Andrew Veerathanongdech’s story begins in San Francisco, where he was raised by his Thai mother in a single-parent home. Life taught him responsibility early, and sports quickly became his outlet. He grew into one of the top wrestlers in Marin County, winning multiple championships and ranking fourth in Northern California his senior year. Tennis and martial arts rounded out his childhood, building the discipline that would later define his career.

After graduating from Marin Catholic High School in 2004, he earned a spot at the United States Air Force Academy on an athletic scholarship. He played tennis and rugby while studying Business Management, learning how to balance pressure, teamwork, and leadership. In 2009, he entered pilot training at Laughlin Air Force Base, finishing second in his class and earning the KC-10 Extender as his first-choice aircraft.

His Air Force career moved fast. He became an aircraft commander, then the youngest instructor pilot invited to teach at the KC-10 schoolhouse. Later, he was promoted to evaluator pilot and Chief of Evaluations at Travis Air Force Base. His approach was simple: high standards, no ego, and constant learning.
After leaving the military, he taught at FlightSafety International and eventually joined Air Transport International, where he currently flies worldwide cargo missions.

Today, he lives in Philadelphia with his wife and daughter, splitting free time between the Jersey Shore and snowboarding trips to California. His life reflects steady growth, resilience, and the belief that progress comes one habit at a time.