A word from our CEO John Gough

I have the deepest respect and gratitude for all who have worn the uniform of the United States Armed Forces. Veterans Day is a time to honor every man and woman—living and deceased—who has stood in defense of our nation. It is also a moment of reflection and personal pride, as I count myself among them. 

In my own family, service and sacrifice run deep. My uncle, 1st Lt. Paul Young, served as a B-25 pilot in World War II with the 12th Air Force, 57th Bomb Wing, 321st Bombardment Group, and 445th Squadron. 

This past May, Uncle Paul celebrated his 103rd birthday—a living legend from “The Bridgebusters, ” the famed group whose missions over Italy crippled German supply lines. Flying out of Corsica, they destroyed vital bridges with precision and courage. Uncle Paul’s plane was fittingly named “Heaven Can Wait,” and indeed, heaven is still waiting. To this day, he remains sharp of mind and spirit—walking with his cane in hand rather than leaning on it and preferring the stairs to any elevator.

PAUL YOUNG

I was born and raised in a small farming town in Indiana, a community of fewer than fifteen hundred people with one stoplight and one flashing yellow caution light. My younger brother and I learned the value of hard work early—baling hay, delivering newspapers, mowing lawns, and stocking shelves until we graduated high school.

By the age of 13, I had already set my sights on becoming a doctor—perhaps inspired by the number of broken bones I’d managed to collect in my youth. A serious car accident during my paper route left me with a compound leg fracture and thirteen weeks in traction, but it didn’t dampen my determination. I saw the U.S. Air Force as the perfect place to begin my journey into medicine—and the GI Bill offered a path toward a college education when my service was complete.

Off I went to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, for nine weeks of basic training in the sweltering heat of late summer. I was already physically fit and enjoyed camping and hunting, so I adapted quickly. More importantly, I discovered that basic training was one of the greatest diversity experiences life could offer. It was there that I learned to work, live, and build trust with people from every background imaginable—one of the best life lessons I’ve ever received.

Although I had hoped to train as a medic, the Air Force had other plans. I was assigned to the Air Defense Command as a communications specialist, stationed in Big Sky Country— Montana, just five miles south of the Canadian border. After earning my Top Secret clearance, I began handling flash messages vital to national defense. The work was challenging and meaningful, and the camaraderie among my fellow Airmen remains one of my fondest memories.

Later, while stationed near Woodbridge, New Jersey, just thirteen miles from Philadephia, I began taking college courses. I always encourage service members to pursue education while in uniform—those classes do not count against the GI Bill and open doors for the future. My own son-in-law followed that same advice while stationed in Germany, earning a bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity from the University of Maryland. Today, he’s thriving as a government contractor, has completed his master’s, and—best of all—made me a proud grandfather.

After leaving active duty, I finally realized my original dream of working in healthcare by joining the U.S. Air Force Reserve as a medical technician. While taking pre-med courses in chemistry, physics, and anatomy, a passionate young physics professor changed my path once again, inspiring me to shift my studies to Physics and Computer Science. I remained in the Air Force Reserve for twelve rewarding years, continuing to serve and grow.

JOHN GOUGH - Chief Executive Officer

I am humbled to be a veteran—grateful for the opportunities, friendships, and purpose that military service gave me. I am proud to stand among the ranks of those who served before me and those who continue to serve today, from my Uncle Paul in the skies over Italy to the new generation of veterans carrying forward the torch of service.

This Veterans Day, I invite everyone to honor the men and women who have worn our nation’s uniform—the living and the fallen, the young and the old, those who came home and those who did not. Their courage, sacrifice, and devotion remind us that freedom is not free—and that service, in all its forms, is the heart of what makes America strong. Honor your veterans—today and every day.