Leadership & Staff

Mr. Tom Klassen grew up in the Midwest 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 11,000 hours of flight time, he feels that the twenty five 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 a FAA designated company check airman and continues to fly patients whenever given the opportunity. He currently serves as the National Chairman of the Directors of Operations Section for the AAMS, Board Member of the Air Medical Operators Association and has previously served as the President for the Texas Association of Air Medical Services. 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 in Corpus Christi. He has a wide array of experience within the medical field beginning with his service in the US Air Force from 1989 until 1996. He obtained his EMT basic, firefighting experience, and became a Licensed Practical Nurse, followed by becoming a Paramedic and Registered Nurse, earning a bachelor's degree in Nursing from the University of Texas. 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.

Director of Maintenance Robert Jarratt Monahan has spent his entire life involved in service to Bell Helicopters. Since his days as a young man in Bulverde, Texas, he worked at his family-owned Bell Service Center along with his Father.
He joined the HALO-Flight Maintenance Team in 2009, and has functioned in every capacity across the spectrum of aircraft maintenance needs since becoming DOM in 2020.
With many years of experience and training, Robert has achieved certificates in A&P, IA, and has completed course work with Bell on Bell 429 and Bell 407 aircrafts, as well as courses in Field Maintenance, Bell 407 Electrical, Composite Courses and Rolls Royce C47B Turbine Course work.
Born in San Antonio, Robert is the father of three sons.

As Director of Philanthropy, Cory brings 20 plus years of experience as a development consultant and public relations practitioner. A native of South Texas, Cory grew up in Beeville before he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Trinity University and a Master of Arts from Southern Methodist University. He has served as the Chief Curator of the Ron Bell Studio-Gallery in the Dallas / Fort Worth Area and the Director of Public Relations for Exclusive Home Health & Hospice for the Gulf Coast Region. He has led entrepreneurial enterprises as a creative director and a development consultant for nearly two decades.

Diane Garza, Director of Business Development 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 in Corpus Christi for over 30 years.
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 over the past 15 years raising funds to support a local high school for student athlete scholarships. She also serves on the Board of the Silver Advocates Partners in collaboration with APS - Adult Protective Services - to support the elderly.