Miscellaneous
Desi Maes As an Army Special Forces Green Beret, Army Ranger, Expert Infantryman and Demolitions Expert, Desi Maes served his country with distinction for over 20 years. As an entrepreneur, he has helped build two successful businesses following his tenure with two Fortune 500 companies. Born in Ely, Nevada, Desi moved with his family to Colorado and was raised in Grants, New Mexico before settling in Midland, Texas, at the age of 13. His life was profoundly impacted by his experiences in the construction business during the oil field boom, where he worked for his father and lived in an RV on the job site, walking to school each day. At 16, Desi helped his mom, Elizabeth, run the household and care for his 3 younger siblings after his parents split up. He worked many jobs, to include a cooking at numerous restaurants, doing dry wall work at apartment complexes, and also working for a local mortuary. At the age of 19, Desi enlisted in the U.S. Army. He applied for the U.S. Army Special Forces and was one of a few dozen soldiers out of nearly 1,000 to successfully be selected to attend the Green Beret School. As a member of the 10th Special Forces Group, Desi trained police SWAT teams in numerous tactics. His unit was deployed to the Middle East during the first Gulf War and Provide Comfort. While in the Special Forces, Desi earned an associate degree and successfully completed Officer Candidate School, earning a commission as a Second Lieutenant. He would subsequently earn a bachelor’s degree and then a Masters of Business (MBA). During his 201⁄2 years in the military, Desi served in numerous military units and functions to include but not limited to Special Forces, Infantry Platoon Leader, Light Infantry Commander, Assistant Professor of Military Science, and numerous other Operational functions. He rose to the rank of Major, and received several commendations, including two Meritorious Service Awards, five Army Accommodation Awards, three Army Achievement Medals, two National Defense Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Kuwait Liberation Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Medal. He also earned a Ranger Tab, Special Forces Tab, Expert Infantry Badge, Airborne Badge, Pathfinder Badge, and the Overseas Ribbon. Desi traveled extensively both domestically and abroad, moving 16 times in his military career. Desi is trained in three foreign languages, including Polish, German and Spanish. Committed to giving back to others and sharing his experiences, Desi would go on to teach business, marketing and human resources management courses as an adjunct professor at Park University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University freshman courses). Following his retirement from the United States Military in 2005, Desi settled in Texas and served as Director of Business Operations for Austin-based Dell, Inc., responsible for numerous cross-functional business operations across North America, Asia, Canada, and Latin America. He later served as Senior Vice President for Brinks, responsible for North American customer operations. In 2013, Desi became part owner of the Harmony Products Group, while also starting PJEN LLC and (DBA Irving Renovation and Construction). As owner of PJEN, he does high-end home renovations and construction, including rebuilding devastated homes due to fires, custom pools, fireplaces and outdoor living structures. A Six Sigma Green Belt and PMP (Project Management Professional), Desi also consults for numerous companies in the areas of change management, process optimization and call center improvement. A disabled veteran, Desi also volunteers his time and his company’s services to remodel homes for other disabled veterans and donate dozens of turkeys and gift cards over the holidays for veterans and local store employees. He is the proud father of four children and has been with his wife, Paula Anderson, since 2004. The couple lives in the heart of North Texas in Irving, where Desi serves on the neighborhood homeowner’s association board. Website: http://www.desiforcongress.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/desiforcongress Twitter: @desiforcongress Instagram: @desiforcongress