JENNIFER CARAZO

CEO/President - Sugar Bear Foundation

Since her husband’s death, Jennifer has become involved with various organizations that assist the military and families of the fallen. 

Jennifer Carazo holds an MA in History from the University of San Diego and a BA in History Education from the University of West Florida, in Pensacola, Florida. She has taught students ranging from the university level through grade school curriculum.

Jennifer’s late husband, Lt. Colonel Mario Carazo, was KIA in July of 2010 when his Cobra helicopter was shot down over Afghanistan.  Since her husband’s death, Jennifer has become involved with various organizations that assist the military and families of the fallen.  She has served as the Surviving Spouse Liaison to the Miramar Chapter of MOAA and as an Advisory Member of the Navy’s Gold Star Program, San Diego.  She has volunteered as a Mentor with the Travis Manion Foundation’s Leadership Academy, San Diego, and speaks for various organizations, such as Angels of America’s Fallen and the Folds of Honor Foundation. 

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Eric Burke

Senior Director, Business Development
Elbit Systems of America, Airborne Systems
Fort Worth, Texas

Current Responsibilities
Eric Burke provides overall marketing direction, strategic planning, financial oversight, and acquisition responsibility for the Rotary Wing / Vertical Lift business unit Airborne Systems for Aviation applications. His primary focus is assisting the DoD services with upgrading and fielding advanced avionics. Eric further has responsibilities for capturing business, both domestic and international, to upgrade legacy cockpits. He is also tasked with assisting services in their development and fielding Future Vertical Lift Family of Systems.

Previous Responsibilities
Eric retired from the U.S. Marine Corps in 2014 after nearly 22 years of service to corps and country.  Eric was a Naval Aviator with over 3500 flight hours primarily in UH-1N’s. He has also piloted AH-1Ws, CH-53s, MV-22Bs, CH-46s, T-34Cs, and more.  He held key squadron billets to include Executive Officer, Operations Officer, and Maintenance Officer. Eric spent two tours of duty in the Pentagon, first as the H-1 Requirements and Resource Officer, with the last being the US Marine Corps liaison to the Secretary of Defense’s Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR).  His last combat tour of duty was in Iraq as the Senior Air Officer and Forward Air Controller for 5th Regimental Combat Team in Al Asad. 

Post military service, Eric worked and Northrop Grumman Mission Systems (Woodland Hills, CA) and L3Harris Space & Airborne Systems (Melbourne, FL).

Education
Eric received his Undergraduate Degree from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and a Master Degree (with honors) in Homeland Security from American Public University.  He has also graduated from Marine Corps Command & Staff College.

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Daniel Cerkan

President, Helion Intelligent Safety Solutions
Carlsbad, CA

Dan Cerkan retired from the Marine Corps in June 2011 after 20 years of service, where he was a designated Naval Aviator.  Dan is currently President of Balefire Safety Solutions, a safety consulting and auditing company.  His expertise is educating about, creating and auditing safety programs, safety management systems (SMS) and risk management/mitigation.  Dan is currently credentialed as an International Standards for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) and Helicopter Association International (HAI) auditor.  He is a multifaceted executive with strong experience in management, operations, and program/project leadership.

Dan received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the Pennsylvania State University in 1991, and a Master of Aeronautical Science, Aviation/Aerospace Safety Systems and Human Factors Specializations (With Distinction) from Embry-Riddle University in 2013.  He has a Program Management Certificate from Georgetown University and completed the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, Amphibious Warfare School, and Naval Aviation Safety Officer Course. 

Dan held numerous billets during his career in the Marine Corps, including operations, administration, aircraft maintenance and safety.  Some notable assignments include:

  • Assignment to the Presidential Helicopter Squadron, HMX-1, where he worked as an Aviation Safety and Standardization Officer, Operations Officer, and Aircraft Maintenance Officer.  He was one of eight designated Functional Check Pilots for Presidential Aircraft, and designated the Standardization Officer for Functional Check pilot training and operations.

  • Assistant Air Officer, 1st Marine Division, OIF-2. He took part in numerous operations to include the Second Battle of Fallujah, Operation Al-Fajr.

  • Aircraft Maintenance Officer and Executive Officer, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 161.  Supported ground forces during OIF-3 with CASEVAC and Assault Support Operations. 

  • Director of Safety and Standardization, Third Marine Aircraft Wing.  Dan was responsible for aviation and ground safety of over 15,000 Marines, Sailors and civilians, 500 aircraft and all support equipment, located across 47 global locations.

  • Aviation Safety Officer, Headquarters United States Marine Corps, Safety Division.  He was assigned as the fixed wing and rotary wing Aviation Safety Officer for the Marine Corps. 

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Tony Gallardo

Tony Gallardo is a native of San Diego and completed a Bachelor’s of Science in Criminal Justice Administration at San Diego State University in May, 1993 prior to accepting a commission as Second Lieutenant in the United Stated Marine Corps.

He completed the Basic School in Quantico, Virginia in the summer of 1994 and reported to Flight School in Pensacola, Florida.  Beginning primary flight training in VT-3, he then selected helicopter training and earned his wings of gold in May, 1996 selecting the AH-1W Super Cobra Helicopter in Camp Pendleton as his first duty station.  Entering conversion training at HMT-303, he completed training in the AH-1W during October 1996 and joined the Gunfighters of HMLA-369 in time to train prior to his first deployment.  From 1997-2001, Tony would attend Weapons and Tactics Instructor course, and participate in two Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) deployments. His first deployment was with the 13th MEU where he would train with and become good friends with Sugarbear Mario Carazo and a 15th MEU deployment prior to transferring to Pensacola once again for duty as a flight instructor with VT-2 in the T-34C.

In the summer of 2002, Tony returned to HMLA-369 and participated in the work-up to Operation Iraqi Freedom, deploying in April 2003 in support of combat operations.  At the completion, he and HMLA-369 would redeploy to Camp Pendleton and then deploy to Okinawa, Japan on the Unit Deployment Program in December, 2003.  After a successful deployment supporting multiple exercises in the Southeastern Pacific, HMLA-369 redeployed back to Camp Pendleton to begin the one year preparation for deployment to Iraq in September, 2005.  During this deployment, Tony would see the heaviest combat operations of his career while providing close air support to coalition forces in the Al Anbar Province.  Upon redeployment, he executed orders for duty as the 1st Marine Division Air Officer prior to selection to the Army Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.  He concurrently earned a Master’s Degree in Management and Leadership during the 2007-2008 school year and upon completion, executed orders to the First Marine Expeditionary Force G-7 Training Section.  He completed duty as the Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff, a deployment to Iraq in the Multi-National Forces Iraq Combined/Joint Plans Section, and as the as the Officer in Charge of the Advisor Training Group.  While deployed, he was selected for command in 2010 at The Marine Corps Recruit Depot Recruit Training Regiment, Support Battalion Commander.  He completed a successful two year command and transferred to Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton for his final tour as the Executive Officer.  He completed this tour in December, 2014 and was moved to the retired list.  

After completing 22 years active service, 6 deployments, more than 3,800 mishap free flight hours and over 300 combat missions in the AH-1W, he retired honorably in San Diego and began work at Booz Allen Hamilton as a Fiscal and Operational Analyst until 2019. In March of 2020, he became the first Mosquito Joe Franchisee in California opening his business in the San Diego area.