David Tripp III still remembers the weight of standing honor guard. The precision required, the families watching, the responsibility of representing the Air Force’s finest during their most difficult moments.
“Being able to be the last remembrance of military service for family members that had just lost their loved ones was very, very sentimental to me,” he says. “It definitely heightened my sense of pride, my sense of awareness, and attention to detail.”
Twenty years after leaving active duty, that responsibility still shapes how he approaches everything. At 45, the Bonaire, Georgia native has built a civilian life that looks nothing like his Air Force days but operates on the same principles. He’s Compliance Program Manager for the 402nd Aircraft Maintenance Group at Robins Air Force Base, overseeing five squadrons’ compliance programs. He’s also an Associate Broker with Coldwell Banker Access Realty, helping military families navigate relocations. He serves as a mentor to veterans, providing guidance on transitioning into business.
His approach across all three careers remains consistent: “Lead by example. I never asked someone to do something that I’m not willing to do myself.”
Building the foundation
When Tripp enlisted in the Air Force in 1999, shortly after marrying his high school sweetheart, Laquita (Bri), he was seeking to change his circumstances. “I wanted to give myself opportunities right out of high school to get off to a great start,” he explains. “There were some things as a young man that I was still lacking, and I was grateful for my military service because it did help me to create a sense of discipline.”
The discipline has become foundational. “Discipline and repetition go hand in hand,” he says. “It allowed me to develop a routine of things that I needed to take care of mind, body, and spirit. But then also, to add to that, it gave me the framework to go out and accomplish anything I set my mind to.”
Working as an aircraft mechanic, Tripp learned that individual precision means nothing without team success. Managing nearly $200 million in military assets taught him collaboration wasn’t optional. “No one person would be successful attempting to do that by themselves,” he reflects. “Teamwork and being able to train others, listen to others, were very key in being able to take on such a challenge throughout my military career.”
But his role as NCOIC of the Blue Eagles Honor Guard provided the deepest education about service. Leading the elite program meant managing a congressional-level military service honors program and being the final representation of military service for grieving families.
“When your purpose is meant to leave a lasting impression with people, and you take that seriously, then that causes you to dig into a level of focus that most people are unable to do,” he says.
Among the airmen Tripp mentored during his Honor Guard leadership was Warren Flowers, who would later start his own law firm serving veterans. The military creates these lasting connections – networks of people committed to continuing their service in different ways.
The honor of performing at President George W. Bush’s inauguration represented a career highlight. “Having a great sense of pride in being selected to participate in such an event,” he recalls. “It was definitely a sense of pride, camaraderie, because you are among the Air Force’s elite regarding ceremonial guardsmen.”
His dedication during six years of service earned him the Meritorious Service Medal and the Air Force Good Conduct Medal. But ask Tripp about his most meaningful military accomplishment, and he returns to the Honor Guard work. “I had the opportunity in that role to work with some great people, mentor some great people, and represent the Air Force’s finest. And those will be my finest memories and the memories that I cherish the most about my military service.”
Family as priority
Throughout his military service, one principle never wavered. “After God, my next priority was always family,” he states. “I think that anyone who prioritizes – they’re definitely going to have their family first. And that was not negotiable for me.”
His approach to work-life balance reflected this commitment. “I don’t think that work-life balance, a career, a successful career, is feasible if you don’t have your priority parties taken into consideration. And at the top of that priority list has to be family.”
Laquita (Bri) and their support system made everything else possible. “Behind every successful person, they’re going to have a driving force that they keep center scope to reach their goals,” he explains. “My family is the center scope.”
Their son David Tripp IV recently graduated from Georgia Southern University with a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, representing the culmination of values Tripp has modeled throughout his civilian career. “I want my wife, my son to be proud of me and then also be proud of the legacy that we build together,” Tripp says. “It’s important for me to set that tone as the man of the family, the man in the house.”
Coming home
When Tripp separated from active duty in 2005, civilian life presented unexpected obstacles. “It was actually, to be honest with you, it was tough,” he admits. “Even having the military experience, the credentials, it was tough to get back into civil service.”
Many veterans face this reality – military skills don’t always translate immediately to civilian opportunities. But Tripp maintained persistence. “You keep putting one foot in front of the other, never give up, continue pressing forward. And the opportunity presented itself for me to go back out and serve with the team at Robins.”
The decision to return to Middle Georgia was deliberate. “My roots are here – my family is here. I always wanted to do it at home,” he says. The transition brought benefits beyond employment, allowing them to raise their son closer to their extended family. “It brought us back closer to home, closer to our roots. And it allowed us to raise our son with his cousins and his grandparents. And so, it was a great transition in that respect.”
Supporting those who serve
Today, Tripp’s government work directly supports the military mission through compliance and safety programs that ensure defense contractors meet standards protecting service members. His role overseeing five squadrons’ compliance programs for the Department of Defense means the people serving today have the equipment and support they need.
His approach connects personal values with professional responsibility. “Because I have a family, I take seriously the compliance in the safety of individuals,” he explains. “It is my job to make sure that there’s a framework that ensures that they go home to their loved ones the same way they came in.”
The work extends beyond individual oversight to building organizational culture. Through involvement in OSHA Star Site certification and safety recognition programs, he’s learned that sustainable change requires everyone’s participation.
“It’s all about getting everyone to buy in,” he says. “What is instrumental in getting everyone to buy in is that everyone has to feel that they are a valuable member of the team, and their contribution is important.”
The foundational skills – listening, understanding, accountability – create an environment where teams succeed. “Where there’s no accountability, there are no results. And so that’s important to have a framework of accountability to make sure that everything that should be accomplished is actually accomplished.”
Serving military families differently
In 2019, Tripp made what appeared to be a career shift into real estate, but for him it represented another avenue for serving the military community he understands intimately.
“I researched the topmost effective ways in the United States to become a millionaire, and real estate really piqued my interest,” he explains. “I have a history, and I have a life history of serving. And so, with that, I wanted to embark on a real estate career, having a military background, and a military family across the nation.”
Military relocations became his specialty because he understands what families experience. “PCS is actually one of the most stressful times for military members, because they have a lot of things going on with the upcoming move to the next location,” he notes. “My understanding is that having been a service member gives you a unique perspective.”
His approach emphasizes comprehensive support. “Right now, we have clients who are stationed in Italy. They’re building new construction homes. They have never seen the homes before that they’re puchasing, but we handle each aspect of the transaction for them. And when they arrive, they’re able to walk into their new home, close on their home, with no problems.”
Over six years in real estate, he’s earned five-star ratings on Zillow and Google while building a successful team. Understanding the progression from individual contributor to leader proved essential. “Being a great agent, what makes a great agent? Being knowledgeable. Taking the time to burn the midnight oil to master your craft,” he explains. “You can’t be a great broker if you weren’t a great agent, because those are foundational.”
The real estate market’s constant evolution demands adaptability. “Real estate right now has undergone a lot of changes, and if you’re not innovative, you fall by the wayside.”
When working with clients, Tripp’s family experience provides natural connection points. “Being a family man does help me in a lot of instances, because I do have my own family,” he says. “When I have clients that say, Hey, I want to make my daughters proud,’ I totally understand the importance and the weight of making sure that real estate transactions are done in the best manner for the families that we represent.”
Teaching and transferring knowledge
Tripp is actively pursuing his Georgia Real Estate Instructor’s License, representing another way to continue serving. “It allows me again to further my commitment regarding service,” he explains. “I believe that when we as individuals find out information that others may not have had, I think it’s important to share that information.”
His approach to mentorship begins with understanding individual goals. “It’s important as a mentor to sit down to see what the goals are of the individual that you’re working with,” he says. “I want to get to know people. I want to find out what their goals are. And when they define their vision, we work together towards it.”
He maintains his own commitment to continue learning. “Even with what I do, I have mentors, and believe that it’s key for anybody with goals or wants to become an industry leader in a certain profession, that they have mentors.”
His definition reflects mutual benefit. “Mentorship, is finding someone and being able to learn from them, build trust with them, and someone who will help you achieve your goals.”
Skills that transfer
Tripp’s education in the entertainment business demonstrates how diverse skills complement each other. “The things that I have learned in the music business have actually been instrumental in helping me to be successful as a real estate broker,” he explains. “If you can market or promote an album or a song or get your marketing together in the entertainment side of the house, then you definitely have a leg up on other realtors.”
The lesson extends to other veterans considering career transitions. “I don’t want anybody to ever think that they can’t do something else because they specialize in a certain field,” he says. “I would make a plea to say that there are several skills that are transferable from one industry to another.”
Among his various certifications, Lean Six Sigma has proven most transformative. “It allows me to get to the root cause of why something happened,” he explains. “I’ve used that tool to streamline the real estate process, and my life, making sure that I have the time to do the things that are important.”
Integration over separation
Managing multiple demanding careers while maintaining family priorities requires an intentional approach. “My family first,” Tripp states clearly. “Nothing that I do is more important than my family.”
Rather than separating work and family, they’ve learned integration. “We’re always together. My wife’s a realtor, also; we work together on our team. My son is heavily involved with what we do, and so we’re really together as a unit.”
After 26 years of marriage, they’ve developed sustainable patterns. ” At 26 years, you know what works. Having an individual life while being cohesive is perfect.”
His compliance work connects naturally with family values. “I know that I wouldn’t want anything to happen to my family. And so I take that same passion towards my work. How do I balance them? That would be my median that keeps me focused on how important my family is and how important everyone else’s family is to the individuals that I serve every day.”
Faith and community
As a member of Beulahland Bible Church, Tripp’s faith anchors his approach to both business and life. When asked about the example he hopes to set, his response centers on character and faith. “Keep God first and know that you can do anything, no excuses,” he says. “That’s the life that I try to lead and the example that I set for others.”
Their approach to celebrating achievements reflects this foundation. “Thank God. And then we take a moment to celebrate. But then after we celebrate, we’re back focused on what the next step is.”
His commitment to community extends through his partnership with The Flowers Law Firm, where he advocates for veterans navigating VA claims and serves as a trusted military relocation agent. He’s also a mentor and broker-support resource throughout Houston County.
Consistent leadership principles
Across military service, government work, and real estate, Tripp’s leadership style remains collaborative. “I like to tap into the leaders that surround me. I like to get people involved,” he explains. ” I value the team concept.”
The approach requires building a shared vision rather than imposing direction. “Do I have a vision and direction? Yes. But I believe that getting people to become part of the vision, and own it is essential.”
Military lessons apply directly to civilian leadership challenges. ” Never losing your credibility as a leader is very important to me.”
The legacy he envisions emphasizes integrity over accomplishment. “Doing things the right way. It’s all about treating people right,” he explains. “My legacy is that I want people to know their value. I want people to know that there are still great people who do great business. And I want to make sure that I walk the life that God has for me.”
David Tripp III represents something essential about veteran transition – that leaving active duty doesn’t mean abandoning service. His journey from Honor Guard leader to safety specialist to real estate broker demonstrates how military values create frameworks for continued contribution in civilian life.
Whether he’s ensuring workplace safety that protects current service members, helping military families navigate the stress of relocations, or mentoring other veterans entering business, Tripp has built his post-service life around the same principles that guided his Air Force career.
The airman who once provided final honors at military funerals continues honoring the military community through daily choices to serve others with the same dedication he brought to ceremonial duties.
For more about David Tripp III’s work and community service, he can be reached at (478) 302-4255 or dtripp@cbssk.com.
David Tripp III’s journey demonstrates that the honor and precision learned in military service can transform into lifelong commitment to serving others – whether ensuring workplace safety for current service members, helping military families navigate relocations, or mentoring veterans entering business.
Resources for Veterans in Transition & Entrepreneurship
- Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) Program
www.sba.gov/vboc
Advising, training, and mentoring for veterans starting or growing a business. - Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) – Syracuse University
ivmf.syracuse.edu
National programs like Boots to Business and Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans supporting veteran entrepreneurs. - Bunker Labs
bunkerlabs.org
A nonprofit helping veterans and military spouses start and grow businesses through networking, mentorship, and community. - National Veteran-Owned Business Association (NaVOBA)
www.navoba.org
Advocacy and certification for veteran-owned businesses, helping connect to corporate and government contracts. - Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) – VA
www.va.gov/careers-employment/vre
VA program providing career counseling, education, and support for veterans transitioning into civilian careers. - Military OneSource – Career & Transition Support
www.militaryonesource.mil
Free resources for military families navigating relocation, career changes, and education. - Georgia Department of Veterans Service (state-specific for his roots in Georgia)
veterans.georgia.gov
Local benefits, education, and entrepreneurship resources for veterans in Georgia. - Veterans Crisis Line
Dial 988, press 1 | Text 838255 | veteranscrisisline.net
24/7 confidential support for veterans and their families in crisis.