Marine. Soldier. Aviator. Now he’s keeping air medics safe

CORPUSCHRISTI,Texas—Aftermorethan20yearsofmilitaryservice,eightintheU.S.MarineCorpsand13asaU.S.Armyaviator,JonathanKeechhasfoundanewwaytoserve.AsDirectorofSafetyatHALO-Flight,anonprofitairambulanceproviderbasedinSouthTexas,Keechishelpingtaketheorganizationtonewheights,withsafetyatthecenterofitall. “Weprovideaservicethatsaveslives,”Keechsaid.“Soonsomeone’sworstday,we’rethereforthem.We’retheangelsfromtheskycomingdowntohelpyou.” Withaserviceareathatspansmorethan24,000squaremilesacross26countiesinSouthTexas,HALO-Flightrespondstoemergencieswheresecondscount.Andwhilepatientcareisalwaysthetoppriority,noneofithappenswithoutthesystemsKeechoversees. “Iadvise,Icoach,Icounsel,”hesaid.“Myjobdescriptionisn’tall-encompassing,butIamajackofalltrades.” Keech’sjourneytoHALO-Flightincludesadecoratedmilitarycareer.HeservedatotaloffourdeploymentstoIraqandAfghanistanandearnedtheprestigiousAirMedalwithValorforhisactionsinco