2023 AMT 40 Under 40 Maintenance Professional: Robert E. George Jr. — Director of Maintenance, Airborne Maintenance & Engineering Services Tampa, Florida

Robert George manages large, complex projects while keeping a close eye on the details within the operation, and all the while, he is developing and strengthening the team around him.  

As the director of maintenance, George is responsible for overseeing eight lines of maintenance (five customers: United Airlines, ABX Air, Frontier Airlines, Delta Airlines and Cargo Aircraft Management (CAM)). At any given time, eight to 15 aircraft can be on site for heavy maintenance (C and D checks). (The CAM aircraft are part of the A321 freighter conversion program.) 

Nine managers, overseeing more than 450 technicians, report to George, who compares his leadership style to coaching. He has “a lead by example, team first mentality,” and said the focus is maintaining safety, quality and compliance but also on employees and employee morale. 

George started his aviation career as a baggage handler. While obtaining his Airframe & Powerplant license through the National Aviation Academy in Clearwater, Florida, he worked at a local FBO providing private and commercial aircraft ground handling and refueling services. Upon obtaining his licensure, George gained a position at Pemco World Air Services, now Airborne Maintenance and Engineering Services, as a technician performing heavy maintenance on commercial jet aircraft. Here he advanced to lead technician, then production supervisor, production manager and in 2022, he was promoted to director of maintenance for Airborne’s Tampa facilities. 

Growing up close to St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport, George says, “Watching airplanes take off and land safety never gets old.” And, he says, neither does knowing that he’s part of that industry.