Tim Carter, 27, is Shop Supervisor at the Aviation Institute of Maintenance in Chesapeake, VA. He monitors shop and facility maintenance ensuring a safe and effective learning outcome is achieved in the aviation environment. Carter maintains a wide variety of programs: tool inspection and inventory, safety, hazardous waste, calibration, building maintenance, and training equipment. Responsibilities include ensuring compliance with all FAA and regulatory bodies. He helps source and purchase products in support of class functions and events, and develops annual and monthly budgets resulting in reduced expenditures and overall increased performance levels. 

Carter's passion for aviation first developed turning wrenches on the Boeing EA-18G. "The complexity of each system and engineering design sparked an interest that I won’t forget very easily. Appreciation of the job and new technological advancements with increasing safety measures so easily carried over to lifelong measures."

His grandfather was his mentor. "He was a man of many talents, but education wasn’t his strong suit. As an entrepreneur and business owner he put in the work to create a successful career path for him and his family for generations to follow. His words of encouragement helped shape and define my desire to continue education and follow my career path in aviation."

He received his training from four years in the U.S. Navy and servicing the aircraft. He has completed numerous schools while in the Navy including; the United Services Military Apprenticeship Program, Airframe Mechanic Journeyman, Hydraulic and Structural Systems “C” School and the Airframe Mechanic Common Core “A” School. Currently, Carter is in the United States Navy Reserves. He completed a bachelor's of science degree in aeronautics in 2016 (cum laude) while working full time and raising a family, from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He has achieved the Bronze Award from the FAA AMT Awards for 2014 and 2015. He received the Employee of the Quarter Award from AIM for increasing shop efficiency and safety.

Besides the Navy he worked at Aerotek as an airframe mechanic specializing in deconstruction of Boeing 737’s for Aircraft Demolition, LLC in Moses Lake, WA. 

He was nominated by Brad Groom, director of education, Aviation Institute of Maintenance. Groom says, "His employment career started at AIM as the shop supervisor three years ago and it has been nothing but stellar! When school visitors tour our shop area, the first thing people say is “This place looks fantastic!” People are taken aback by the level of organization and overall atmosphere of the whole shop. Before Tim came here, the FAA made comments about the lack of shop organization. Now all they can say is, “The shop looks great!” Some of the improvements made include; clearing out the unnecessary clutter, mounting floor fans on shop walls to clear walking areas, assigning a dedicated storage spot for training equipment, refinishing all the shop tables and vices, hanging tool company banners and organizing the tool room. The shop is the heart of a maintenance school and it sets the mood when students are working on their projects. Working in an environment that is conducive to the overall training objective will help the students achieve success. This shop sets the standard for this goal. 

"Tim has a knack for seeing a problem, arriving at a solution and then acting upon it to resolve the issue with a high degree of professionalism," Groom says. "Tim is the epitome of a top performer in our highly competitive industry, applying previously learned knowledge while incorporating new technologies to achieve success."

He coaches students at AIM about current events and programs to help assist them to succeed in the aviation sector.

As for future goals, he plans on completing his master's in aeronautics from Embry-Riddle before 2018. And while attending school part time he is looking to receive his A&P certificate and remote pilot certification with an sUAS rating. He looks forward to higher levels of responsibility in an organization that poses more challenges for him.