By Kevin Moon, Fastest Labs

After serving 30 years in the United States Air Force, I learned that leadership isn’t just about accomplishing the mission — it’s about building teams, solving problems, and creating opportunities for others to succeed.

Those lessons carried me through a career in military service, into government work, and ultimately into entrepreneurship. Looking back, I realize every chapter prepared me for the next.

Following my retirement from the Air Force, I joined the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), where I continued supporting our nation’s mission in a civilian capacity. While I enjoyed the work, my wife, Lisa, and I always dreamed of building something we could call our own — a business that reflected our values of integrity, service, and excellence.

That opportunity came when we launched Perfected Logistics, an Amazon Delivery Service Partner (DSP). Operating a logistics company was challenging, rewarding, and fast-paced. Like every DSP, maintaining a safe, drug-free workforce was essential, which introduced us to Fastest Labs.

At the time, we were using traditional laboratory drug testing that often took three to four days to return results. Every delayed result meant another delay in getting qualified drivers behind the wheel. Then we discovered Fastest Labs.

The difference was remarkable. Instead of waiting days, we had reliable screening results in under five minutes. That level of efficiency transformed our hiring process and gave us firsthand experience with the value Fastest Labs delivered to employers.

Although our Amazon contract concluded in October 2023, it unexpectedly opened the door to our next chapter. Rather than viewing the end of our logistics business as a setback, Lisa and I saw it as an opportunity to pivot into an industry we had already come to respect. We knew there was tremendous value in helping businesses hire faster while maintaining safe workplaces.

In September 2023, we formed KLM Solutions LLC and began preparing to open Fastest Labs of South Baltimore. After months of planning and training, we celebrated our soft opening in January 2024, followed by our Grand Opening in March with the support of the North Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce.

One of the proudest moments of that day was receiving recognition from our local councilman, Pete Smith, in front of our family, friends, and community partners. It wasn’t simply the opening of another business — it represented the beginning of a new mission centered on serving our community.

Like many entrepreneurs, I initially viewed our services primarily through a business lens. Drug testing, occupational health, and DNA testing were valuable services employers needed. Then one experience permanently changed my perspective.

One of our first legal paternity tests resulted in the alleged father being excluded as the biological parent.

Delivering those life-changing results was emotionally difficult. Behind every specimen and every report are real people, real families, and real lives. It became impossible to think of our work as simply processing tests. We were helping people navigate some of the most important moments of their lives with professionalism, compassion, and accuracy.

That experience reinforced something I had learned throughout my military career: meaningful work isn’t measured by the task itself but by its impact on people.

Since opening our doors, we’ve continued expanding our services to meet the needs of employers and government agencies alike. In addition to drug and alcohol testing, we’ve added DOT physical examinations and fingerprinting services, allowing us to become a more comprehensive workforce compliance partner.

We’ve also been honored to grow into federal drug testing by serving as a subcontractor supporting agencies including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Offices of Inspector General (OIG), and other federal organizations. For someone who spent decades serving the federal government, it’s especially rewarding to continue supporting critical public safety missions in a new capacity.

Throughout this journey, one constant has been the strength of the Fastest Labs franchise system.

From the beginning, the corporate team has been committed to our success — not only through initial training but through ongoing coaching, operational guidance, and a genuine willingness to help franchisees overcome challenges. Just as valuable has been the franchise community itself.

One of the greatest strengths of Fastest Labs is the culture of collaboration among franchise owners. Rather than competing with one another, owners openly share ideas, best practices, operational improvements, and lessons learned. That spirit of continual improvement creates an environment where everyone grows stronger together.

As a veteran, that sense of teamwork feels familiar. Success isn’t achieved individually; it’s built through shared knowledge, trust, and a common commitment to excellence.

If there’s one lesson my journey has taught me, it’s that careers don’t always follow a straight line. A military career led to government service. Government service led to logistics. Logistics introduced us to Fastest Labs. And today, we’re privileged to serve employers, families, and federal agencies throughout our community.

Franchising gave us more than a business opportunity — it gave us a proven system, a supportive network, and a new mission. For Lisa and me, opening Fastest Labs of South Baltimore wasn’t simply about becoming business owners. It was about continuing a lifetime of service, just in a different uniform.

Kevin Moon is the co-owner/operator of Fastest Labs of South Baltimore. For more information about IFA franchisor member Fastest Labs, please visit franchise.org/franchise-opportunities/fastestlabs-the-drug-testing-franchise/.