Title: Chief Executive Officer
Company: PKL Services, Inc.
Location: Poway, California, United States
Michael G. Naylor, chief executive officer at PKL Services, Inc., has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Military for dedication, achievements, and leadership in the armed forces.
With a three-decade tenure, Mr. Naylor has excelled as a leader in the U.S. Marines Corps, where he amassed nearly 5,000 hours of flight time in various aircraft before retiring as a colonel in 2012. He began his career in the armed forces as a test director and presidential helicopter pilot from 1992 to 1996. He then served as executive officer of the Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron from 1996 to 1998, an operations officer for the USMC 3rd Marine Air Wing from 1998 to 2000, and the commanding officer of USMC HMM(T)-164 from 2000 to 2002.
Following this, Mr. Naylor served as program analysis branch head and executive assistant in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2003 to 2005 and as commanding officer of the Expeditionary Warfare Training Group Atlantic from 2005 to 2007. He then held the position of chief of staff, deputy chief of staff, and U.S. representative for NATO with the U.S. Joint Forces command from 2007 to 2009. He continued his service as assistant chief of staff and director in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2009 to 2011 and, finally, as deputy commander MCIWEST in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2011 to 2012.
Reflecting on his career, he was initially interested in flying fighter jets with the Air Force, but he faced delays due to intense competition and his lack of an engineering or aerospace degree. However, upon seeing a “Fly Marine” sign while leaving a federal building in Pittsburgh, he discovered that the Marine Corps also offered aviation opportunities. One of the standout moments in his career was his assignment to Marine Helicopter Squadron One, where he had the honor of flying Marine One, the president’s helicopter, for George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton. Additionally, he played a crucial role in the initial operational testing of the MV-22 Osprey. Despite early mechanical challenges, his collaboration with engineers helped ensure the aircraft’s success, making it a highly demanded platform in the U.S. military.
Post-military, Mr. Naylor held various positions, ultimately landing a job at PKL Services Inc. PKL Services provides aviation support, including aircraft maintenance, training, and logistics support services. The company primarily serves military and government clients, focusing on improving operational readiness and mission success. During his tenure with the company, he began as the vice president of business operations from 2013 to 2017. He then served as the senior director of contracts and program management from 2018 to 2020 and chief operating officer from 2020 to 2022. Since 2022, he has excelled as the chief executive officer, where he manages and provides resources for employees, collaborates with the business development team, and works with clients and military organizations to promote the company’s services.
Laying a foundation for his career, he pursued an education at The Pennsylvania State University, earning a Bachelor of Science in agriculture in 1980. He went on to earn a Master of Science in national defense resource strategy with the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at the National Defense University in 2003. He attributes his success to a combination of favorable circumstances, a supportive network, and a willingness to explore new opportunities without fear of failure. He also says that he enjoys overcoming challenges and finding solutions to problems. He believes leading as part of the team rather than telling people what to do has gotten him to where he is today.
In the coming years, Mr. Naylor has set his sights on expanding PKL Services and remaining with the company for the foreseeable future. He says that as long as he wakes up excited about each day and is physically and mentally able, he will keep going. In offering advice to aspiring professionals, he says do not hesitate to try something new and that while being cautious is wise, you should not be afraid to take calculated risks. He emphasizes that before making a decision, carefully consider the worst-case scenario and devise a plan to prevent it from happening.
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