Age: 28
Years in Aviation: 5
Richard Anthony Atwood began his career at Atlas Air in the beginning of 2011 as a quality assurance records auditor. He moved into the quality assurance internal/external auditor in November 2011. In August 2014 he became the senior quality systems auditor for AAR Aircraft Services – Lake Charles, LA. In May 2015, he was promoted to the quality assurance manager.
Atwood started his career as an intern at Atlas Air, and once he was exposed to the aviation industry he became fascinated and eager to become more involved and educated in the aviation world.
He cites Bobby Wood at Atlas Air, Michael Lance Foster, and Art Smith at AAR as mentors who have guided his career advancement.
Atwood achieved a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Arkansas at Monticello; he double majored in business management and business marketing. He has received additional training on safety management systems, safety risk management, continuing analysis and surveillance systems, human factors from the U.S. Department of Transportation, along with an OSHA 10-hour hazard recognition for general industry from the American Safety Council.
Atwood is committed to enhancing human factors with technicians and enhancing safety awareness on the floor. He has enhanced the development of focused training on safety issues and is currently conducting safety awareness training for all technicians at the Lake Charles facility. He strives to constantly improve the safety culture throughout the industry and goes above and beyond to create heightened awareness in all aspects of aviation to make the industry stronger.
As to the future, Atwood utilizes the knowledge and principles acquired to obtain greater experience through practice, through continuous education enhancement in a true work environment. He is committed to professional and personal growth inside of AAR where he can share and apply his knowledge, abilities, and expectations, through team work to achieve the company objectives.
