Oct. 3, 2023

This week’s Up-and-Comer is Cole Jorgensen, an aircraft maintenance officer serving as flight commander of the equipment maintenance squadron for the South Dakota Air National Guard as well as a federal employee on the base serving as a civil engineer.

Name: Cole Jorgensen

Age: 28

Hometown: Hartford

What brought you to Sioux Falls?

This is home. My wife and I both grew up just outside of Sioux Falls, and when it was time to start our family, we knew we wanted to raise our children here.

What keeps you in Sioux Falls?

While spending a few years on active duty, I got to experience life in other parts of our country. The sense of community, closeness of neighbors and even simple friendliness of strangers doesn’t exist everywhere, but those things are still strong here.

What’s your favorite thing about your job?

My favorite part about my job is belonging to something bigger than myself. Almost daily, we fly some of the world’s most advanced aircraft. It takes a large team to make that happen, and being a tiny piece of that is very rewarding. Also, the National Guard gives us the opportunity to support state missions along with federal taskings. Having the ability to support your home state while in uniform makes military service even more meaningful.

How did you get connected to your industry?

Like a lot of people in the military, I was inspired to join by my parents and grandparents. My father served in the South Dakota Army National Guard for more than 20 years. His example motivated me to join. My admiration for aviation drove me to the Air Force though.

Describe your workplace in three words.

Proud, prepared, professional.

What is something someone might be surprised to learn about you?

When I’m not working at the base, I spend a lot of time on my in-laws’ farm. My day job keeps me at a desk a lot, so I enjoy being able to get my hands dirty on the farm. Troubleshooting and fixing a piece of equipment is equally rewarding as it is frustrating.

What’s your favorite way to give back to your community?

My favorite is anytime we can share our military experience with the public, especially the air show. There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes work to get ready for those type of events, but to see the excitement in the crowd reminds me of how cool our job is.

What’s one business you’d like to see in Sioux Falls that isn’t here now?

This is a tough question. Almost everything I’ve ever looked for can be found in Sioux Falls already. My wife says we need a Trader Joe’s though.

If you had $1 million to start a business, what kind of business would it be?

Oh boy, if I had $1 million, I would either start or team up with an existing precision agriculture company. The meshing of agriculture and advanced technology excites me. Some of today’s tractors look more like airplane cockpits with all the screens and sensors available. I think technology will only become more prevalent in agriculture as time goes on.