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34 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2017 AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY M atthew Franklin has always been interested in aviation. And he was exposed to aviation at a young age, attending several air shows, including Oshkosh. His parents built on this interest in aviation by allowing him to take flying lessons while in high school. He found that he couldn't get enough of airplanes and decided to become a military aviator. His first job was as an enlisted soldier in the U.S. Army. "Becoming a "RL1" UH-60 Blackhawk crew chief was pretty important to me at 19 years of age. After the Army I was per- forming contract maintenance with L3 and Lockheed Martin. Both of these jobs entailed heavy maintenance and it is where I gained a large amount of experience above and beyond what the Army offered. I moved on to working with Air Methods at a university helicopter EMS program where I ended up becom- ing a lead mechanic with some management duties." Along the way he continued his education and was invited to teach at Lewis University where he is currently instructing classes as an assistant professor. Franklin has earned a bachelor's degree in aviation maintenance management from Lewis University and a master of business administration from Cardinal Stritch University in Madison, WI. He received specialized training from Turbomeca, Pratt & Whitney engine courses, as well as Airbus Helicopter EC-135 airframe course in Dallas, TX. "Being an AMT instructor gives me a tremendous opportunity to give back to the industry," he says. "I am keenly aware that it is intrinsic within my role that I promote our profession. I tirelessly com- municate what this career path has afforded me and what the possibilities are for each of the AMT candidates that I come into contact with on a daily basis. I have also gone back to my high school and have met, on numerous occasions, with students and exposed them to the merits of a career in maintenance within the aviation industry." Nominated by Professor Robert Eric Jones: "His commitment to the university ethos of knowledge, fidelity, wisdom, and asso- ciation is impeccable. He also maintains several EMT helicopters for Air Methods. He shares his experiences with students which really resonates and provides them with service learning oppor- tunities. He's not satisfied with just teaching someone to be a mechanic. He consistently expects the best of his students, and they love him for it." MATTHEW FRANKLIN Assistant Professor, 37, Lewis University and Technician, Air Methods Corp. TSGT. GARY T. CHAPPELL JR. C-135 Maintenance Instructor, 31, U.S. Air Force, Japan S ince a child, Gary Chappell Jr. has always been fascinated by airplanes and being from North Carolina, he was always proud of the fact that flight started there. TSgt Chappell's technical training began at Sheppard AFB, Texas in 2005. The advanced training that he completed consists of a course that he now teaches called Advanced Troubleshooting. Chappell has served in three major commands at three dif- ferent locations. While stationed at Offutt AFB, Nebraska, as an RC-135 aircraft maintainer, he supported Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom while deployed. He's also served at Kadena AB, Japan, from 2007-2010 as a FCC/DCC in the 909th AMU participating in the medical evacuation missions. He also has demonstrated the capabilities of the B-52 Stratofortress, a long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber through various operations in Barksdale AFB as well as Anderson AFB. He returned to Okinawa, Japan for a second tour where he's currently assigned to 372nd Training Squadron, Detachment 15, Kadena Air Base, Japan. Throughout his career Chappell has received several non- commissioned officer quarterly awards and a Global Strike Maintenance Training Flight Instructor of the Year award. He has received training at every duty location where he's been stationed. As a maintenance instructor, he teaches KC-135 and RC-135 aircraft maintenance; and is responsible for the 18th Wing's KC-135 curriculum. Nominated by Dawayne Reeds, detach- ment chief, U.S. Air Force: "TSgt Gary Chappell leads the second largest detach- ment in PACAF which houses 12 instructors and covers nine Air Force Specialty Codes. His responsibilities include managing a 20,000-square-foot facility, $7.9M in training equipment, and controlling the department's $11,000 annual budget. TSgt Chappell also supports USPACOM, USSOCOM and AFMC's air expeditionary force safety initiatives by overseeing instruction of 60 courses and their curriculum. His efforts directly contributed to the 909th ARS's 9,000 flying hours and aided the completion of over 6,000 missions in calendar year 2017. The result of those missions yielded the delivery of 90 million pounds of fuel to aircraft flying throughout the area of responsibility." TSgt Chappell is the president of the Air Force Association Chapter 502, a nonprofit, professional military and aerospace education association promoting public understanding of aero- space power. He has organized 12 events and recruited over 170 volunteers in the process. After his Air Force career he plans to continue in the aviation sector.