Student Gains Practical Experience and Valuable Insight at Camp JAKE

October 6, 2025

Cross-generational mentorship, with experienced aviation professionals sharing lessons from their lives and careers with those new to the industry, is a mission King Aerospace Chairman and Founder Jerry Allan King-Echeverria takes to heart. He recently provided college student Jonathan Varughese, the son of a former Boeing executive, with a wide-ranging internship opportunity unlike any other that King calls “Camp JAKE.”

“When I was Jonathan’s age, I learned from what some crusty and tough old timers taught me,” King explains. “They gave me real-world experience, and I’m honored to pay that forward by introducing young people not only to what makes King Aerospace tick, but also to new experiences that highlight the importance of hard work and serving others.”

Jonathan, a sophomore at the University of Washington majoring in Business Administration, says he was equally excited and nervous as the days counted down in early September to the flight from his Seattle home.

“I jumped at the experience,” he says. “I’ve been around planes my whole life, but King Aerospace is a unique company that does such cool things. But I was also kind of anxious. ‘What is this going to be like?’ and ‘Wow, I’m going to be away from home for a while!’ So, lots of different feelings.”

Upon landing in Dallas, Jonathan accompanied King to the company’s Ardmore, OK, facility that services a wide range of civil and government aircraft, including those operated by the U.S. presidential fleet. He quickly got to work with several members of the interiors and structures teams and participated in a touch-up paint class led by Randy Johnson, director of corporate aircraft services.

“I learned alongside members of the U.S. Air Force how to mix paint and use the spray gun,” Jonathan says. “In the interior shop, I helped with smoothing panels and upholstering cabin walls. It was a neat mix of watching and learning with a little bit of hands-on work.”

Next up was a flight to King Aerospace-Arkansas in Bentonville, where he spent a day with Site Manager Gerald Torres and Sally O’Connor, a contract manager. “It was a lot of fun to spend time with them, and quite an educational experience, too,” Jonathan says.

Jonathan then spent the next several days at King Aerospace Home Office in Addison, TX, where he was assigned a special project that also drew upon his education and expertise toward his college major.

“I researched and presented a two-page essay on how King Aerospace can attract and retain new talent,” he explains. “I recommended looking to leadership programs at other companies and participating in hiring events at trade schools and community colleges. These provide opportunities to appeal to the next generation now entering our industry while also upholding the Cornerstone Principles.”

Not Your Typical Aviation Internship

While his first two weeks at Camp JAKE were spent at King Aerospace facilities, the next and final phase of Jonathan’s internship took place at a venue quite different from an aircraft hangar: Mr. King’s El Lobo Ranch in north-central Texas.

“I spent a week working on the ranch, cutting trees and watching the cowboys work the cattle,” Jonathan says. “I’d never been on a ranch before. And, it was really hot! I was sweating a lot, but it was cool to see all the animals there, and the beauty of nature.”

King Aerospace President Jarid King recalls his own experiences working on the ranch. “There are lots of different paths you can choose in life,” he says. “Whether it’s herding cattle or working on aircraft, it’s important to recognize the importance of working hard not only to achieve personal success, but to also serve others.”

Jonathan says he certainly appreciated the opportunity to experience work unlike what he’d encountered so far. “One of Mr. King’s goals was to introduce me to different experiences and show me a bit of what has influenced his own life,” he says. “That means hard work and being passionate about everything you do.”

That’s just what King hoped Jonathan would take from his experiences at Camp JAKE.

“It’s so important to spend time working alongside people from different backgrounds and life experiences than your own,” he says. “Regardless of where you come from, we all share the same values, and we all carry the same work ethic. We want security and safety and to take care of our families.”

“It really was a great experience,” Jonathan concludes. “As Mr. King says, ‘don’t ask others to do what you’re not willing to do yourself.’ I saw firsthand why that’s important, and I gained new perspective on how to be thankful and to enjoy the little things. You can’t just come in and do the bare minimum; you should always strive to go above and beyond.”