I entered the USAF at the age of 17. My first job was as an Egress Technician working on aircraft ejection seats. After a few years I volunteered for special duty as a Technical Training Instructor and was accepted. This was the beginning of a life-long passion for training. I completed the Technical Training Instructor school and was assigned to teach the Aircrew Egress Systems course.
About 2 years later, I chose to retrain into a career field that was critically short of personnel, MetNav, which included meteorological and navigational systems. This was my introduction into the world of electronics. After completing the 6-month training course at Keesler AFB and earning honor graduate status, I was asked to stay and put my instructor skills to work.
During my time at Keesler, I attended NCO Leadership school. At graduation I captured the Distinguished Graduate, Academic Achievement, Communicators, World Affairs and Military Studies Awards. A feat never before accomplished.
After 4+ years at Keesler, I decided to apply for another special duty assignment, as a Basic Military Training Instructor. I was accepted for this assignment, and captured Honor Graduate upon completion of my training. I spent 3 years at Lackland AFB training new recruits and preparing them for their military careers. While there I also completed the NCO Academy, and received the Distinguished Graduate Award.
Later, I found a way to fulfill my life-long dream of being an Air Force flyer and retrained as a C-141 Loadmaster. I was assigned to the 6th Airlift Squadron, McGuire AFB, NJ, as a Flight Chief Loadmaster, supervising some 35 personnel deployed around the world. I had the pleasure of flying missions in support of the Gulf War, our interests in Somalia, humanitarian missions in: Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia, and many more. I completed my managerial studies through completion of the Senior NCO Academy.
My diverse career included aircraft maintenance, electronics, technical and military training, and earning my wings as an aircrew member.
​During my career I was honored to have been awarded the following:
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Combat Readiness Medal / Combat Crew Badge
USAF Master Instructor​
After leaving the Air Force I moved to South Florida and began my current career in the Security and Surveillance industry. I started with a company called Sensormatic in Boca Raton. Sensormatic included two sister companies American Dynamics and Robot Research, and was eventually bought by Tyco Fire and Security.
I left Tyco to move on to an IP video start up called DVTEL. DVTEL was at the leading edge of video over networks and this is where I really became network savvy. As the Education and Training Manger there, I quickly became a subject matter expert in IP networks in order to develop and deliver training to our system integrators. DVTEL grew and was bought by FLIR, which allowed me to get a deeper understanding of thermal cameras and thermal applications.
Most recently I worked for Vicon Industries LLC, one of the oldest companies in the security industry as the Director of Learning and Development.
I have been a Florida resident since 1994. I moved from Palm Beach County to St. Lucie County in 2018, where I live with my wife, Chanya Umansky.
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