Leadership & Staff

Mr. Tom Klassen grew up in Claremore, Oklahoma and started flying a spotting helicopter off of a Mexican tuna fishing boat in Central America at age 19. He has lived and worked in Papua New Guinea, Australia, Thailand, Russia, Eastern Europe, and all over the United States including Hawaii and Alaska, but has found a home here in Corpus Christi. He has had an exciting flying career having flown helicopter logging operations in Alaska, bush flying in Papua New Guinea, TV reporting in Boston, aerial firefighting missions in Alaska and the West Coast, tours in Hawaii, and a Russian fighter jet in air shows for seven years. However, in his over 10,000 hours of flight time, he feels that the twenty years spent transporting patients in helicopters has been the most rewarding.

Tom started with HALO-Flight as the Director of Operations in 2010 and was promoted to Executive Director a year later. He is the FAA designated company check airman and continues to fly patients whenever given the opportunity. He currently serves as Past President for the Texas Association of Air Medical Services, National Chairman of the Directors of Operations Section for the AAMS, Board Member of the Air Medical Operators Association. He is a member of the Helicopter Association International, the National EMS Pilots Association, and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. Outside of work, he is an active member of the Soaring Society of America, and can be found flying his sailplane most weekends.

Randy Endsley was born in Beeville, Texas and raised here in Corpus Christi. He has a wide array of experience within the medical field beginning with his service in the US Air Force in 1989. He obtained his EMT basic, firefighting experience, and became a Licensed Practical Nurse, followed by becoming a Paramedic and Registered Nurse. Randy’s background in nursing includes Emergency Room and Intensive Care Unit. He joined HALO-Flight in 1999 and was promoted to Chief Medical Officer by 2002. Additional certifications that Randy holds include Certified Emergency Nurse, Certified Flight Nurse, and Certified Medical Transport Executive.

Mrs. Angela Hanley joined the HALO-Flight family in 2013 as the Chief Financial Officer. Her educational background includes graduating Summa Cum Laude with a BA in Accounting & Administration. She has lived and worked all around the country including New Hampshire, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Washington D.C., Florida, California, Ohio and has finally settled in Texas. Angela switched to the non-profit world of accounting in 2011 and appreciates the opportunity to continue non-profit work that inflicts progress within the community.

Mr. Rickey McLester was born in Corpus Christi and raised in Fulton, Texas. At the age of 14, his father allowed him to join Fulton Fire Department as Jr. Member in May of 1995. Since then, he has held the position of Sgt at Arms, Captain, Assist Chief, and currently Fire Chief. As for Rickey’s paid career in Public Safety, in February 2002 he was provided the opportunity to begin his career as a 911 dispatcher with the Rockport Police Dept. Afterwards, he worked for the City of Rockport for six years and was recognized by the late Sheriff Mark Gilliam as Communicator of the year twice, as well as received several letters of accommodation. In March of 2008 he was given the opportunity to join the HALO-Flight Air Ambulance team in Corpus Christi as the Communications Director.

Since being at HALO-Flight, he has strived to maintain the most up to date Communications center and help HALO-Flight adhere to the ever changing regulations of the Federal Aviation Administration. Rickey currently sits on the Coastal Plains Local Emergency Planning Committee as the Exercise and Design Chairman, the Regional Communications Committee, the Coastal Bend Emergency Managers Association serving on the Hurricane Conference Committee, and was recently appointed to the Board of The National Association of Air Communication Specialists.

With 39 years of aviation maintenance experience, Director of Maintenance Doug McKinney brings supervisory depth and management leadership to HALO – Flight. A native Texan, Doug has completed numerous technical and managerial programs. He maintains a FAA Airframe and Power plant/ Inspection Authorization License and has held a DOD Secret Security Clearance for 34 years. He managed fixed wing piston engine, turbo –prop /jet engine, rotary wing aircraft maintenance for 25 years with U. S. Customs Air Interdiction/ Customs and Border Protection in Houston and McAllen, Texas. Doug spent 5 ½ years supervising King Air 350 ISR aircraft maintenance as a Military Contractor in Afghanistan, Iraq and Africa with a combined 30 years in service with L-3 Com/ Vertex C3ISR.
Doug enjoys riding his Harley, eating barbeque and traveling in the Great State of Texas.
Doug has three daughters, one son, and one grandson.

Mr. Mark Ritter is originally from Alice, TX, which is where he is now based. He began his aviation career in the Air Force as an aircraft mechanic on B-52 bombers and C-130 airplanes. Mark then pursued his aircraft mechanics license upon departing the Air Force. He was involved in civilian aircraft maintenance for approximately 20 years. Mark obtained his Commercial Helicopter Pilot license while working as a mechanic for a Helicopter company that herded cattle and performed wildlife capture and surveys on South Texas ranches. He has flown helicopters in a multitude of capacities including Oil and Gas, Glacier tours in Alaska, Corporate Flight Depts., and Helicopter Air Ambulance. Mark currently has six years of experience with helicopter air ambulance and is our Chief Pilot. His excellence and dedication for HALO-Flight’s mission is confirmed through his actions and general attitude towards the organization every day.

Jane Dare Haas, Director of Marketing at HALO-Flight, has twenty years of healthcare and transportation marketing experience, and fifteen years of speech communication classroom instruction experience at Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, Texas.
A mother of three and a grandmother of two, Ms. Haas’ Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Theatre is from the University of Memphis, and her Master’s Degree is from Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi.
She is a graduate of Leadership Corpus Christi, Class XX; on the Board of Directors of the Westside Business Association, and Chair of the Professional and Networking Advisory Committee of the Nueces County Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities Center.

Ryan Kelley graduated from Ellison High School in Killeen, Texas in 1994 and began his service in the U.S. Marine Corps shortly thereafter as an Aircraft Rescue Firefighter Specialist. From 1998 to 2011 Ryan served the cities of Kingsville and Portland Fire Departments gaining a wide variety of experience and education in the emergency medical and fire service fields eventually serving as a Shift Captain and EMS supervisor. He joined the HALO-Flight team in 2010 as a Flight Paramedic on a part-time basis and in 2012 he left the fire service all together to become a full-time member of HALO-Flight. Over the years he has obtained his EMT-Basic, Intermediate, Licensed Paramedic certifications, and Associate's Degree in EMS from Del Mar College. Additional certifications that Ryan holds include Certified Flight Paramedic, Critical Care EMT-P, National Registry EMT-P, and TDSHS Instructor. Ryan most enjoys spending time outdoors with his family and is also an Certified Coach and avid Crossfit athlete at Crossfit XLR8 in Portland.

Wendy Greer joined HALO-Flight in February 2011 when she was hired as a member of the Critical Care Team for HALO’s SCT. She was the Clinical Education Manager for Guardian EMS Training Academy since the acquisition of Roberson EMS in December of 2006. She had previously been the Academy Administrator for the Roberson EMS Training Academy, in Alice, Texas. She has over 30 years of Emergency Medical service experience.

Wendy started her EMS career while she was growing up in the Lagarto community. She obtained her ECA in 1978 and was a volunteer with the Lagarto Fire Dept. and EMS service. She went on to obtain her EMT, in 1980 and obtained her Paramedic certification in 1995 and was later one of the first Licensed Paramedics in the state. Wendy has primarily worked for 911 providers during her EMS career, including as a Flight Medic for an Air Medical service in the Rio Grande Valley.

Wendy started instructing in 1990 while she was the director for a rural 911 provider. She later obtained her Advanced Coordinator Certification and has been instructing at all levels of EMS for the past fourteen years. Wendy is also an ITLS, PALS, EMD, EVOC, and AHA instructor. Wendy brings with her a strong commitment to the EMS community. She looks forward to assisting those wishing to continue their EMS education and being part of an elite team, providing critical patient care.

Diane Garza, Business Development Director at HALO Flight, has 16 years of healthcare and advertising-marketing experience, and five years in secondary education as a teacher/coach. Originally from Harlingen, Texas she has made her home for over 30 years in Corpus Christi.

A mother to one son, Christian, she has a Bachelor’s of Science degree from Texas A&M Kingsville with a major in kinesiology and a minor in health education.

Diane participated on the Javelina volleyball team and was recognized as a two-time All-American in track & field.

Diane’s primary work has been educating the community on healthcare services that include: Home Health, Hospice and Provider Services along with medical insurance education. Her community involvement has grown passionately for over 15 years raising funds to support a local high school for student athlete scholarships. She also serves as board member for the Silver Advocacy Program in collaboration with APS - Adult Protective Services - to support the elderly.

Her career has always been surrounded by the education of others. Her purpose is to serve human life and to show compassion and the will to help others.