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Lessons in Leadership: Air Force Veteran’s Journey to Becoming a Chick-fil-A Owner-Operator
Nov. 11, 2024
“My community and my team are my mission”
After eight years in the Air Force as an Intelligence Analyst, Tyler Pischke had a life-changing moment while listening to a podcast that would alter the course of his career. The episode that captivated Tyler’s attention featured Marlon Terrell, an Owner-Operator of Chick-fil-A St. Georges Avenue in New Jersey, discussing how the skills he learned in the Navy translated to being a successful leader at his Chick-fil-A restaurant. His journey from the armed forces to Chick-fil-A piqued Tyler’s interest and he started looking into pursuing the opportunity himself.
Coming off a year-long deployment in 2018, and with a new baby on the way, Tyler felt a calling to pursue a different path—one that would align with his evolving personal and professional goals.
“My community and my team are my mission”
After eight years in the Air Force as an Intelligence Analyst, Tyler Pischke had a life-changing moment while listening to a podcast that would alter the course of his career. The episode that captivated Tyler’s attention featured Marlon Terrell, an Owner-Operator of Chick-fil-A St. Georges Avenue in New Jersey, discussing how the skills he learned in the Navy translated to being a successful leader at his Chick-fil-A restaurant. His journey from the armed forces to Chick-fil-A piqued Tyler’s interest and he started looking into pursuing the opportunity himself.
Coming off a year-long deployment in 2018, and with a new baby on the way, Tyler felt a calling to pursue a different path—one that would align with his evolving personal and professional goals.
A Heart of Service
Tyler never imagined he would enlist in the military, but he always knew one thing—he wanted to serve others. While in college, Tyler enlisted in the Air Force, inspired by a friend who was serving in the Air Force and the tough job market brought on by the economic recession.
During his time as an Intelligence Analyst in the Air Force, Tyler fulfilled his goal of personal growth while serving others. He poured into the airmen he supervised, fully invested in their development and success.
“Serving the airmen under me was the best part of my job,” Tyler said. “Just like a parent wants their kids to have a better life than they did, I used to tell my airmen that I wanted them to have a better career than I did.”
However, the experience wasn’t without its challenges. Constantly on the move and being far from family made it difficult to put down roots.
Chick-fil-A was a place that felt like home for Tyler and his family. He and his wife, Alex, both originally from Woodstock, Georgia, found comfort in the familiar atmosphere of the restaurant, no matter where life took them as they moved from coast to coast for Tyler’s station assignments. The sense of community, warm hospitality, and consistently high-quality food made his family foster a deep connection with the brand, sparking Tyler’s interest in pursuing a career with Chick-fil-A. He even worked as Team Member at his local Chick-fil-A restaurant in high school.
A Heart of Service
Tyler never imagined he would enlist in the military, but he always knew one thing—he wanted to serve others. While in college, Tyler enlisted in the Air Force, inspired by a friend who was serving in the Air Force and the tough job market brought on by the economic recession.
During his time as an Intelligence Analyst in the Air Force, Tyler fulfilled his goal of personal growth while serving others. He poured into the airmen he supervised, fully invested in their development and success.
“Serving the airmen under me was the best part of my job,” Tyler said. “Just like a parent wants their kids to have a better life than they did, I used to tell my airmen that I wanted them to have a better career than I did.”
However, the experience wasn’t without its challenges. Constantly on the move and being far from family made it difficult to put down roots.
Chick-fil-A was a place that felt like home for Tyler and his family. He and his wife, Alex, both originally from Woodstock, Georgia, found comfort in the familiar atmosphere of the restaurant, no matter where life took them as they moved from coast to coast for Tyler’s station assignments. The sense of community, warm hospitality, and consistently high-quality food made his family foster a deep connection with the brand, sparking Tyler’s interest in pursuing a career with Chick-fil-A. He even worked as Team Member at his local Chick-fil-A restaurant in high school.
Dream to Reality
By November 2018, Tyler took the first step toward his future by submitting a general interest form to Chick-fil-A. He quickly realized he needed to refresh his restaurant skills, as it had been years since his high school job at Chick-fil-A, before stepping back into the world of the restaurant.
This realization led Tyler to connect with one of the most pivotal figures in both his personal and professional life — Erik Smith, the local Owner-Operator of Chick-fil-A Grovetown in Augusta, Georgia.
Eager to learn and stationed in Augusta at the time, Tyler reached out to Erik for advice on the path to becoming a local Owner-Operator. What started as a simple conversation soon turned into a hands-on mentorship. Tyler began volunteering at Erik’s restaurant on Saturdays, immersing himself in the business to explore if this was truly where his passion lay.
Thrown into new and sometimes stressful situations at the restaurant, Tyler found himself navigating challenges he hadn’t faced before. But each Saturday, he walked away feeling fulfilled and more certain that this was the right path for him.
Confident in his future with Chick-fil-A, Tyler enrolled in the Transition Assistance Program sponsored by the Department of Defense, applying for the SkillBridge program, which would allow him to spend his last 6 months of service in permissive duty, working and learning in civilian career areas. Despite being in the interview process with no guarantee of becoming an Owner-Operator, Tyler convinced the program directors of his potential, allowing him to spend his last six months of service interning at Erik’s restaurant. After being honorably discharged, Tyler transitioned into a full-time Team Member at Erik’s restaurant.
Dream to Reality
By November 2018, Tyler took the first step toward his future by submitting a general interest form to Chick-fil-A. He quickly realized he needed to refresh his restaurant skills, as it had been years since his high school job at Chick-fil-A, before stepping back into the world of the restaurant.
This realization led Tyler to connect with one of the most pivotal figures in both his personal and professional life — Erik Smith, the local Owner-Operator of Chick-fil-A Grovetown in Augusta, Georgia.
Eager to learn and stationed in Augusta at the time, Tyler reached out to Erik for advice on the path to becoming a local Owner-Operator. What started as a simple conversation soon turned into a hands-on mentorship. Tyler began volunteering at Erik’s restaurant on Saturdays, immersing himself in the business to explore if this was truly where his passion lay.
Thrown into new and sometimes stressful situations at the restaurant, Tyler found himself navigating challenges he hadn’t faced before. But each Saturday, he walked away feeling fulfilled and more certain that this was the right path for him.
Confident in his future with Chick-fil-A, Tyler enrolled in the Transition Assistance Program sponsored by the Department of Defense, applying for the SkillBridge program, which would allow him to spend his last 6 months of service in permissive duty, working and learning in civilian career areas. Despite being in the interview process with no guarantee of becoming an Owner-Operator, Tyler convinced the program directors of his potential, allowing him to spend his last six months of service interning at Erik’s restaurant. After being honorably discharged, Tyler transitioned into a full-time Team Member at Erik’s restaurant.
I knew that to truly be a leader and mentor to my future Team Members, I had to understand their day-to-day struggles and triumphs. Working in the restaurant gave me the experience I needed to one day lead my own team and restaurant.
Tyler Pischke, Local Owner-Operator, Chick-fil-A Toccoa
“I knew that to truly be a leader and mentor to my future Team Members, I had to understand their day-to-day struggles and triumphs,” Tyler said. “Working in the restaurant gave me the experience I needed to one day lead my own team and restaurant.”
Under Erik’s mentorship, Tyler honed his business skills and gained a deep understanding of restaurant operations. His hard work culminated when he was selected to operate the Chick-fil-A restaurant in Toccoa, Georgia, in August 2022, officially opening its doors in January 2023.
Transferrable Skills
The leadership skills Tyler gained in the Air Force have had a profound impact on how he runs his restaurant. When asked about the lessons he's carried over from his military service to leading his team, Tyler highlighted four key principles:
1. Mission Completion Mindset
“In the military, you are taught that if you have a mission or a goal, that you see it through to completion by working with the team that you have.”
In the Air Force, failure wasn’t an option. Tyler operates with a similar “no-fail” mindset, but he also teaches his team that every setback is a valuable learning opportunity—a steppingstone toward future success.
2. Attention to Detail
“One small deviation from your attention to detail could result in a life-or-death matter in the military.”
Precision was critical in the military, where even the smallest oversight could have serious consequences. Tyler applies this same attention to detail in his restaurant, knowing that even the little things can make or break a Guest’s experience. He encourages his team to put the customer first in every interaction, even in small gestures—like ensuring the Guest’s bag is facing forward with their name spelled correctly, so they feel seen and valued.
3. Resourcefulness
"In the military, you may not always have everything you need, but knowing how to find answers and adapt on the fly is crucial to getting the job done."
In both the military and the restaurant, there are moments when everything you need isn’t readily available. Tyler has learned to be quick on his feet and creative in problem-solving skills he’s passed down to his team, teaching them how to adapt and find solutions when challenges arise.
4. Caring for Others
“When you are in a work environment and know that people around you genuinely care about you, you tend to enjoy your job a lot more.”
The sense of camaraderie in the military is deeply rooted, extending not only among service members but to their families, as well. During his time in the Air Force, Tyler and his family relied on this support network. Today, he fosters that same spirit of care in the Toccoa community by going above and beyond for his guests and his team.
Tyler remains closely connected to the military community, both locally and beyond. He hosts in-restaurant Veterans Day celebrations and donates food to groups like a monthly Veterans coffee gathering. He also extends his support outside Toccoa, recently traveling to Washington, D.C., to participate in a career fair for Veterans transitioning to civilian life.
“Any way that I can encourage others and use the blessings God has given me to support fellow veterans, my community and my team is my mission right now,” Tyler said.
“I knew that to truly be a leader and mentor to my future Team Members, I had to understand their day-to-day struggles and triumphs,” Tyler said. “Working in the restaurant gave me the experience I needed to one day lead my own team and restaurant.”
Under Erik’s mentorship, Tyler honed his business skills and gained a deep understanding of restaurant operations. His hard work culminated when he was selected to operate the Chick-fil-A restaurant in Toccoa, Georgia, in August 2022, officially opening its doors in January 2023.
Transferrable Skills
The leadership skills Tyler gained in the Air Force have had a profound impact on how he runs his restaurant. When asked about the lessons he's carried over from his military service to leading his team, Tyler highlighted four key principles:
1. Mission Completion Mindset
“In the military, you are taught that if you have a mission or a goal, that you see it through to completion by working with the team that you have.”
In the Air Force, failure wasn’t an option. Tyler operates with a similar “no-fail” mindset, but he also teaches his team that every setback is a valuable learning opportunity—a steppingstone toward future success.
2. Attention to Detail
“One small deviation from your attention to detail could result in a life-or-death matter in the military.”
Precision was critical in the military, where even the smallest oversight could have serious consequences. Tyler applies this same attention to detail in his restaurant, knowing that even the little things can make or break a Guest’s experience. He encourages his team to put the customer first in every interaction, even in small gestures—like ensuring the Guest’s bag is facing forward with their name spelled correctly, so they feel seen and valued.
3. Resourcefulness
"In the military, you may not always have everything you need, but knowing how to find answers and adapt on the fly is crucial to getting the job done."
In both the military and the restaurant, there are moments when everything you need isn’t readily available. Tyler has learned to be quick on his feet and creative in problem-solving skills he’s passed down to his team, teaching them how to adapt and find solutions when challenges arise.
4. Caring for Others
“When you are in a work environment and know that people around you genuinely care about you, you tend to enjoy your job a lot more.”
The sense of camaraderie in the military is deeply rooted, extending not only among service members but to their families, as well. During his time in the Air Force, Tyler and his family relied on this support network. Today, he fosters that same spirit of care in the Toccoa community by going above and beyond for his guests and his team.
Tyler remains closely connected to the military community, both locally and beyond. He hosts in-restaurant Veterans Day celebrations and donates food to groups like a monthly Veterans coffee gathering. He also extends his support outside Toccoa, recently traveling to Washington, D.C., to participate in a career fair for Veterans transitioning to civilian life.
“Any way that I can encourage others and use the blessings God has given me to support fellow veterans, my community and my team is my mission right now,” Tyler said.
