Jeremy Locke
Presented with the 2024 Icon Patriot Award
Icon Patriot Award Background
The Icon Patriot Humanitarian Award is presented to someone who has demonstrated their passion for serving humanity through their significant contributions to support the Military, Veterans or Frontline Workers.
The Icon Patriot Award signifies greater levels of contribution across more categories than our Patriot Award.
Important factors considered in who this award is presented to include: consistency, social impact, selflessness, courage, honor, saving lives, and perseverance.
Recipient Background
Jeremy Locke is the Co-Founder of Aerial Recovery and a US Army Special Forces veteran with 20 years of military experience. Jeremy was presented with our first-ever 2024 Be Great! Icon Patriot Award for his astounding humanitarian efforts leveraging his military expertise to save lives, combat human trafficking, produce disaster response solutions, and provide purpose-driven opportunities for veterans in areas that need it most. Through Aerial Recovery and his various initiatives, Jeremy's efforts focus on three main areas:
Disaster Response
In 2019, Locke's humanitarian journey began when he responded to Hurricane Dorian alongside his now-wife, Britnie Turner. This experience revealed the effectiveness of applying military skills to disaster relief efforts, inspiring them to transform Aerial Recovery into a veteran-powered non-profit organization.
Anti-Human Trafficking Operations
Locke's commitment to fighting human trafficking is a cornerstone of his humanitarian work:
- In 2021, he deployed on his first anti-human trafficking mission to Uganda.
- He now leads a team of elite military and law enforcement veterans on anti-human trafficking operations through Aerial Recovery.
- Locke has spearheaded recovery and rescue missions across more than 20 countries, focusing on rescuing trafficking victims.
- In 2024, he led Aerial Recovery to provide aid in Hurricane Milton and Helene in Florida and surrounding states.
Veteran Empowerment
Locke's humanitarian efforts extend to empowering fellow veterans:
- He established the Heal the Heroes Initiative, a year-long healing program that repurposes struggling veterans and first responders.
- This initiative helps to heal and repurpose over 100 veterans per year, enabling them to utilize their skills in meaningful life-saving work.
- Upon completion of the program, participants can train as Humanitarian Special Operators, conducting anti-human trafficking and disaster response missions under Locke's guidance.
2024 Award Recipients
AMECA
Innovation Award
Recognizing her unprecedented humanitarian-type efforts in raising awareness of robotics, bringing joy to others, and not serving a purpose to replace humans with jobs or tasks.
Dave Koz
Inspiration Award
Recognizing his extraordinary humanitarian efforts by uniting the Dave Koz Fan Network through the power of music & culture to raise over $2 million for hospitalized kids and serving as an ambassador for Starlight Children's Foundation.
Khloe Thompson
Rockstar Youth Award
Recognizing her amazing humanitarian efforts at a young age in serving homeless communities, empowering young women, and supporting underserved communities in Southern California & Ghana through her non-profit Khloe Kares.
Jeremy Locke
Icon Patriot Award
Recognizing his astounding humanitarian efforts leveraging his military expertise to save lives, combat human trafficking, produce disaster response solutions, and provide purpose-driven opportunities for veterans in areas that need it most through his non-profit Aeriel Recovery.
Dame Didi Wong
Social Impact Humanitarian Award
Recognizing her for her significant humanitarian efforts in education, women's empowerment, peace, human rights, and cultural exchange with the Minard-Wong Foundation.
Ethan Evans
Icon Humanitarian Award
Ethan Evans has dedicated a significant portion of his career to humanitarian work, focusing on war refugees, building schools and medical clinics in Uganda, the environment and climate change.
Adley Kinsman
Positive Influencer Award
Recognizing her incredible example of spreading positive content as a major social media influencer to millions of people internationally and a commitment to helping others in the digital content space.