"It Was Always One Team." The Lessons Two Veterans Never Left Behind
November 10, 2026
Blue Rapids, Kan
On the Navy's Blue Angels flight line, Chris Mocerino learned that no one's job was done until the whole team was done.
In the Air Force, Bill Donaldson learned that every inspection he signed off on meant his crew could fly safely.
Different branches, same lesson: the people around you are counting on you.
Years after hanging up their uniforms, they still live those lessons, now as teammates at Georgia-Pacific.
From flight line to front line
Mocerino spent 20 years in the U.S. Navy, much of it in leadership, including three years supporting the Blue Angels. Donaldson served 21 years in the U.S. Air Force, 12 of them overseas. He also supported the Thunderbirds and a special operations group.
Moving from the military to full-time civilian life and manufacturing roles took adjustment but both found the values they carried through their service fit naturally at Georgia-Pacific. For Donaldson, that came as a surprise.
"When I retired in 2018, I never expected to find another organization where I felt the same sense of belonging and purpose," he said. "The principles of integrity and respect immediately resonated with me because they aligned closely with the values I embraced throughout my military service. Georgia-Pacific has not only met those expectations but exceeded them."
He started with the company as a converting supervisor in Circleville, Ohio. His supervisor saw a fit for his strengths and encouraged him to move into learning and development. Now he helps develop employees from their first day on the job, the same kind of work that gave him purpose in the Air Force.
Mocerino joined Georgia-Pacific in 2015 as a production supervisor and moved through safety and learning and development roles before becoming a division manager.
"Much like the military, where career movement is common, GP offers opportunities to explore different roles if you're motivated and have a strong work ethic,” Mocerino said.
For both men, GP became more than a place to land. It became a place to carry forward the values they built over decades of service.
A dynamic grounded in principles
In the military, a concern left unspoken can put a mission, or a life, at risk. At Georgia-Pacific, where safety comes first, speaking up matters just as much. Both men say they learned to raise concerns and listen to when teammates do, and they bring that habit to work each day.
Mocerino believes strong teams are built on strong relationships, because trust makes it safe to have honest conversations and challenge ideas. Donaldson feels that every time he brings forward a new idea.
"I know I will receive honest feedback," he said. "It is never a personal attack, but rather a challenge to the ideas I present. That's our challenge process at work: test ideas, not people, so the best answer wins.”
Each knows what the other expects as a leader and teammate. For them, they say integrity, accountability and respect show up in everyday choices and actions, not just conversations.
Mocerino saw that teamwork with the Blue Angels and sees it now in his current role.
"Every crew member had a job, but finishing yours never meant you were done. You looked for who needed a hand next," he said. "It was always one team. That same spirit drives One Team here at work, where you look past your own role to help the whole organization win."
A time for reflection
For Mocerino and Donaldson, the meaning of Veterans Day reaches far beyond their own stories. They feel it's a time to honor everyone who has served, the families who stood beside them and the teammates who continue to carry those values forward.
As part of Georgia-Pacific's community of more than 1,300 current and former service members, they see firsthand the unique experiences veterans bring to the company.
"I appreciate that we value diverse perspectives and recognize the sacrifices veterans have made, while also providing opportunities for us to grow and make a meaningful impact,” Mocerino said.
For Donaldson, “Our journey is a reminder that the best teams aren’t defined by titles or backgrounds, but by showing up for each other and helping each other. That’s what ‘One Team’ means to me.”
