Aircraft Maintenance Technology is proud to recognize Jeremy Renken of Watford Aeroservice as one of AMT’s Most Influential in Maintenance with the 2026 AMT Rising Star Award.

The AMT Rising Star Award honors aircraft mechanics who are new to the industry and are making great strides in the early stages of their careers. 

According to Watford Aeroservice A&P Mechanic/IA Arlen Sandland, “Jeremy is always going above and beyond to help people and give back to the community.”

Sandland elaborates, “He puts out videos to try and teach people, helps the FAA with safety stuff and even works on airplanes for no charge because it's more important to him that the customer is happy than to take a profit.”

What makes Renken a rising star in aircraft maintenance? 

Having entered the aviation industry only around five years ago, Renken is already making a difference at his workplace and for other aircraft mechanics.

Sandland highlights Renken’s rapid development, from starting as an apprentice with some maintenance experience to earning his A&P to now running the Watford Aeroservice shop and achieving credentials like:

• FAA Safety Representative
• Agricultural pilot
• Commercial pilot
• Instrument rating

As Sandland states, “He even started a YouTube channel highlighting all the things he is doing at the shop and in aviation, like building a SNJ-4 Warbird.”

Renken notes that inspiring the younger generation of AMTs is a huge motivation for his dedication to excellence and sharing the knowledge he acquires. He says, “This is one of the main reasons I started documenting everything we do here at Watford AeroService through our YouTube channel.”

Renken adds, “I hope these videos will open eyes, spark curiosity and encourage young people to explore all the incredible possibilities aviation has to offer.”

What is Renken’s aviation career path like?

Renken shares how he and a friend learned from an airport employee about the chance to earn a Private Pilot License (PPL), explaining, “He mentioned there was a flight club on the field that we could join and that they had an available Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) we could start training with. We signed up immediately.”

After earning his A&P and eventually taking over and running that very flight club with his friend, Renken says he fell in love with aviation maintenance almost immediately when finding Watford Aeroservice—where Sandland was running operations.

As Renken visited on a day when the shop’s A&P apprentice had suddenly departed, the department in disarray, he shares that he offered to volunteer in the shop to help tackle the backlog in return for Sandland taking him on as his new A&P apprentice.

“I cannot thank Arlen, Luke and the Taylor family enough for everything they’ve done to help me get here,” adds Renken.

Which accomplishments are Renken most proud of?

Renken outlines several accomplishments that make him proud of his hard work, such as:

• Earning A&P Mechanic certification
• Pursuing Inspection Authorization (IA)
• Flying a turbine Thrush an Agricultural Pilot

On the significance of agricultural piloting—and the Thrush, in particular—Renken shares, “This passion traces back to my younger days in Yankton, South Dakota, where I spent weekends washing those same Ag planes just to earn a little extra money.”

He elaborates, “At the time, it felt like an impossible dream. The training was far too expensive, and I simply didn’t have the time or financial means to make it happen.”

Renken notes, “Still, I never let go of that dream. Twenty years later, with all the training complete, I now have a seat in a Thrush.”

What are Renken’s hopes for the future of aviation maintenance?

Renken highlights technological innovations as key for the future of aircraft maintenance, sharing, “I believe we need to fully embrace the new technologies available to us and use them to share ideas, troubleshoot problems, and improve training more effectively.”

Renken continues, “There is significant opportunity ahead to leverage technology to improve safety and make critical information more accessible and easier to understand.”

Giving some examples of next-gen technology solutions that help with aircraft maintenance, Renken points out Savvy Aviation.

He says, “Their online platform connects a team of A&P/IAs directly with the public to assist with diagnostic issues.”

Another idea Renken identifies is collaborating with the FAA and OEMs to create a video library that covers Airworthiness Directives (AD) and Service Bulletins.

Renken elaborates, “Imagine logging into a centralized database, searching for a specific AD, and watching a clear, professional video that explains the background of the issue, the problems it addresses, exactly what inspectors should look for, and step-by-step compliance guidance—complete with real-world examples.”

“The wording in many of these directives and bulletins can often be confusing and difficult to interpret, especially for younger A&Ps,” notes Renken, “Videos like this would be an excellent way to help mechanics fully understand the intent and requirements of the information presented.”

What advice does Renken have for new AMTs?

To newly training aircraft mechanics, Renken advises, “Whether you want to work on jet engines in a large facility or maintain small GA aircraft at your local airport, the key is to find what truly makes you happy and pursue that.”

Renken says, “Come into this business with open ears and an eager mindset. Listen carefully to everything around you and absorb as much knowledge as possible, especially from the seasoned mechanics who are willing to teach.”

He continues, “This industry is losing these experienced professionals every year, and the younger generation needs to learn as much as they can from them while they’re still here. They carry decades of hard-earned knowledge and experience that must be passed on to the next generation.”

Renken concludes, “In my short time as an AMT, I’ve learned a tremendous amount and met some truly amazing people. My only regret so far is that I wish I had started sooner.”