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Panama City Today
By the People, for the People
Navy Vet Noah Sloan Dives for Families and Community in East Tennessee
Sloan, a member of the Knox County Rescue dive team, uses his skills to help recover missing persons and lost items at no cost to families.
Apr. 20, 2026 at 4:05am
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The vibrant and iconic diving gear of Noah Sloan, a Navy veteran who dedicates his life to serving the East Tennessee community through underwater search and recovery missions.Panama City TodayNoah Sloan, a 37-year-old Navy veteran, has found a new calling as part of the Knox County Rescue (KCR) dive team in Knoxville, Tennessee. After serving in the Navy and completing tours in Afghanistan, Sloan now dedicates his time to helping families in crisis, using his diving expertise to recover missing persons and lost items at no cost. He co-owns a dive company called 'Need-a-Diver' that provides these services, and has been involved in over 10 body recoveries in the past year alone.
Why it matters
Sloan's work with the KCR dive team and his 'Need-a-Diver' company provides an invaluable service to the local community, offering compassionate and professional assistance to families during their darkest moments. His commitment to public service and using his unique skills to help others is an inspiring example of how veterans can continue to make a difference after their military service.
The details
Sloan, who was born in Los Angeles and raised in Julian, California, joined the Navy in 2007 after graduating high school. During his nine-year naval career, he completed dive training at the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center in Panama City, Florida, and served two tours in Afghanistan as a Navy Hospital Corpsman. After leaving the military, Sloan moved to Knoxville in 2022 and joined the KCR dive team, where he has been involved in numerous recovery operations in the lakes and rivers around East Tennessee.
- Sloan joined the KCR dive team three years ago, in 2022.
- In 2025, Sloan and the 'Need-a-Diver' team recovered the body of David Molina, 25, from Douglas Lake at a depth of 81 feet.
The players
Noah Sloan
A 37-year-old Navy veteran who now serves on the Knox County Rescue dive team and co-owns a dive company called 'Need-a-Diver' that provides search and recovery services to families at no cost.
Kedrick McKenzie
Sloan's business partner in the 'Need-a-Diver' company.
Jason Hopkins
Sloan's other business partner in the 'Need-a-Diver' company.
What they’re saying
“Afghanistan was like the wild west. Constant firefights and engagements. It was every bit a war. On average, we had two or three Marines killed daily.”
— Noah Sloan
“We proudly offer our search and recovery efforts involving missing loved ones at no cost to families. You can't put a price on a human life or on recovering their remains.”
— Noah Sloan
What’s next
Sloan and the KCR dive team will continue to provide their search and recovery services to families in need, working closely with local authorities and organizations to ensure the safe return of missing persons and lost items.
The takeaway
Noah Sloan's dedication to public service and his willingness to use his unique diving skills to help families in crisis is a heartwarming example of how veterans can make a lasting impact on their local communities after their military service.
