Military Appreciation Month

The U.S. Armed Forces play an important role in the protection, history and development of our country. Throughout the month of May, observances including Military Appreciation Day, Armed Forces Day, Military Spouse Appreciation Day and Memorial Day offer dedicated reminders to pause and reflect on the selfless sacrifices of men and women in service. For this reason, May is Military Appreciation Month.

The Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force and Coast Guard are the armed forces of the United States. The Army National Guard and the Air National Guard are reserve components of their services and operate in part under state authority.

We are proud to recognize NSM team members who have served in all branches of the United States military to protect our country, including the following employees who shared their service information. We extend gratitude and appreciation to our nation’s military heroes this month and always.

The United States Air Force

The Air Force provides a rapid, flexible, and lethal air and space capability that can delivery forces anywhere in the world within hours. NSM recognizes the following employee who has served our country in the United States Air Force.

• Gregory Jett, a technician at the Indy Northwest branch in Indiana, was an E4 Sergeant in the Air Force. He served during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. His accolades include the Airforce Achievement Medal, Airforce Commendation Medal, Airforce Good Conduct Medal NCO Professional Military Education Ribbon, and more.

The United States Army

The largest and oldest service in the U.S. military, the Army provides the ground forces that protect the United States. NSM recognizes the following employees who have served in the United States Army.

• NSM CEO Bill Mixon served the U.S. Army as a Captain in the Aviation Branch. He led both airfield operations and maintenance activities and was responsible for the service delivery and operational readiness of 80 helicopters.

• Bryan Stevens, Big Ten Regional Area Director, serves as a Colonel in the Army Reserves, leading over 3000 soldiers for the past 22 years.

• Carl Mulberry is a branch manager in Columbus, Ohio. He was a member of the Army Security Agency, serving tours in both Vietnam and Thailand.

• Chris Hughes is a technician at the Indy Northwest branch in Indiana. He served as a helicopter mechanic specializing in Chinooks, before spending two years in South Korea. He completed a combat tour in Afghanistan at a Forward Operating Base on the Afghanistan/Pakistan border.

• Chris Moyer is a service technician is Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Moyer was enlisted as a Tactical Satellite Operator from 1984 to 1987, stationed at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. Moyer participated in four major military exercises in Texas, California, North Carolina and the biggest being Bright Star 86 at Cairo West Air Force Base in Egypt. Moyer received the Army Commendation medal for performance during the exercise in North Carolina.

• Dan Swain is an ATP in Chicopee, Massachusetts. He served in the 101st Airborne Division with the Iron Rakkasans. He was stationed in Korea attached to the United Nations Command Security Battalion.

• Debbie Perraut is a customer service representative in Lexington, Kentucky. She enlisted at age 19 and served on active duty at Ft. Riley, Kansas, with the 541st Maintenance, 1st Infantry Division. She then served as reserve member in Lexington, Kentucky.

• Jason Miele, VP, Northeast Region, is presently an Army Reserve Officer holding the rank of Major. Miele was a direct commission medical officer as a 65A- Occupational Therapist, and presently serves Major General Johnathan Woodson as his Aide-de-Camp.

• Luis Crespo is a general manager in Temple, Texas, who served in the U.S. Army for five years. He began his training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and was then assigned to the First Cavalry Division 2/82 FA at Fort Hood, Texas. He was selected as a non-commissioned officer and became a Sergeant before deploying for a year-long tour in Iraq.

• Mike Edney is an ATP in the Asheville, North Carolina, branch. He was a Combat Infantry soldier who served in Desert Shield/Desert Storm. He was chosen by the Texcom Infantry Board to participate in the M16 optical sight concept evaluation program testing several scopes that, once chosen, were issued throughout the Military today. His unit (197th INF) was the first brigade that had all equipment in Saudi Arabia and was dispatched to the field, crossing the border into Iraq and sweeping around to stop troops from getting back to Baghdad when the ground war started.

• Travis Hawkins is an RTS in Oklahoma City. He served as a Combat Engineer in the Gulf War and Iraqi Freedom.

The United States National Guard

Comprised of the Army National Guard and Air National Guard, the National Guard is a versatile force, supporting combat missions, domestic emergencies, humanitarian efforts, homeland security operations and more. NSM recognizes the following employees who have served in the National Guard.

• Chase Winston, a technician in Birmingham, Alabama, is an active member of the National Guard. From 2003 to 2004, Chase was deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom and has been deployed several times in support of natural disaster relief.

• ATP Jeffrey LaRosa served in the Army National Guard from 1983 to 1991 as an infantry medic in the 2/102 Infantry Unit. He was a medical platoon sergeant in the 143rd FSB.

The United States Coast Guard

The Coast Guard provides law and maritime safety enforcement, marine and environmental protection and military naval support. Part of the Department of Homeland Security during peacetime, the Coast Guard operates under the Navy during times of war.

• Donald Hermansky, a technician in New York City, is a U.S. Coast Guard veteran. During his service, he was in law enforcement and had navigational duties.

The United States Marine Corps

A component of the Department of the Navy, the Marine Corps maintains amphibious and ground units for contingency and combat operations.

The United States Navy

On, above and below the water, the Navy is America’s forward-deployed force and is a major deterrent to aggression around the world. NSM recognizes the following employees who have served in the United States Navy.

• Douglas Bergstrom is an NSM accessibility consultant. He served in the U.S. Navy as an HT2 in damage control aboard the USS Holland.

• Guy Erbin, an accessibility specialist in Kamloops, British Columbia, served in the U.S. Navy for four years. He was stationed on the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson in Bremerton, Washington, as part of the flight deck Crash & Salvage team.

• Sr. manager of Remote Service Support Lee Andersen served in the Navy from 1992 to 2013 as a Chief Warrant Officer 3. He worked in the information warfare community, first as an electronic warfare technician, then as a cryptologic signals technician before working as an information warfare officer.

• Richard Liley, an ATP and Branch Manager in Temperance, Michigan, and served as a Hospital Corpsman in the U.S. Navy. Stationed in San Diego, California, Liley predominately worked with pediatrics as a Senior Corpsman with the quality control department. He trained new corpsmen entering the field and was part of the Medical Mobilization and Readiness Team to establish field hospitals in case of disasters.

• Robert Macko is an ATP in Wall Township, New Jersey. He served the U.S. Navy through two tours in Vietnam. Among his recognitions of citations and medals, Macko received the Medal for Combat Action.

The United States Space Force

The Space Force organizes, trains, and equips space forces in order to protect U.S. and allied interests in space and provide space capabilities to the joint force.

The Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force and Coast Guard are the armed forces of the United States. The Army National Guard and the Air National Guard are reserve components of their services and operate in part under state authority.

As Military Appreciation Month concludes, we are proud to recognize all NSM team members who have served in all branches of the United States military to protect our country. We extend gratitude and appreciation to our nation’s heroes this month and always.