flyExclusive, a private jet travel company, named United States Air Force veteran Col. Donn Yates as its chief operating officer, the company announced in a press release on Tuesday.

Yates will join the growing private charter aviation company after serving in the United States Air Force for over 28 years. In the release, the company pointed to his experience in “highly volatile situations, including a wealth of combat experience and more than 2,000 flight hours in the F-15 aircraft.”

In a statement, flyExclusive’s president Mike Guina noted that Yates’ “military background and expertise in cutting-edge operational practices make him the perfect addition to our leadership team.”

“As both a passionate flyer and an innovative thinker, he brings deep knowledge of fleet logistics and operations that will be invaluable in helping us grow flyExclusive and deliver the world-class service our customers and partners expect,” Guina added.

In 2018, Yates assumed command of the 4th Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina. He’s logged over 2,000 flight hours in the F-15 aircraft.

flyExclusive maintains a fleet of over 60 aircraft for private charter, and the company’s JetClub program has grown by over 800 percent in 2020.