Congratulations to client and PKL Services CEO Mike Naylor for his 2023 Director of the Year recognition from the Corporate Directors Forum (CDF). Mike was recognized in the category of Emerging Board Leader for what CDF said was “outstanding efforts in the boardroom and behind the scenes.” He received the honor September 7, 2023, at an awards ceremony in San Diego, California.

Mike joined PKL in 2013 following a distinguished 30-year career with the U.S. Marine Corps, retiring as a Colonel. An elite provider of military aircraft maintenance and operations services through government and commercial contracts, PKL hires military veterans that provide aircraft maintenance and logistics support as well as maintenance and pilot/aircrew training for U.S and allied foreign military service members around the globe.

Mike’s prior military service includes serving as the Deputy Commander, Marine Corps Installations West at Camp Pendleton, California; Chief of Staff U.S. Joint Forces Command and U.S. National Liaison Representative to NATO Allied Command Transformation in Norfolk, Virgina; and the Commanding Officer of both Expeditionary Warfare Training Group, Atlantic in Norfolk, and the Marine Corps’ CH-46E helicopter training squadron, at Camp Pendleton. He also served as the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Commandant, Programs and Resources in the Pentagon and as a weapons and tactics instructor pilot at MAWTS-1 (Marine Corps equivalent of Top Gun) in Yuma, Arizona.

Mike earned a master’s degree in National Defense Resource Strategy at the National Defense University, Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Throughout his career he accumulated 5,000 hours as a pilot in a variety of aircraft including the CH-46E, CH-53D/E, UH-1N, MV-22A Operational Test Director/Pilot and as a Presidential Pilot at HMX-1 in the VH-3D and VH60N flying Marine One for Presidents George H.W. Bush and William Clinton.

Learn more about CDF and all of its 2023 honorees on its website.