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50 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2017 AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY B lake Eller was fascinated by the concept of air travel and was also influenced by his father who was employed at American Airlines. Eller saw stability for future growth, both personally and professionally, in the aviation field. He received his Airframe and Powerplant license from Tulsa Technology Center. Advanced training includes AS9110 Revision C Aerospace Quality Management Systems Lead Auditor — Probitas Authentication, ISO9001 internal auditor, IPC trainer for rework and repair (electrical assemblies), and liquid dye penetrant testing training. Eller was a lead technician at Drake Air and Southern Aeroparts. Then he was a quality assurance manager and chief inspector at Camtronics before moving to Lufthansa Technik Component Services as quality assurance specialist, training coordinator, and auditor. Currently, Eller is director of operations at Camtronics. He is responsible for managing and directing the repair station production personnel to ensure compliance with FAA standards and regulations consistent with the repair station's (RSM) and related quality control procedures and policy. Nominated by Holly Kristine Eller, general manager, Camtronics: "I have known Blake for over 10 years now and have always known him to have ambition and drive second to none. He started in the aviation industry as a technician at a 145 repair station years ago and quickly worked his way up to a lead role. He has always been committed, a great coach and leader, and has helped to develop and train others to reach their potential. He is driven and is always seeking knowledge and ways to improve the industry and also seeks to lead others, create positive changes in whatever organization he takes part in, and ultimately leave a positive footprint in the industry." Eller is focused on elevating the knowledge of his co-workers in both quality and technical areas. And he mentors his team- mates both personally and professionally. His career goals include growing into an executive position — and succeeding at it; leading a team of individuals, by providing resources to sharpen their skills and positively impact in the industry as well as achieve personal growth; and capitalizing on his entrepreneurial spirit by starting and growing a business within the aviation industry. BLAKE ELLER Director of Operations, 32, Camtronics, Tulsa, OK W hen Olebile Sekwababe was a young boy of 9, he saw an aeroplane flying over his village and was fascinated. He wanted to know how it could fly. He wanted to be an engineer so he could understand this magic of a flying machine. He took Part 66 B2 Avionic Line/Base Certifying Technician training at Air Service Training in Perth, Scotland, United Kingdom. Then continued to pursue a bachelor of engineering (aircraft) at the University of the Highlands and Island in Perth College, Perth, Scotland. Advanced training includes Dornier 328-100 Turbo Prop Initial Type Training — Avionics, Airframe and Plantplant, Dornier 328-100 Turbo Prop Initial Refresher Training, Strategic Planning Fundamentals, Managing Technical Projects, FAA Maintenance Error Avoidance, and FAA Aircraft Maintenance Documentation For AMTs. Captain Olebile Sekwababe works for Botswana Defence Force in the Air Arm. He has been deployed in the VIP Flight Squadron because of his academic achievements in the aviation field and commitment to work. He also supervises aircraft maintenance planning and control center in the VIP Flight Squadron. He was nominated the best engineer in the squadron in 2015. He is a part-time instructor (Avionics Department) at Technical Training School, Air Arm, Botswana Defence Force. As line and base engineer, Sekwababe provides refresher courses to the technicians on maintenance safety. He has taken a short online course on safety man- agement systems to broaden his knowledge on safety management. He has a few mentors including Colonel Job Sejoe, a commandant at Air Arm Technical Training School. "He is a very good leader, and has produced a lot of aircraft maintenance mechanics and technicians. He always advises me to work hard and aim high. He encourages me to read a lot because in engi- neering we never stop learning as technology is ever changing." To give back to the industry, he has created a group on Facebook called Aircraft Engineers Botswana, to encourage youngsters to find careers in aviation. He and three friends have started a project of building a simulator. There will be a lab where those who are interested in engineering can do hands-on projects and there will be some teaching lessons where children will be equipped with basic flying principles. Sekwababe is studying maintenance planning and scheduling course to learn about preventative maintenance. In the future he wants to work at the country's Civil Aviation Authority. "I want to make sure that safety is not an option in everything we do in aviation in Botswana." OLEBILE SEKWABABE Aircraft Maintenance Engineer, 35, Botswana Defence Force, Botswana, Africa