NOT FOR SALE!

April 1, 2026

This is no April Fools joke!  Some things in life are not for sale, regardless of what is offered.  Throughout each day, I challenge myself by asking myself, “Am I truly living what I profess in service to God, Country and Family and what I expect from others?” Someone who I highly respect who has been in Washington, D.C. for many years recently sent me a note and shared his perception that King Aerospace is a national asset.  This numbing and humbling comment caused me to do some even more elevated and serious soul searching.

To do some very serious thinking and to “deep cycle” my 73-year-old batteries, I went to Washington, D.C.  I walked around the Washington National Cathedral and talked with my Boss.  I went to the Marine Corps War Memorial, also known as the Iwo Jima Memorial, and other war memorials just to think about those who came before us and sacrificed and to think about where I am in life and where King Aerospace is as a company. 

Before going to Washington, D.C., I went to the former Ramey Air Force Base in Puerto Rico, which is near the town of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.  This is where my father served as an airman in the United States Air Force at the age of 16 and met my Puerto Rican mother, who was 13 years old when they met and married.  I talked to my boss from inside of the church on the plaza where my mother once walked.  I visited the Presbyterian church where my parents were married located down the street from my mother’s church and again talked with my Boss.  Because of who I am, while on these trips I had to inject some visits with those we serve and those who embrace our mission.  That means that I visited with government friends at both places and shared my passion and commitment to live what we profess.

While on these trips, I thought about how by the grace of God I started King Aerospace in a bedroom in my home when I was focused on feeding my young family and totally “funded on faith.” Back then, as I still am today, I was passionate about making sure that I work very hard and demonstrate my commitment to earn my customers’ business every day.  I pray that I am doing this every single day now, with the help of many good people.  On my “deep cycle” journey I thought about what I am doing in all aspects of my life and what the company I created must continue to do, regardless of how large or small it might become.

During my soul-searching reflections, I could not think of any defense contractors that are not focused on financial numbers, often at the expense of those they serve.  Somewhere along the way in life, I was taught to give more than you take.  Maybe that’s why our mission statement is to make a positive difference.  Somewhere I learned that you must decide to either run from the fire or run to the fire to help.  There are countless heroes around us that we don’t even see who so freely give to others.  I hope you understand how sincere I am as I share my innermost thoughts.  I pray that I am living the model of “trust me in the little things and I will give you greater things” or words to that effect.

Each success is one more source of pressure to ensure that we live what we profess and not disappoint those who put their trust in us.  As we are blessed with new customers and new projects, I pray that we live what we profess for generations to come.  May we never fail to take care of those who trust us and helped get us to where we are today.

With each major contract success, I get inquiries about selling the company.  My answer is always the same.  I routinely thank them for their interest and share that our mission of service to God, Country and Family would not be a good culture fit for their required focus on return on investment.  Like all people in business, we must make a profit to stay in business.  One of our cornerstone principles is we must “earn a fair profit.”

People wonder what will happen to King Aerospace when I am given a permanent change of address.  Here is what will happen: the mission will continue.  I have created a trust that will provide for my family but more importantly the trust’s objective is to ensure that King Aerospace continues its mission of servant leadership to God, Country and Family.

I don’t know of many entrepreneurs who create businesses that don’t have “exit plans” or methods to “cash out.” In service to God, Country and Family there is no exit plan!  This is how King Aerospace is different.  We are focused on maintaining a sustainable “King Kulture” that supports our mission and principles as we earn a fair profit.  I am so thankful that I have been allowed to be the vehicle or person who has followed his heart and good things have taken place.

May we be good stewards on our continuous journey in support of our mission that embraces those principles on which our Country was founded.  My greatest goal in life is to ensure that we are doing what we profess in all aspects of our lives.  This is not a part-time task and it is serious.  Because of our King Kulture, more and more people are seeking what we deliver and are wanting to work with us either as customers or team members.  For this I am humbled.  I recall just like yesterday a “brainiac” who I was working with at my ranch (this man truly was a registered national asset who had to report his travels) advised me, “Jerry don’t ever sell your company.  You are just what we used to be at X company (his former business).  How could anyone get in the way or walk away from service to God, Country and Family?  NOT FOR SALE.”

PS: You might want to read the book titled “Let Them” by Mel Robbins.  It’s a number one best seller and it was written for people like me!

Written by KING AEROSPACE Founder, Jerry Allan King-Echevarria.