Dignitaries from across Connecticut’s private sector joined the Connecticut National Guard and NGACT for a Boss Lift—a unique opportunity to see firsthand the depth, complexity, and impact of our Guard’s mission. What they walked away with wasn’t just a helicopter ride or a military briefing. It was a deeper understanding of the vital role the National Guard plays in our state and across the country—and why public-private partnerships are essential to our collective security, innovation, and resilience.
The Day in Motion
The day began with a briefing by Brigadier General Ralph F. Hedenberg, Assistant Adjutant General of the Connecticut National Guard. He outlined the dual mission of the Guard: supporting both federal and state operations. From responding to natural disasters and public health emergencies to providing critical support in overseas operations, the Guard is there—ready, agile, and embedded in our communities.
Then came the highlight: boarding Connecticut-made Black Hawk helicopters. These aircraft, built by Sikorsky and supported by a robust network of Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers—including participants like Nicole Russo from Microboard and Brian Montanari from HABCO—are a living symbol of what collaboration between defense, innovation, and the private sector can look like.
On the Ground with Tactical Innovation
Our first stop was at the 103rd Air Control Squadron in Orange, CT. This unit is responsible for air battle management and airspace control and operates the Tactical Operations Center-Light (TOC-L), a mobile system that allows for forward deployment of air command capabilities. Their mission? Supporting the eastern seaboard’s air operations and empowering troops with real-time battlefield intelligence. Their work reminds us that innovation isn’t just happening in Silicon Valley—it’s happening here, in Connecticut, through the dedication and ingenuity of our citizen-soldiers.
Next, we flew to Groton to visit the 1109th Theater Aviation Support Maintenance Group (TASMG), one of only four units in the entire U.S. Army tasked with large-scale helicopter maintenance. From this facility, the CT Guard supports over 1,000 helicopters nationwide. Their operational excellence and technical expertise are a force multiplier, not just for our Guard but for national readiness.
Why This Matters
The National Guard is made up of men and women who live here, work here, and serve here. They are our neighbors, our coworkers, and our family members. Their ability to serve is directly influenced by how well we support them—not only through military resources but through employer understanding, public awareness, and collaboration.
When private sector leaders understand the mission and capabilities of the Guard, they become better partners. They can align hiring practices, support leave for training and deployment, and even share innovation back into public sector systems. There’s a two-way street of learning, and days like today make that road a little wider.
How Public-Private Partnership Helps
Talent retention: Employers who see Guard skills firsthand value and promote their service-members, reducing turnover.
Innovation diffusion: Field-tested technologies like TOC-L inspire commercial off-the-shelf solutions (edge computing, secure mesh networks).
Crisis readiness: Joint hurricane or cyber-response exercises integrate private utilities, telecoms, and logistics firms before disaster strikes.
Economic impact: The Guard injects >$360 million into CT’s economy annually through payroll and procurement; local suppliers scale with defense demand.
Citizen-Soldiers: The Ultimate Two-Way Street
Connecticut Guardsmen are welders, teachers, QA inspectors, data analysts—citizens first, soldiers always. When they deploy, their civilian workplaces lose a teammate but gain a seasoned leader on return. Events like the Boss Lift replace HR headaches with handshake partnerships: leave policies get clearer; career paths stay on track; newly gained military certifications translate into advanced roles back home.
A Call to Action for Connecticut’s Business Community
- Sign the ESGR Statement of Support. It formalizes your commitment to Guard and Reserve employees and unlocks training for your managers.
- Invite the Guard in. Facility tours, cybersecurity drills, STEM days—every interaction deepens mutual readiness.
- Recruit Guard talent. Their leadership, technical certifications, and security clearances arrive on day one.
- Co-develop solutions. From additive-manufacturing of aircraft spares to AI-enabled logistics (my own passion at CymonixIQ+), there’s room for co-innovation.
Gratitude & Next Steps
Days like this remind us that defense is not a spectator sport; it’s a team sport. The blades may stop spinning after we land, but the relationships forged—between factory floor and flight line, between boardroom and battle staff—keep turning.
To Brig. Gen. Hedenberg and the crew chiefs who strapped us in, to the 24 employers who took a workday to fly, and to every Connecticut Guard member who juggles civilian deadlines with military duty: thank you. Let’s keep the conversation—and the collaboration—aloft.
