Aviation, you could say, is just a part of Sean Segers make up.
“As a child my mother worked for Ozark Airlines as a resevationist to start her career. She really took advantage of her flight benefits and begain to travel the world. I was flying the blue skies with my parents before and a few months after I was born, I was a true fledged airline brat. We continued to travel to different locations such as Hawaii, Germany, California and more. I remember always being infatuated with the operation of aircraft and the pilots who flew these marvels of technology. One day, I was invited into the cockpit for a tour and it was pretty much a done deal from there on out,” recalled Segers. “My Dad also had a brother named Bob that was a Skunk Works engineer for Lockheed Martin in Palmdale, California. I was intrigued that he designed and worked on Top Secret aircraft. Everything seemed so hush-hush: ‘I cant talk about it,’ when I was around. They could have just been fooling around with me, but it definitely drew me in. What can I say, I’m a sucker for Aviation!”
Segers said his dream was to be a pilot, but the visions requirements steered him towards maintenance instead. Now following in his uncle’s footsteps, Segers also works for Lockheed Martin as an air mobility and maritime mission’s electrical department master planner/ team lead.
His path to get there, though, began at the University of Central Missouri.
“I graduated from the University of Central Missouri with a BS in Aviation Maintenance & Management. Unfortunately, I graduated during a period of economic hardship in December 2001 and was unable to find employment in the aviation field. After no luck in the job market, I was afforded an opportunity to pursue a MS in Aviation Safety as an Graduate Teaching Assistant at my Alma Mater. I left four credit hours before completion to accept a job at Whiteman AFB as a low observable Technician for the B-2 Stealth Bomber at L-3 Communications. In this position I made the B-2 disappear from radar. This would have to be one of my crowning moments,” said.
A few years later, a Lockheed Martin job fair would open new doors for Segers.
“Lockheed Martin held a job fair in Wichita and I secured employment as a sr. assembly mechanic on the C-130J Hercules production line. I worked shy of two years then I was upgraded to a modification mechanic on the C-5 Galaxy. I worked an additional two years as a mod mechanic, then I was promoted to a team lead.
“Currently, I am responsible for ensuring the process of operation is correctly documented to produce the C-130J Hercules, LM100J and F-22 Raptor. These actions are carried out by a highly skilled integrated team that consists of seven Tool Planners. I manage the day-to-day operation to implement all engineering wiring changes, product modification strategy and callboard electrical issues. My department ensures the mechanic has all the major tooling and documentation required to complete his or her job. This satisfies the agreement made with Defense Contract Management Agency of the US Airforce,” said Segers.
And Segers says that in the back of his mind is always the question “what else can I do?” Leading him to continually look to expand his career.
“My career goals are to consistently perform in my position to make a difference and add value where ever possible. I plan on achieving this through continual growth, being comfortable with discomfort and acquiring mentorship from high performers internally and externally. I know if I continue to take the best version of me to work, prepare myself for success and take advantage of opportunity then eventually their paths will collide with an increase of responsibility and financial gain. I want to transition into a professional that doesn’t seek positions, but is well sought out for positions,” he said.
