Retired Marine Takes Flight with DC3’s Helicopter Program

Published June 11, 2025

Retired Marine, 1st Sgt. Kelly Garmer, who is currently a student in the DC3-Arizona Flight Instructor Pilot (Helicopter) Program, had the opportunity to travel with U.S. Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama to various international destinations in his role as Marine One Crew Chief. [Photos Courtesy of Kelly Garmer]

Retired Marine, 1st Sgt. Kelly Garmer, who is currently a student in the Dodge City Community College (DC3) Flight Instructor Pilot (Helicopter) Program, is no stranger to military efficiency. Due to his background and life experiences, he recently endorsed the DC3 program as “possibly the best in the country.”

“My path to DC3 was a little different than most I believe,” Garmer said. “I attended a flight school in California prior to moving here [Arizona] with my wife and discovering the amazing program DC3 offers.”

With his extensive military experience serving in senior management and other leadership positions, he said he can quickly spot the difference between professional and unprofessional organizations.

“I can emphatically say that my previous school was a very, very poorly run and managed organization … actually the polar opposite of what DC3 built here,” he said. “I would anecdotally argue that the flight instructor program DC3 built is one of the best—possibly the best—program in the nation.”

Because Garmer is so passionate about the DC3-Arizona flight program, which is located in Chandler, Ariz., he recently decided to reach out to some of the military contacts he had made at the Education Center at Camp Pendleton, in San Diego, Calif.

“It all began with casual conversations with Sandy Rice, who later became my friend,” he said, referring to Rice who is one of several advisors who connect service members with college programs they can pursue after the military.

Because of the many questions Rice was receiving about flight programs, she asked Garmer to visit Camp Pendleton to give a presentation about DC3, as part of her new program called Lunch & Learn.

“Flight programs are somewhat of a mystery,” Garmer said. “You likely don’t know anything about them unless you are a part of them, and they are very complex.”

After hearing about Rice’s idea for the Lunch & Learn program, the commanding general approved it, and Garmer was scheduled for the very first Lunch & Learn on March 12.

“It was a massive success,” he said. “We oversold the event expecting less than 12, and 50 attended.”

Since that March presentation, Garmer said he has received numerous phone calls and messages from prospective pilots. And because it was so successful, Rice and her counterparts want DC3 to come back in the fall, as well as possibly adding some talks at other military installations.

Dr. Adam John, DC3 Provost, said that Rice was so impressed with Garmer’s presentation that she had to visit the program and see the facilities for herself, to understand why he spoke so highly about it.

“I am so proud of Kelly and everything that he has achieved as a student and in the military. It is exciting to see him share his passion for flying and his love for the DC3 Flight Instructor program with others,” John said. “He typifies the caliber of students we have in our program, and I would like to thank him and all of our veterans for their service.”

Garmer, who grew up on his family’s farm near the small, rural town of Worthington, Penn., graduated from Highlands High School in 2002.

“I was a senior in high school, in economics class, when another teacher came into our classroom and told the economics teacher to turn on the TV,” he said, referring to the 9/11 attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. “I remember watching the first tower burning, then the second plane crash into the second tower. Up until that point, I considered entering the Marine Corps, but that single event made up my mind. My decision to join was no longer a consideration.”

Enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps two years later in 2003, Garmer attended Recruit Training at Parris Island, S.C. After graduating, he received orders to Pensacola, Fla., for the Aviation Structures Common Core course, then Lemoore, Calif., for the Hydraulics/Pneumatics Technician course. Upon completion of both courses, he earned the military occupational specialty (MOS) 6062, Aircraft Intermediate Hydraulics/Pneumatics Technician.

“I served as a helicopter mechanic and crew chief for the preponderance of my career,” he said. “I worked on, in some capacity, every type/model/series aircraft in the Marine Corps’ inventory except the F-35. That aircraft came to service after my selection, promotion, and subsequent assignment to a different unit.”

As a crew chief, Garmer logged approximately 2,200 flight hours, with approximately 700 of those in combat theater spread across Iraq, Afghanistan, and other places.

“My duties as a crew chief included aerial gunnery and maintaining the aircraft’s integrity in flight, as well as managing passengers,” he said. “I also have special forces experience.”

Apart from serving in combat theater, Garmer also had the opportunity to travel around the world, which also included living in Japan for a few years. However, he said there are a few highlights that definitely stand out in his career.

He had the privilege to lead thousands of Marines in garrison and in combat. He achieved the title of Marine Corps Drill Instructor. He served with the Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron and was the Marine Air Group 11 Quality Assurance Chief. And he was promoted to first sergeant, then subsequently selected from a pool of 750 Marine first sergeants (and thousands of master sergeants) for the Army’s Sergeant Major Course.

In addition, he served with Marine Helicopter Squadron One from 2007-2011, which is the unit that provides executive global transport for the U.S. President and any other visiting foreign dignitaries.

“I started out working there as a mechanic and crew chief for the non-presidential aircraft, then transitioned to the presidential helicopters, the ones that you see on the news with the painted white tops,” he said. “After earning my plane captain rating, my leadership selected me to be one of four Marine One Crew Chiefs. These are the folks you see saluting the presidents as they board or disembark the aircraft in their dress blues.”

In the role of Marine One Crew Chief, Garmer had the opportunity to travel with the president around the world. During his tenure, he traveled with George W. Bush and Barack Obama to international destinations such as the Taj Mahal, the Pyramids of Giza, the Great Wall of China, Warsaw, Saint Petersburg, and the Vatican.

From all of his “president” stories, his favorite is about President Bush and the first time they met, which was at Camp David.

“There is a recreational room and bowling alley at the compound for us to use while we are there,” he said. “Anyway, my friend and I were shooting pool when someone came up behind me as I was taking a shot and bumped my cue stick, totally messing up my shot.”

Assuming it was his friend, he turned around to see that it was actually President Bush.

“I remember being so confused, surprised, and somewhat in shock,” he said. “I stood there awkwardly, not saying anything, and the president said, ‘It’s okay, son, you can say hi.’ That sort of snapped me out of my befuddled state, and then the president asked if he could shoot pool with us for a little while.”

Not knowing what to say exactly, as this was the first time he had ever met a president, Garmer looked at his friend for help. But before either Marine could answer, the president said, “What are you going to say, no? I’m the president!”

Although Garmer takes pride in his military career and the incredible experiences he has had along the way, he said he is even prouder of his wife Bri.

“I believe in my heart of hearts that she is the reason why I found the success I did in the latter half of my career,” he said. “She is the best thing in my world, and I am so fortunate to have her in my life.”

Garmer credits Bri for motivating him to get his education while he was still on active duty. Before they met, he hadn’t taken a single college class. By the end of his military career in July 2024, he had earned one associate degree, three bachelor’s degrees, and one master’s.

“The only thing I never did in a helicopter leading up to that point was actually pilot one,” he said. “So, the natural progression seemed to be to learn how to fly.”

For now, Garmer said he is “simply … a student in the Flight Instructor Program” at DC3’s Chandler location.

“My immediate goals are to complete the two remaining flight instructor certificates,” he said. “Then hopefully, work for DC3 as a flight instructor, so I can help others earn their helicopter piloting certificates. I’m not really sure beyond that. I just hope to be of value—a good steward—to DC3 and the program, since I believe it’s one of the best in the country.”

By Lance Ziesch
DC3 Director of Marketing and Public Relations