Bill with doors
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A Formidable Challenge

Feb 24, 2025

Working on AERS

The weather in the days leading up to our first departure felt as if all hell was breaking loose to stop us from leaving. There was snow, ice, a monsoon, and then came the wind.  While most of the city shut down, our team sledged through the slosh and black ice to get to Bob’s[1].  Our team has grown in the last two months. It now includes John’s dad, Bill, a retired machinist.  He jumped in to help us at the beginning of the year.  With his expertise, we walked in our design and measurements side by side with the laser operators, welders, metal benders, and more.  A committed team of talented men emerged.  They worked through the unrelenting weather, long nights, and early mornings to see AERS[2] through.

Snow at home

The weather didn’t stop us from leaving. AERS did. Multiple times.

We were supposed to leave on February 1.  Then it was February 12.  Finally, I threw timing out the window.  God was the only one with that foresight.  Instead, we focused on what we could – getting it done, holding people accountable, and encouraging results.  John mostly worked on the vehicle, I came in for oversight and forward movement.  I continued onward with homeschooling the kids, preparing the RV, our homes, and farm animals for departure – with no power.  Power OutDay by day we assessed the project, and day by day we went to bed with the hope that the next day we might leave.

Team

A first article assembly takes time

What I thought could be done in minutes took hours.  DoorsIn fact, it took 12 hours to install the first set of doors on the vehicle.  Mind you, all parts were fresh off the line and needed to be pieced together (tube frames, skins, windows, latches, hinged just right).  We found critical points of improvement for quicker and easier assembly moving forward.

The kids ran around the warehouse

They played basketball, rode skateboards, and turned boxes into imaginative businesses.  For most, the sound of children playing while they work is distracting.  John and I used to fit into that category and sometimes still do, but we have acquired an overwhelming amount of patience through the different seasons of business alongside our children’s growth.  I tried to keep them mostly contained to one area as the men worked to finish the installation.Bill with doors

An end in sight

Sunday morning, February 16th, the final pieces were completed on AERS.  AERSWe loaded the first vehicle onto a Ryder moving truck with Chris as the driver, loaded our Jeep onto a trailer behind our RV, Eagle 1, and headed out into the gusting wind towards Florida.

 

[1] Bob is an endearing term we use for our manufacturing partner, SE&M.  Bob is the owner.

[2] AERS stands for USAF program, Austere Environment Reconnaissance Surveillance.  Our TA/LON product line accomplishes their mission.

Shipping Policy: Your order will be processed and shipped no later than 3 days after your purchase. Once your order is shipped, you will receive a second confirmation with a tracking number. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact sales@freedomdefensegroup.com.

Elisah McGeeElisah McGee |

CEO

CEO Elisah McGee is a dynamic leader, carving her own path in business and life. A visionary, she founded Freedom Defense Group in 2019 alongside her husband to raise the standard of innovation of mission-ready solutions for the Department of Defense, and state, local, and federal agencies. Elisah understands firsthand the demands and sacrifices freely given by our warfighters as a daughter to a retired Senior Chief and Command Master Chief in the United States Navy and is passionate about getting our warfighters home safely. A University of Virginia graduate and history enthusiast, she is a big-picture thinker with a consistent history of building organizational infrastructures throughout her earlier career experience in public and DoD education, sales, and executive banking. From the conception of FDG to today, Elisah strategically aligns her company to exceed mission objectives by building infrastructure, guiding philosophy, positioning growth, and empowering leaders. Securing certification as a woman-owned small business in a majority-male industry, Elisah persistently strives to lead with honor and integrity, encouraging her team and peers to do the same.

She faithfully pursues challenges to catapult personal growth and shift paradigm thinking. Moving their beach family to a barren 95-acre farm in rural Brookneal, VA in 2020, Elisah and her husband rapidly renovated and built structures, adopted a growing variety of livestock, and founded a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, Mission Freedom Farm. She enjoys introducing her children to the balance of hard work ethic and time for simple joys. Elisah is an avid philanthropist and community advocate and serves as Mrs. Virginia USA Earth and an election official with the Virginia Department of Elections.

 

John McGee on a Boat at SeaJohn McGee |

President

As a record-setting and Division I athlete, John’s drive and passion for excellence and teamwork were evident early in life. His ability to knit a team together to accomplish remarkable things still exists today, and his gift for relationship building has translated to lifelong connections and friendships. Early in his professional career, he learned the importance of expansive networking and delivering better-than-expected customer service to drive and solidify business growth. For the ten years prior to forming FDG, John established, grew and led sales for two of the largest U.S. government procurement contractors. During that time, John gained a broad and thorough understanding of the government procurement process and how to navigate its associated pitfalls, hiccups, and headaches. Today, he uses these insights and relationships built to offer expanded market opportunities and integrative procurement solutions for FDG’s customers.

When not wearing his entrepreneurial hat, developing land, and performing livestock management at Freedom Farm with his wife, John loves the chance to play hard - be it skydiving, snowboarding, mountain biking, or climbing - while also instilling the same love for the outdoors in his children.

 

John "Shaggy" Sims |

Advisor

John “Shaggy” Sims joins our team as a 26-year veteran of Army Special Operations Forces, with several combat deployments throughout Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as former Yugoslavia. John was also a combat developer, member of the DoD Combat Casualty Care Committee (Joint Planning Course 6), USSOCOM Biomedical Research Advisory Group, and multiple programmatic review panels under Defense Health Agency for Combat Casualty Care. Additionally, experience as a Special Forces Medical Sergeant, Assault Medic, and Special Forces Communications Sergeant has allowed him to create valuable relationships within the Special Forces and medical research and development communities.

As a civilian and family guy, Shaggy has not slowed down a bit! When he’s not wearing his FDG hat, he runs a successful fishing charter business and leads a semi-pro deep sea fishing team out of North Carolina.

Nick LaffertyNick Lafferty |

Chief Growth Officer

For over 2 decades, Nick has worked with some of the biggest breakthroughs in consumer and military technologies and helped deliver those crucial solutions to a global sales market.  He first started his career in the USAF as a tactical communicator, but an untimely injury opened a new opportunity to pursue his love of math and science.  He jumped into the civilian communications market at the cutting edge of cell phone and mobile technology.  Nick has worked with the industry's largest technology leaders and brings deep expertise in growth phase operations, product development, global supply chain, business development, marketing, and large program level sales.  With a mantra of “Lead by Example,” he can push new tech and capabilities to their limits and deliver industry-leading results.

When he’s not getting after it at FDG, he’s tearing up the landscape on his mountain bike, off-road UTV’s or enjoying some BBQ with his family and friends in Texas.

 

Will McGee with a cowboy hat in a field with cowsWill McGee |

Inside Sales Manger

Pennsylvania-based Will comes to FDG with degrees in Park & Resource Management and Forestry, with early experience as a Wilderness Ranger, whitewater rafting guide, canoeing instructor, forest technician, and horse logger (even worked with Amish crews in Maine and Pennsylvania!). Additionally, he has managed multiple organic vegetable, dairy, orchard, and grass-fed livestock operations. He was previously employed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, working as a Custom and Border Protection Officer at the Port of Houlton, Maine. Additionally, he trained at the Customs and Border Protection Field Operations Academy at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia.

During these last ten years, Will has served as a utility line clearance arborist trainer and team lead and runs a farm business producing and direct marketing grass-fed beef and pastured pork while also managing his 50-acre farm. When he’s not farming or letting us help him name his new calves, Will enjoys the shooting arts, hunting whitetail deer, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and amateur radio.

Jenny Holmes |

Sales and Operations Support

Born and bred Virginia girl, Jenny has lived a small-town life with big world experiences.  She joins FDG to be a part of the solution for a rapidly growing company with multi-faceted demands.  As the Executive Assistant to the CEO and President, Jenny will execute a plethora of tasks from operations to community relations.  She brings a portfolio of life experiences to the table, including graduating Summa Cum Laude with degrees in English and Math, a K-8 teaching specialization, homeschooling her children, providing construction-based mission work in Central America and Africa with her husband of 23 years, practicing real estate, and bookkeeping.

Jenny dives into her multi-faceted passions full-heartedly, whether restoring homes and properties with her husband, like the century-old general store they own in Lexington, VA, or owning a small boutique in Ashwood Manor Designs in Forest, VA, showcasing her decorating and design talents.  You can also find Jenny cheering on her children in sports, with her son on Liberty University’s baseball team and her three girls in basketball and volleyball.  She finds her relaxation creating in the kitchen, hosting friends and family, working out, reading, and spending time on the water and in the sun.

 

Brittany BradleyBrittany Bradley |

Accounting Manager

Math-Wiz Brittany joins Team FDG as our in-house Senior Accountant. After many years in private and public accounting and auditing, she brings our growing organization a fresh perspective and a big-picture fiscal vision. Her undergraduate degree is from Radford University, her master’s degree is from Liberty University, and she holds a Virginia Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensure.

Born and raised in the Lynchburg, Virginia area, Brittany works at Freedom Farm in Central Virginia from our home base. Although she and her husband are new parents to their first child, they are also parents to five dogs and two cats. Though she enjoys rehabbing furniture and says her perfect day out is with her girlfriends – we have it on good authority that she is an avid fisherwoman!

Heidi ArndorferHeidi Arndorfer |

Inside Account Manager/ Vendor Relations
(847) 513-4606

Heidi has extensive knowledge in serving the defense industry with over two decades of fire and rescue experience on both sides of the operation – having served as a firefighter and fire inspector, and leading contracting sales and solutions for fire.   Focused on solutions and relationships, Heidi works tirelessly to produce impactful results for her customers.  She readily serves mission sets, shifting quickly to overcome obstacles and provide the best value.

As an avid adventurer, when she’s not searching for a customer solution, Heidi is in search of the next trail to hike, river to kayak, and mountain ridge to camp.  She also has a knack for creating space for others to enjoy these simple things of life in her quaint Tennessee town through her and her husband’s Airbnb, where you can find her showcasing another talent in repurposing furniture into works of art.

 

 

Brenda CornwellBrenda Cornwell |

Sales and Operations Support

Brenda brings passion, experience, and connectivity to Freedom Defense Group as Sales and Operations Support with over four decades of experience owning and operating multiple successful businesses.  Her expertise runs from managing teams, purchasing, sales, marketing, financial management, vendor relations, customer retention, government compliance, and more. As an entrepreneur, her dedication to fostering meaningful connections has remained a central focus.  Brenda carries a vested interest in FDG’s mission as a past military wife of 36 years.

Born a southern peach, raised in Myrtle Beach, SC, and later settling in Virginia Beach, she considers herself a beach girl with 40 years of sand between her toes.  Her proudest accomplishments are her three adult children, each an entrepreneur, and nine spoiled-rotten grandchildren with the oldest a freshman in college and youngest in kindergarten.   She enjoys adventures of all kinds, navigating unfamiliar territories like the time she went coon hunting in alligator marshland, and implementing new life strategies from lessons learned.

 

 

Anisia CornwellAnisia Cornwell |

Chief Operations Officer

Anisia Cornwell is a seasoned and results-oriented professional with over ten years of experience leading various aspects of business operations within the Real Estate industry. In her previous position, Anisia played a pivotal role in the management and expansion of the enterprise. Her expertise spans in system analysis, improvement, and implementation, financial management, employee supervision, and overall business oversight. Anisia's versatility is evident as she efficiently managed multiple roles concurrently, including handling general IT tasks, acting as a bookkeeper, serving as an office manager for multiple locations, managing phone operations, and overseeing the HR department. Additionally, she has contributed to the startup phase of a Virtual Staffing venture in Nicaragua, she provided consulting services to real estate owners and offered valuable insights to integrate virtual staff for improved business efficiency and success. Anisia found great satisfaction in educating other business owners on the benefits of incorporating virtual assistants into their business operations.

Holding a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Radford University, Anisia brings a solid educational foundation to complement her extensive hands-on experience.

Anisia holds a deep commitment to the well-being of military personnel, being the sister of three siblings who have retired and are currently serving in the United States Military.

In her personal life, Anisia Cornwell takes joy in spending time with her husband, Robert, and their three children. Previously residing in Virginia Beach, they have a strong passion for surfing, maintaining an active lifestyle, and embracing a healthy and fulfilling life

 

 

Jon PuckettJon Puckett |

Business Development Manager

Defined by hard work and a never wavering sense of curiosity, Jon (known as Puckett) retired as a Police Lieutenant from the Norfolk Police Department after 21 years. The NPD was kind enough to allow Puckett to explore every aspect of police work that interested him and included SWAT, Range Master, K-9, Training Division, the Intelligence Unit, and Leadership Training with a concentration in resilience. Puckett grew his experience by leading the National Account for the State and Local Team for ADS in Virginia Beach, where he still lives. Puckett has the experience of being both a government customer and a seller in markets that are very difficult to navigate without proven experience and success. He is a husband, a father of two girls (5 and almost 2), and is an avid seeker of growth and positivity.