Avionics News May 2023 - 50

- I N T E R V I E W B Y
A
we're taught resilience. We're
taught to overcome adversity, to do
more with less. Those things don't
leave us once we leave the military.
They become translatable skills that
any company can benefit from. "
In the Army, Salmon served
F
or veterans, navigating
life after the military
is challenging. Years of
regimented living leads to culture
shock with too many choices, no
set direction and few resources
to help. Just finding a foothold
in the job market feels daunting,
much less developing a career.
Yet, when given the opportunity,
former military personnel come
exceptionally equipped to be highly
productive employees.
" Whatever the job, veterans have
what it takes to excel, especially in
aviation, " said Mike Salmon, who
served 11 years in the U.S. Army.
" From day one at basic training,
50 avionics news * may 2023
several roles, including Apache
AH-64D mechanic and quality
control inspector of line
maintenance, and deployed three
times to Afghanistan. After the
military with few options, Salmon
resorted to working for an overseas
contractor, maintaining Apache
helicopters at Bagram Air Base in
Afghanistan. Being half a world
away helped put food on the table
for his wife and 3-year-old daughter
back in the United States, but it was
difficult being apart from his family.
While on rotation at home,
Salmon attended an accelerated
airframe and powerplant program
that prepares military aircraft
mechanics for the Federal Aviation
Administration's oral and practical
exams. With an A&P license in
hand, he left contracting and joined
major air ambulance provider Air
Evac Lifeteam to maintain Bell 206
helicopters in rural Alabama. The
on-call position gave Salmon time
to learn to fly and earn a bachelor's
degree in aviation maintenance
management from Embry-Riddle
Aeronautical University.
Then, during a regular call with
his former squad leader, Salmon
C H R I S T I N E
K N A U E R
With...
» » » Mike Salmon of Avidyne
learned about Melbourne, Floridabased
Avidyne, which creates
avionics systems for piston and
turbine fixed-wing and rotor-wing
aircraft, and how the company
needed help with sales and
support.
" He told me about a whole
side of aviation that I didn't know
existed - commercial and general
aviation avionics manufacturing, "
Salmon recalled. " You get to travel,
go to trade shows, meet awesome
people and fly on the boss's private
jet. It sounded unobtainable and
glamorous. Sign me up. "
In January 2021, Salmon started
at Avidyne in tech support. A year
later Avidyne, created a special
position for him in the marketing
department - technical marketing
specialist.
" Avidyne wanted more techsavvy
people in marketing, "
Salmon said. " It's important to
have a unified message across
marketing and tech support and
expand the technical knowledge
of those in marketing and sales. I
bridge the gap between the two
departments. "
Today, Salmon mentors
unemployed and underemployed
veterans, champions their abilities
and helps pave a path forward.
He points to Veterati, a mentoring
network, and Rotary to Airline
Group, a nonprofit that assists
service members transitioning
Mike Salmon is the technical
marketing specialist for Avidyne
Avionics News May 2023

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