Gary W. Phipps II

About Me

Gary Phipps
4–6 minutes

My Early Life

My father and mother soon after I was born in 1986

I was born on November 18, 1986, in Alton, IL. My early childhood was tumultuous; my parents struggled with addiction, and their lives were far from stable. Thankfully, I was adopted by my mother’s sister and her husband. This pivotal moment gave me the foundation of a kind and loving home that shaped who I am today. Without their guidance, my life could have taken a much darker path.

Growing up in their household, I was immersed in the church, where they served as pastors of a local non-denominational congregation. Those years were filled with positivity, lifelong friendships, and core values that still guide me today. It was also during this time that I met my future wife, C.J., as kids. Who knew our childhood friendship would one day turn into a beautiful marriage?

My future wife and I on our way to a school 50’s themed dance

A Move and a Major Decision

When my aunt and uncle’s time as pastors ended, they moved into missionary work, relocating to Oklahoma. At 14, I faced a tough choice: stay with them or move back to Illinois to live with my father, whom I’d never lived with permanently. The cultural shift from a pastor’s home to my dad’s household was significant, but it prepared me for high school, which was its own adventure.

High school in Illinois was a wild ride. Coming from a sheltered, faith-based environment, I was thrust into a much more diverse and challenging world. My graduating class had about 100 students, and I thrived socially. I played football, went to every party I could, and made connections with just about everyone. My academic performance, however, left much to be desired—I barely graduated. But hey, I did it.

A Crossroads: What’s Next?

After high school, I moved out of my father’s house and into my best friend’s grandparents’ attic in Alton. With no clear direction, I worked as a fry cook at Jack in the Box and tried to figure out what was next. Eventually, I moved back with my aunt and uncle, who were now in Tennessee working with another missionary organization. During this time, I worked at Lowe’s and started considering joining the Army, a dream I’d had since childhood.

In February 2006, I took the leap and enlisted in the Army. My decision was heavily influenced by my cousin, who had recently served. It was one of the most defining choices of my life.

Military Life

I completed basic training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and attended Airborne School shortly afterward. My first role was as a 13B Cannon Crew Member, where I learned to operate howitzers for combat missions. I was then assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, a prestigious unit known for its elite operations. Over eight intense years, I deployed twice to Iraq, once to Haiti for humanitarian aid, and participated in countless training exercises and jumps.

During this time, C.J. and I got married right after my first deployment, and we started our family—we now have three amazing kids. Military life was tough and tested us in countless ways, but it strengthened our bond and proved how resilient we are as a team.

After a stint in Recruiting Duty back in Alton, I decided to transition out of the Army in 2016.

Post-Army Adventures

Leaving the Army was daunting. I had no concrete plans, so I threw my resume out there and hoped for the best. A recruiter named Gary reached out to me about a career in staffing. Though I had no idea what staffing entailed, I decided to give it a shot. I became a Technical Recruiter with Beacon Hill Technologies, hiring IT professionals for major companies in the St. Louis area. After three years, I started exploring roles that aligned more closely with my interests in digital marketing and social media as served as the Marketing Manager for Tri-National (A trucking company in the STL area) 

This journey led me to my current role as a Drone Pilot for a company based out of Tyler, TX. I’m the Midwest drone pilot for the company, using lidar drones to service surveying and engineering clients across the region. This role allows me to combine my passion for technology with hands-on fieldwork, making it both challenging and rewarding.

I feel extremely lucky to have been given the chance at this role since I have no degree or formal college education. I can honestly say that the only reason I have this job is because of my own actions and my own perseverance, even when I thought it seemed impossible for me to get a position like this. It has shown me that people can get stuck in a mindset that you’re only capable of doing things you’ve been told you can do or are even allowed to do. I enjoy my job much more now, I’m much happier and I would still be in the same position I was in before if I hadn’t of jumped out of my comfort zone to make a change. I encourage everyone to do so, if you feel you’re unhappy, with whatever it is. I have a house, three kids, a good job, and we’re all healthy. I don’t think I have much to complain about as of this time, but things always change so be sure to follow my blog posts for real time updates on things happening with me and my life.

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