About

Our Mission

Our mission is to help US Military Veterans and our military allies transition into careers in the civil aerospace industry. We are seeking your support to further our mission and provide essential resources for those heroes who have served our country and are now in need of employment opportunities within this vital sector.

Origin

Founded in 2024 by a group of Army veterans that had found their way to the airlines. Each with their unique pathways and challenges along the way. We’re dedicated to helping those follow in our footsteps to successful careers in the aerospace industry.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, The Breakturn Foundation is dedicated to fostering equity, creating opportunities, and promoting a more inclusive workforce within the aerospace and aviation industries.

Our Team

Austin Roth | President

Austin is the President and Founder of BreakTurn and The BreakTurn Foundation. His passion for aviation and the military was shaped early by his grandfathers—one a WWII pilot, the other a maintainer. Though poor eyesight initially disqualified him from flying, Austin began his military career as an Army infantryman, serving in Iraq before assignments as a recruiter and with The Old Guard, where he served as a squad leader congressional escort.

After eight years in the infantry, corrective eye surgery opened the door to Warrant Officer Flight Training. Austin went on to become a Black Hawk pilot, deploying to Afghanistan as a MEDEVAC pilot and Pilot in Command. Upon returning, he completed the Instructor Pilot Course and spent the next eight years as both an Instructor Pilot and Standardization Instructor Pilot before retiring from the Army in 2023.

Having experienced firsthand the challenges of transitioning from military to civilian life, Austin founded BreakTurn and later The BreakTurn Foundation to support fellow service members navigating their path into civil aviation.

Raised in central Florida, Austin is married to his high school sweetheart, Julie. Together with their four children, they now call North Carolina home, where he divides his time between their farm, coaching high school soccer, and flying for a major U.S. airline.

Floyd Stephens | Board of Directors

Floyd is an airline pilot and U.S. Army veteran with a career spanning both military service and civilian aviation. A former infantry sergeant, he served in the 101st Airborne Division and the 5th Cavalry Regiment. Following his service, Floyd earned his pilot ratings and degree through the Veterans Education Assistance Program, launching a 34 year aviation career that includes 26 years with American Airlines. He is currently based in Philadelphia, flying the Boeing 787.

Beyond the cockpit, Floyd is dedicated to supporting fellow veterans. He previously served as Vice Chairman of Air Compassion for Veterans and now sits on the Board of Directors of the Breakturn Foundation, which helps veterans build careers in the aviation, airline, and aerospace industries. A devoted husband and father of two young adults, he lives on a farm in north central Pennsylvania, where he raises Irish Dexter cattle—and brews a mean Hefeweizen.

Eric Sypat | Board of Directors

Eric is an airline pilot based in Florida who’s been lucky enough to turn a childhood fascination with flying into a lifelong career. Before moving into the commercial world, he served as a U.S. Army officer, flying UH-60 Black Hawks and UC-35s. The Army taught Eric how to lead under pressure, adapt quickly, and land in some places most people would never dream of—sometimes literally.

These days, Eric has traded military missions for flight plans that (usually) involve less turbulence and better coffee. He loves the challenge of aviation, the rhythm of life in the sky, and the responsibility of getting people safely where they need to go.

When Eric is not in the cockpit, you’ll probably find him on the golf course trying to shave strokes off his game, out on the water with a fishing rod in hand, or behind a smoker perfecting Central Texas–style BBQ. He likes to think he flies planes for a living and barbecue for his friends.

At the end of the day, he values adventure, precision, and good company—whether it’s cruising at 35,000 feet or enjoying slow-cooked brisket.

Jesse Fleming | Director of Operations

Jesse is the Director of Operations and oversees all day-to-day operations for the foundation. He currently lives in Western North Carolina and is a cybersecurity professional.

Jesse formerly flew for PSA Airlines from 2018-19 and was based in Charlotte, NC. He was medically grounded and no longer flies for the airlines. Before his commercial aviation days, Jesse was a U.S. Army Aviation Officer and flew the AH-64 Apache for 18 years. Jesse retired as a Major from the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade at Fort Campbell, KY, after 24 years of military service.

During his service, Jesse was selected to teach computer science at the United States Military Academy. Where he was a faculty advisor to both the Cadet Ski Patrol and Flying Club.

You can still find Jesse crushing fresh power on the side of a mountain in the winter. When he is not consulting on cyber risk management, he enjoys traveling with his wife, cooking, grilling, smoking meat, or sipping a bourbon next to his Weimerainer in the Blue Ridge Mountains.