About Adam Vaughan
Welcome to Vonski Travels
A little bit about me
As a kid growing up in Omaha, Nebraska, I didn’t dream of traveling much further than a regional waterpark. Sure, I’d heard tales of Ireland from my Irish aunts. But to 11-year-old me, far-off lands like England, Thailand, Germany, and Japan may as well have been on the moon. Meanwhile, real life was right here on the ground, in pick-up football games with my neighborhood friends.
In 1998, I enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, and everything changed. In the aftermath of 9/11, I deployed for the first time and began my journey around the globe. Throughout my 12 deployments, I visited some of the most war-torn parts of the world. Working with local families, I developed relationships with people from backgrounds significantly different from mine. As a result, I grew an appreciation for different ways of life and became more empathetic. I also gained an insatiable appetite for exploring new destinations and immersing myself in different cultures.
As part of my work as a Special Operations manager, I visited 47 countries and spent extended periods living in Japan, Qatar, and more. After I retired from the Air Force in 2018, I took a job as a global security specialist with Meta (formerly Facebook). This work has taken me to even more parts of the world, allowing me to experience a diverse array of people and cultures. I passionately believe that all people, regardless of gender, age, sexuality, or anything else, deserve fundamental human rights, and I strive to educate others about diversity and inclusion.
These days, I live in California with my wife Rosana (my lifelong adventure partner and an incredible photographer). When we aren’t traveling the world, we love spending time with our three wonderful kids, Andrew, Kylie, and Liam. You can find us going on long hikes, cooking elaborate dinners (and desserts), and planning our next great trip.
why I started
Vonski Travels
I started Vonski Travels to inspire empathy and wanderlust. Traveling isn’t just about tourism and snapping photos to show your Instagram friends all the cool stuff you do. (I mean, it can be about that too!) Travel is about growing as a person and bridging cultural divides. It’s about reclaiming your passion for life and reigniting your curiosity. It’s about finding fulfillment.
I’d love to be your guide to some of the world’s most fascinating places. Together, we’ll discover beautiful architecture, landscapes, culture, and – of course – food.
Together, let’s explore our little piece of the universe.