Congratulations to this year’s class of AMT’s 40 Under 40 award winners. Those you’ll find in the coming pages represent the industry’s best and come from all around the world and world of aviation.
There are winners from Greece, Ireland and India, with jobs as varied as CEO, apprentice and staff sergeant. Some spend their days actively working on aircraft in the field, while others now find their focus more on the business and management side of aviation maintenance. There are those with decades under their belts, and others who represent the eager up-and-comers.
The average age this year is 31 and the winners have an average of 11 years of experience in the industry. Some found their way into the industry by chance or the recommendation of a friend or family member. Others followed in their family’s footsteps, practically born into the industry, or pursued a lifelong interest.
Where they work runs the gamut – from commercial to general aviation, working on firefighting aircraft, warbirds and more.
Their varied careers and individual stories shine a light on areas of the industry that don’t often get to bask in the spotlight – though they are critical. As you read about each winner over the coming pages and learn their story, let it remind you just how vast and intricate aircraft maintenance is, and how it has a home for every kind of person. Because, as many of this year’s winners said, their favorite thing about their work is the people and community that aviation offers.
- Aaron Simmons — Lead Aircraft Technician/Shop Manager, Gibson Aviation Services LLC
- Aashish Grover — Senior Technical Ops Lead, Archer Aviation
- AJ Silva — Chief Technical Officer / Co-Founder, Legacy Warbirds LLC
- Alexsander Garcia — President, ICON Aerospace
- Amber Garrett — Structures Team Leader, Duncan Aviation, Provo, Utah
- Austin T. Newby — Aviation Maintenance Technician, United Airlines SATMM
- Benjamin Cohen — Aviation Maintenance Technician, Coca-Cola Consolidated
- Bradley E. Campbell — Lead Technician, AWS CWI #15081051, StandardAero
- Caleb Gibson, Manager — ProOwnership Maintenance, Textron Aviation
- Chelsea Pearse — Reclamation Program Coordinator, Duncan Aviation, Lincoln, Nebraska
- Chris Hurtado — Aircraft Maintenance Technician, United Parcel Service (MIA) & FEAM Aero (MIA)
- Chrishanna Frayser — Aviation Maintenance Technician, Plane Care
- Ciaran Argue — Aircraft Maintenance Technician, Southwest Airlines
- Daniel Douglas — Maintenance Control Manager, Northern Jet Management
- Dave Campbell, B.S. — Maintenance Organization and Avionics Specialist, Avex Aviation, LLC
- Derek W. Kilberg — Falcon Lead Maintenance Tech, West Star Aviation Chattanooga
- Douglas D. Speight — Aircraft Mechanic, Wiggins Airways
- Dylan Trochim — Airframe Team Leader, Textron/Embraer, Duncan Aviation, Provo, Utah
- Eric Van Oeveren — Mechanic, Burgess Aircraft Management
- Faith Ortega — Helicopter Base Mechanic, Air Evac Lifeteam
- Gregory P. Ruby Jr. — Senior Inspector, Kalitta Air
- Jacob Davis — Maintenance Shop Manager, International Jet Aviation Services
- Jonathan Edmonds — Owner, Edmonds Aviation
- Jonathon D. Parnell — Shop Supervisor, Certified Aviation Services- Components
- John Shearer — A&P, IA, Shop Supervisor, Skytech
- Jordan Craig Moore — Apprentice Aircraft Technician, United Airlines
- Josh Rawlins — COO/Board Member/Director of Part 147 School, Epic Flight Academy
- SSgt. Joshua D. Hensley — Aircraft Metals Technician, 2nd Maintenance Squadron (2MXS), Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana
- Megan Bringham — A&P Mechanic, Thrust Flight
- Michael Green — Global Business Services Manager, AkzoNobel Aerospace Coatings
- Miles D. Anderson — Director of Maintenance, MindWinder Aviation and NorCal Aero
- Moritz Conrads — Senior Maintenance Manager, Spirit Airlines
- Neena Gill, CPA, CMA — VP/GM Helicopter Programs, StandardAero Limited
- Patrick G. Peterson — Owner, A&P, Repair Station Administrator, Sunshine Aviation Services
- Ray M. Mosquera — Avionics Technician/Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic, Flight-Deck Avionics
- Robert E. George Jr. — Director of Maintenance, Airborne Maintenance & Engineering Services Tampa, Florida
- Ryan Shepherd — Chief Executive Officer, Victory Lane Aviation
- Steven Rider — M.A.S., Director of Operations, Cannon Aviation Modification and Repair
- Timothy A. Smith — Challenger Operations Supervisor, Bombardier Business Aircraft – Hartford
- Tucker Johnson — Aircraft Mechanic IV, Lynden Air Cargo