Stacey Rudser, AMT 2018 Next Gen 40 Under 40 Award Winner
Stacey Rudser was inspired to enter the aviation industry through a high school Air Force Junior ROTC program. On a visit to Patrick Air Force Base she got to see an HH-60 Pavehawk helicopter and a C-130 up close. "It was incredible. That's when I knew I wanted to be a part of aviation."
Mentors include Bill Russo, Lynette Ashland, and Andy Hakes. "Bill Russo taught me all about regulatory compliance and about making the decision to always do the right thing in difficult situations. He is indefatigable in encouraging me to grow as a mechanic and industry advocate. Lynette Ashland guided me through the hurdles of taking on leadership roles as a young woman in our industry. And Andy Hakes encourages me to be more active and involved in the industry and helped me find my voice. They have been absolutely critical to my career."
Rudser received her training from the Aviation Institute of Maintenance in Orlando, FL. She was the first woman to graduate from the school back in 2009. And she has received training scholarships through the Association for Women in Aviation Maintenance (AWAM) from UPS, Southwest Airlines, and Pratt & Whitney.
She started her career at MROs, first at Mobile Aerospace, then Timco in Lake City, FL. Rudser gained some experience in corporate and general aviation when she relocated to Central Florida. She now works contract line maintenance for STS Line Maintenance, handling operations for Frontier Airlines.
Nominated by William Russo, Aviation Program Director, University of the District of Columbia: "Stacey has developed a proven track record as a team-oriented leader, dedicated to high quality, economically viable results, with a strong emphasis on safety, communication, and compliance. Stacey is a well-qualified industry professional, but I believe that what really makes her worthy of industry recognition is her dedication to giving back to an industry which has given so much to her. In particular, Stacey has dedicated substantial personal time and effort to inspiring and mentoring young men and women to consider a career in aviation, and helping to support those who are just beginning a career in aviation maintenance. I applaud her efforts to make a positive difference in the lives of young men and women who might not have considered a career in aviation, were it not for meeting and being inspired by her. Statistically, women comprise only 2.33% of all AMTs, but that ratio hasn’t prevented Stacey from making a difference."
Nominated by Andy Hakes, EVP Airline Operations, Engio - AireXpert: "Stacey has quickly established herself as a motivated, genuine, and committed advocate for women in aviation technical roles. A 2013 UPS/AWAM scholarship winner, Stacey has been featured in the Smithsonian’s Air & Space magazine (August 2017) and soon thereafter established the Central Florida Chapter of the Association of Women in Aircraft Maintenance. She’s taken every opportunity to connect with similarly oriented groups across North America and regularly attends conferences in an effort to educate and encourage ladies of all ages to seriously consider aviation as a career path. She engages with very young children and she’s organized events in which she creatively gives young folks the opportunity to complete projects involving tools and materials. Her candor and ability to effectively communicate generates passion amongst her followers and she displays a level of professionalism commensurate with the roles that she promotes."
She belongs to the Association for Women in Aviation Maintenance (AWAM), the Aviation Technical Education Council (ATEC), and Women in Aviation International (WAI). Rudser attends the ATEC and WAI conferences annually, as well as MRO Americas. Rudser gives back to the industry through her work with AWAM and ATEC. She serves on the AWAM's national board of directors, is the co-chair of its scholarship program, and is the founder and president of the Central Florida AWAM chapter. "I work with industry leaders and corporate partners to offer various scholarships and also travel to part 147 schools in Florida to inform students about the scholarships available to them." She also mentors a number of female A&P students and mechanics new to the industry.
Her career goals are less job specific and more focused on trying to make the industry a better place and interest more young people in aviation. Rudser would like to work for a 121 airline that has a corporate culture supportive of women and a focus on giving back to the community.
