Today we want to share the story of our Founder and Chief Product Officer, Christian Meyers. He’s our Director of Media’s brother, close friend of our CEO and our Director of Communications, and an inspiration to everyone at Terra Arma. He’s one of those people you can talk to for hours and you always learn something new in his presence. He’s also incredibly humble, so we’re honored to share his story to help you understand more about Terra Arma and our mission.
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The journey to becoming a Special Missions Aviator in the Air Force was not straightforward for Christian. He initially had an interest in the military due to his closest friends leaving to become Rangers and going through extensive training. Christian was considering joining the Army as a Ranger or Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) when his friend introduced him to the Air Force Rescue mission.
"My friend Aaron told me about Rescue in the Air Force. He said it was essentially shooting big guns from a helicopter. That sounded awesome to me!" Christian recalls. Aaron's father, a Lieutenant Colonel at a rescue base, facilitated an interview for Christian to learn more about the job, which was (for lack of a better analogy) the nail in the coffin.
So Christian joined the Air Force and dedicated over 12 years to combat search and rescue missions in Afghanistan and East Africa. As a Special Missions Aviator on the HH-60G Pavehawk, Christian's role was a unique blend of operator and aviator duties, managing everything from in-flight computations to secure communications and aerial gunning.
Basically, Christian was, and is, a badass. He’s saved countless lives and, upon recalling the impact of his first live rescue, Christian says “That moment changed everything for me." It was the moment that defined the purpose and drive for his entire military career.
One of Christian's most daring missions took place in Alaska, navigating treacherous terrains and blizzards to save lives. This experience encapsulates the essence of Christian's courage and determination in the face of adversity.
"In Alaska, we received a distress call in the dead of night during a massive snowstorm. A man and his grandson were stranded miles away from civilization. We had to fly through uncontrolled airspace, relying solely on instruments and night vision goggles," Christian recounts, reflecting on the complexity of the operation.
“Their situation was dire. The man had suffered a heart attack or stroke, yet miraculously remained alive. Fortunately, they had activated their Personal Locator Beacon, transmitting their GPS coordinates. The call came in, and we had to embark on a flight that lasted an hour and a half to two hours, a considerable distance from our base in Fairbanks.”
Running on technology essentially from the 90s, Christian and his team fought through 30-40 mile per hour winds, white out conditions. Christian says; “The sheer amount of mental acuity I needed that day was unparalleled. It was just extremely technical. Honestly, I think there's a handful of people in the world who could have done that rescue, specifically the pilots flying. Only a handful of people in the world could pull that off and even then it was like a stroke of luck. We probably should have died. Honestly, it was one of the scariest things I've ever done.”
Reflecting on his military tenure, Christian emphasizes the importance of teamwork and self-discovery. "Learning to interact effectively with people and navigate various situations is crucial," he says, underscoring the continuous process of growth and adaptation.
Christian was also activated for major natural disasters across the United States between 2010 and 2020, including wildfires, hurricanes, and floods. His experiences ranged from rescues off the coast of Mexico to operations hundreds of miles out at sea.
"Being in rescue, saving people's lives, and making an impact where it matters was definitely what drove my commitment," Christian shares, highlighting the sense of purpose that guided his actions throughout his military career.
Despite the rewarding aspects of rescue missions, Christian faced significant challenges within the military bureaucracy. "The bureaucratic red tape within the military, dealing with mental health issues for myself or my Airmen, or friends committing suicide, were major obstacles," Christian reflects. This drives a lot of the work Terra Arma does now with the Ascend Together Initiative - working with nonprofits that provide mental health and wellness support for active duty soldiers and veterans.
Today, Christian channels his experiences into innovative leadership at Terra Arma, overseeing the design and production of products that reflect the ethos of excellence and resilience. In his own words, “I oversee the design and production of all of our products, everything from sourcing raw materials, fabric creation, molecular technology integration & development, to fit & finish. If it touches the product or has anything to do with the product, I oversee it.”
Christian's magnetic personality and wealth of experiences make him a captivating individual to get to know. While we've only scratched the surface of his story, we invite you to listen to his podcast with our CEO, David Reid, the Medevac Podcast, for more insights. You can also catch up with Christian at the next Terra Arma pop-up or event—just be prepared for more incredible stories and inspiration.
