AMT Next Gen Award: Jason E. Hernandez

Feb. 23, 2016
Chief Inspector, SyngineeringNDT

Age: 36

Years in Aviation: 16

Jason Hernandez’s professional career began in the U.S. Army. After eight years in service, he began his A&P training. He took a job as a component inspection technician and later as a repairman, quality inspector, and maintenance floor supervisor at Hatfield Aviation. He is currently chief inspector at SyngineeringNDT in Houston. He has Level 2 Repairman, Magnetic Particle Inspection Level 2, Fluorescent Penetrant Inspection Level 2, Eddy Current Inspection Level 2, Visual Inspection Level 2, and Ultrasonic Inspection Level 2 certificates.

He is currently responsible for all aspects of safety and quality management execution for a fully functioning Part 145 repair station including all nondestructive testing (NDT) technical operations and NDT employee training. Hernandez is also responsible for the quality program and co-manages the program directly with the repair station manager.

Early in his life he was motivated by his cousin, Jesse Perez, who works for NASA as a support engineer. “I was always mesmerized by his enthusiasm, love of aviation, and the enjoyment he derived from his work with NASA projects,” he says. “It started in me a fascination for aviation history and the mechanical aspects of how aviation worked. Later I became interested in flying and becoming a rated pilot.”

Throughout his life he has had personal and professional mentors who guided him, and taught him the skills of not only life, but career development. Sergeant Alex Jones “taught me the value of devotion, commitment and helping those less gifted.” The other person was the repair station manager and senior A&P mechanic Joe Wotipka at Hatfield Aviation, Hernandez says. “He taught me professional standards, quality, and reinforced my love of what aviation is all about.”

To give back to the industry he loves, Hernandez spends time with at-risk teens through programs teaching them mechanical skills and trying to develop interest in aviation and aviation maintenance. He also provides a positive role model for his team mates and employees that he supervises by mentoring their development and guiding their professional growth.

As for the future, Hernandez would like to become a skilled ANST Level III inspector and be an industry expert in NDT and accident investigation.