Age: 33
Years in Aviation: 13
Randy Chapko is currently the aviation program chair at Hallmark University responsible for leading and managing 15 instructors. His primary role as the program chair is to ensure the success of 200 plus students in school and in the aviation industry by establishing a scenario-based classroom environment that complies with FAR Part 147.
He began his aircraft maintenance career in 2002 with the United States Air Force as a C-130 crew chief at Little Rock AFB. After leaving the Air Force he attended Hallmark and received his FAA A&P certificate, worked in general aviation for one year, and returned to Hallmark as an aviation maintenance instructor.
Chapko says, “At the age of 19 years old I joined the U.S. Air Force, my motivation was the 9/11 attack. The thing I love about aviation the most is meeting individuals with 30 plus years of aviation experience and see they are still learning. It is an industry that is consistently evolving.”
Chapko’s mentor was one of his supervisors in the Air Force and credits him with teaching him to strive for excellence. He says, “A lot of how I operate today was influenced by watching him.”
Chapko says, “Working at Hallmark University has afforded me the opportunity to give back to the aviation industry on a daily basis. We’re training the future of aviation maintenance by exposing our students to a “real-world” environment, in which we receive input from our program advisory committee made up of leaders from the aviation industry.
“Each year here at Hallmark I host the San Antonio Wings Academy, which is a group of at risk kids from deprived homes. We give them a tour of our campus, an aviation activity to perform, and give them hope.” He’s also attended the annual Aviation Technician Education Council’s annual convention the past two years.
Chapko feels aviation education is a big part of his life and as long as he sees himself changing lives, making a difference in the aviation industry, and can share his passion for aviation, he will consider it a success. His goal is to learn how to fly and eventually own his own aircraft.
