before his love of hands-on equipment maintenance drew him back into aviation leadership.
“My military experience played a large role for stepping into an airline operation leadership position. From training and leading teams of various sizes, utilizing resolve and adaptability under pressure, to overseeing complex contracts and strict budgets.”
Machine Operator, Visions
Don served as a Marine infantryman, running training exercises and mentoring junior Marines. Today he is a machine operator at Visions, a commercial printer in Brooklyn Park, where he specializes in operations and safety on the production floor.
Senior Manufacturing Engineer, Boston Scientific
Joe made sergeant in less than three years and led a nine-member Ranger squad. After earning a physics degree at the University of Minnesota, he worked with LockLeed on his search and was placed at VIRTEX in 2017. He has built a manufacturing engineering career in the Twin Cities ever since.
Bench Technician, Advanced Wireless Communications
Andrew was a Marine radio repairman, trained in San Diego and Twentynine Palms, with hands-on experience in troubleshooting, equipment testing and quality control. LockLeed recruiter Mary Schwartz worked closely with Advanced Wireless Communications to match him to the role. He grew up in New Brighton and volunteers with Feed My Starving Children.
Environmental Health and Safety Manager, IWCO
Noah’s Guard service, along with his background in regulatory compliance programs, safety systems and operational risk, made him the right fit when IWCO needed an Environmental Health and Safety manager. He recently joined the company in Chanhassen.
Material Handler, IWCO
William joined IWCO’s Chanhassen, Minnesota operation as a material handler.
Supervisor of Technicians, IWCO
Logan joined the maintenance center at IWCO as a Supervisor of Technicians in 2026.
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Source: LockLeed International’s “Where are they now?” posts on LinkedIn. More testimonials, client spotlights and reviews are on our testimonials page.