Michael Hayes: Veteran of the Month | October 2024
Left, during deployment to Poland, in NATO’s support of the Ukraine conflict. Center, with daughter Mady working together in Misawa, Japan 2012. Right, with Kenzie before leaving for a year tour in Korea in 2008.
Hayes was born and raised in a small farming town in Iowa as the youngest of four children, with two older sisters and one older brother. He spent his childhood playing in the fields and has fond memories of getting lost in the woods for hours while hunting with his dog. Helping out in his dad’s tractor repair shop, Hayes learned the value of hard work at an early age. He was a member of 4H and FFA, where he developed a deep respect for mechanics and the intricacies of machinery, skills that would stay with him throughout his career.
Hayes family photo in 2020 on the F-15 during Christmas with the D-Day heritage paint scheme aircraft on the unit during that time frame of the war.
After graduating from high school in 1998, Hayes found himself working in a mechanical job building cement trucks, but with limited room for advancement, he was searching for something more. In the wake of the September 11 attacks, Hayes felt a call to serve. He enlisted in the Air Force in 2002, shortly after marrying his high school sweetheart, Jennifer.
Hayes’ journey began with basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, followed by specialized training at Sheppard Air Force Base, where he honed his skills as a Fighter Crew Chief. For Hayes, working on fighter aircraft like the F-16 and F-15 was a dream come true, and he took great pride in leading his teams, managing maintenance schedules, and keeping “God’s Aircraft” mission-ready.
Hayes on right at his Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Induction Ceremony, August 2020.
Hayes’s service took him around the world, with duty stations in places like Idaho, Korea, Italy, Japan, and England. He served two tours in Korea, as well as deployments in Afghanistan, supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Odyssey Dawn. Throughout his career, Hayes’s role grew as he advanced from a hands-on mechanic to a senior non-commissioned officer responsible for overseeing entire aircraft fleets.
His dedication did not go unnoticed—Hayes earned several notable awards, including an achievement medal, three commendation medals, and a meritorious service medal. However, for Hayes, it was never about the accolades. “The sense of being a part of something bigger than myself and having pride in serving my country,” he says, is what carried him through each challenge.
Hayes’s retirement ceremony at RAF Lakenheath in May 2023, he stated, “was with the real nation’s heroes who also served!”
In 2023, after 21 years of service, Hayes retired from the Air Force. Adjusting to civilian life has been an exciting chapter for him. He and his family have put down roots on a 10-acre piece of land in Missouri, where he’s traded in his flight schedule for life in the countryside. Mike recently began working at Boeing as a Lead Training Development Specialist, continuing his involvement with the F-15 fighter aircraft in a new capacity.
Hayes’s wife, his high school sweetheart, has been by his side through it all—22 years of marriage, raising their three daughters (ages 20, 16, and 7) and supporting him through each move and deployment. While they don’t have grandchildren yet, they are enjoying this new chapter of stability and family life.
Looking back on his time in the military, Hayes reflects on the values that will always remain with him. “The military taught me the importance of teamwork, discipline, and pride in being part of something larger than myself,” he says. These lessons continue to influence his approach to both family and work, and he is excited for the future as he transitions into civilian life.
Veterans Care Coordination is proud to recognize Michael Hayes for his service to our country. We are privileged to have the opportunity to share the stories of our nation’s heroes. Thank you for your service, Mike.
