Veterans Day
On this Veterans Day, we proudly pause to honor and express our deepest gratitude to the brave men and women who have served our country with unwavering dedication and sacrifice. Their commitment to protecting our freedoms and ensuring our safety is a profound testament to courage and resilience. In this special blog, we are proud to highlight several veterans who are part of the Design Ready Controls team – read below as they share their reflections and insights, offering unique experiences and perspectives.
Tyler Cournoyer (Assembler)
I served in the Minnesota Army National Guard for 6.5 years, leaving the service on March 1, 2025. I joined seeking new experiences and potential career opportunities. My role was as a 25B, an Information Technology Specialist. The greatest lesson I took from my military service is the ability to remain flexible, as situations often change unexpectedly.
Jon Steinbach (Advanced Assembler)
There are two types of stories for those who join the Navy. Fairy Tales and Sea Stories. The first starts, “Once upon a time”, the second starts, “NO, shot this really happened!”. I will tell a sea story.
I joined the Navy because most people I knew were in it, though I initially wanted the Air Force. My sister nudged me to talk to a recruiter, and after taking the ASVAB test, I chose aviation. I was in love with airplanes! I entered boot camp as an antisubmarine technician, but my rating merged into aviation electronics during Desert Storm.
Instead of deploying on a carrier, I worked on RQ-2 Pioneer drones used for reconnaissance and targeting on battleships like the USS Missouri. I was fortunate to be on the Missouri for the 50th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, where the president spoke near the USS Arizona memorial. After the Battleships were decommissioned, the UAV needed a new platform. Remember, at this time, the drone was in its infancy, so they were still trying to understand its uses. I was stationed on 2 further ships, LPH-11 USS New Orleans, and LPD-12 USS Shreveport. Later, I served on the USS New Orleans and USS Shreveport, cruising the Mediterranean, passing the Suez Canal, and crossing the equator. I left the Navy after four years with several medals and ribbons, having experienced significant events and places that broadened my view of the world and its many cultures.
Myles Ferguson | (Electrical Tester)
I enlisted in the army when I was 26 and served 4 years and 7 months active duty as a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN), focusing on heavy recon and mounted recon, and now I’m serving in the reserves in a leadership role, guiding soldiers to be the best version of themselves. Both of my grandfathers were in the army during the Korean War and had been my inspiration for joining the army.
The biggest lesson that the army taught me was that as an individual, I can accomplish great things, but as a team, we can accomplish even greater things.
Ryan Coolidge | (Welding Lead)
I served in the Army National Guard, having joined at the age of 17. My service spanned from 1977 to 2005. Military service runs deep in my family – my grandfather, father, and uncle all served, and I was inspired from a young age, even while playing with G.I. Joes as a kid. I served as a Forward Observer, the soldier with the radio on his back, responsible for calling in indirect fire or air support to assist infantry units in completing their missions. The experience taught me invaluable lessons in resilience, commitment, and the ability to overcome challenges. I am proud to have served and grateful for the acknowledgement.
