ABOUT AHEA
A Veteran-Founded Academy, Built on Hands-On Training
We are a veteran-founded organization with a mission to create new opportunities through hands-on heavy equipment training and workforce development.
OUR MISSION
Train. Empower. Employ.
Our Heavy Equipment Academy is being established to give individuals the practical skills, knowledge, and confidence they need to pursue careers in the construction, excavation, site development, and heavy equipment industries.
As veterans, we understand the importance of discipline, teamwork, leadership, safety, and having a skill that can lead to a meaningful career. We want to bring those same values into our academy and help prepare the next generation of skilled equipment operators.
We aim to provide hands-on training with real-world equipment and practical instruction that prepares students for the demands of the job site, helping veterans, transitioning service members, young adults, and individuals looking for a new career develop valuable skills that can open doors to employment and entrepreneurship.
MEET THE FOUNDERS
Veteran-Founded. Community Focused.
Our military experience taught us that success comes from preparation, hard work, accountability, and never leaving someone behind. We're bringing that mindset to AHEA.
Dean
Co-Founder & Instructor · U.S. Army Veteran
Dean Rightnowar is a 20-year U.S. Army veteran who brings decades of leadership, mechanical expertise, and hands-on field experience to the heavy equipment industry. Throughout his military career, he developed a strong foundation in equipment operations, maintenance, safety, team leadership, and training while working in demanding environments where professionalism and attention to detail were essential.
Dean has more than 10 years of hands-on experience operating numerous types of heavy equipment, including dozers, excavators, skid steers, telehandlers, loaders, and other construction and earthmoving equipment. His experience combines practical equipment operation with a strong understanding of job-site safety, equipment capabilities, preventive maintenance, and efficient work practices.
As the founder of American Heavy Equipment Academy LLC (AHEA), Dean is committed to passing that experience on to the next generation of operators. His goal is to provide students with practical, career-focused training that builds confidence, emphasizes safety, and prepares graduates with the real-world skills employers expect on today’s job sites.
Raymond
Co-Founder & Instructor · U.S. Army Veteran
A 20-year U.S. Army veteran with extensive experience as a tank mechanic and heavy equipment professional. Brings two decades of military leadership, mechanical expertise, safety awareness, and hands-on problem-solving to every job. Experienced in the operation and maintenance of heavy equipment, including skid steers, excavators, and telehandlers, with a strong commitment to safety, reliability, teamwork, and getting the job done right.
WHY HEAVY EQUIPMENT TRAINING
A Pathway to Opportunity
The construction and heavy equipment industries need skilled operators. We believe that quality training can provide people with more than just a certification. It can provide a pathway to a career and a better future. We are building more than a training program. We are building a pathway to opportunity.