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Hancock County Port & Harbor Commission

SKYDWELLER AERO HIRES NEW LOCAL TECHNICIAN

November 28, 2023


KILN, MISS: Skydweller Aero (Skydweller) is experiencing continuous growth and success at Stennis International Airport after hiring their first technician.

Operations Director, David Tyler, a former British Army officer, said “The support we have had from the State of Mississippi and Hancock County Port & Harbor Commission has been unbelievable – we could not have been welcomed by a more proactive team. We are actively recruiting for technicians and hope to have many of the required technicians recruited by the start of next year.”  


The first technician to be employed by Skydweller, is local former United States Marine Corps Sergeant Darien Ladner. Ladner’s first task in the company was to quickly obtain a passport so that he could travel to Madrid, Spain. Once in Spain, Ladner began assisting the Spanish Skydweller technicians dismantle the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle to prepare it for the long journey to Stennis International Airport for flight operations in 2024. 


Ladner quickly settled into the swing of things and integrated himself with the team in Spain. Team leader, Eugenio Jimenez, said “Darien had the best on the job training possible since he assisted with the disassembly of our aircraft. From day one he was part of the team, conscious at every moment of what was going on and supporting the other guys. He had no problem stopping and asking for clarifications, working on a composite repair, or understanding how the structure was going to be located into the transportation tooling. In a nutshell, it was not only about aptitude but also attitude.” 


Ladner also took the opportunity to enjoy Spanish life and visit the city of Albacete in southern Spain where Skydweller’s operations have taken place for the past few years. The training in Spain was only made possible with the support of AccelerateMS. AccelerateMS serves the people and businesses of Mississippi by developing and deploying workforce strategies to connect individuals with transformative, high-paying careers. By leveraging resources and partnering with organizations that hold complementary missions, AccelerateMS effectuates positive change, creating sustained individual, community, and statewide economic prosperity.  


AccelerateMS is dedicated to enhancing the economic well-being of Mississippi's residents and businesses. The agency achieves this by formulating and implementing workforce strategies that facilitate the connection of individuals with transformative, high-paying careers. Through strategic collaborations, AccelerateMS enables positive changes that contribute to sustained economic prosperity at the individual, community, and statewide levels. 


 In Mississippi, Ladner wasted no time making an impact in the local community. He represented Skydweller at Stennis Day in the Bay and participated in a Skydweller awareness day held at Stennis International Airport. With his newly acquired skills, Ladner anticipates playing a pivotal role in this dynamic company and is excited to witness Skydweller taking flight over Mississippi in 2024. 


David Tyler said, “With recruits like Darien Ladner, Skydweller’s future in Mississippi is looking bright.” 


 

The Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission was established in 1963 to lead the county’s economic development activities. Stennis International Airport and Port Bienville Industrial Park are home to 30 companies with more than 1,000 employees. For more information visit www.portairspace.com

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