05/27/2026
At One805, we hold deep gratitude for those who have served our nation in uniform, and equal admiration for those who continue that service here at home as First Responders.
The transition from military service to protecting one’s own community is a remarkable continuation of duty and is exemplified every day by Loren Courtney.
At five years old, Loren Courtney watched a helicopter land on a beach in Los Angeles and knew exactly what he wanted to do with his life. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and spent 22 years becoming one of the most decorated and experienced Black Hawk pilots in the country.
His career took him everywhere: Desert Shield and Desert Storm, where he flew in the longest and largest air assault in 101st Airborne Division history; Mogadishu, Somalia, flying Delta sniper teams through the night; Haiti, delivering medical aid during government collapse; Yellowstone, fighting wildfire from the air. He flew for the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and supported President Clinton's visit to Africa. Over 11,000 flight hours. 5,600 in the Black Hawk alone.
After 22 years, Loren didn't stop. He flew EMS and search and rescue in the Rocky Mountains for a decade — landing at altitude in near-whiteout conditions, pulling skiers from avalanches, saving lives in terrain most pilots would never attempt.
Today, Loren flies for the Santa Barbara County Air Support Unit — protecting the 70% of our county that is wild, remote, and unforgiving. Fire response. Backcountry rescues. Water rescues. Medevac.
Before the Montecito mudslides, Santa Barbara County didn't have a Black Hawk helicopter. ONE805 donors changed that — funding a water drop tank and a patient medevac upgrade kit that gave the Fire Hawk full medevac capability, transforming it into a true life-saving aircraft.
At ONE805 Live, Loren Courtney was honored with the Heart of the Community Award — recognizing his extraordinary lifetime of service and our shared commitment to the mental wellness of those who protect us every day. The award was presented by Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex: a veteran himself, who knows firsthand what it costs to answer the call.
This is what your support makes possible. This is ONE805.
