Alphonso Torrez got into aviation via the United States Navy, where he was an Aircraft Electrician’s Mate from 2008 to 2013, serving as the night lead, top rank held: E5, surface and air warfare qualifications.
While serving in the Navy, Torrez received mentorship from first class petty officer Jeffery Campbell, who trained Torrez in not only mechanical skills but also interpersonal ones.
“Jeffery Campbell was the First Class Petty Officer in charge of my shop in the Navy. He taught me what a good leader was by leading by example,” elaborated Torrez.
After his time in the military, Torrez worked at Aspen Helicopters, October 2013- April 2014, as an avionics technician; then All Around Aviation, April 2014-September 2016, as an avionics technician and A&P lead; and currently Torrez works at Million Air as a maintenance production supervisor.
“I currently provide maintenance training for technicians, assist in troubleshooting and routine maintenance procedures, scheduling of aircraft in and out of the facility, quote scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, coordinate the completion of inter company projects, ensure maintenance practices are being followed and safety is the top priority, provide service and support for all current and potential customers,” described Torrez.
“Alphonso not only meets requirements but exceeds expectations in his duties. Since day one, Alphonso pushed the envelope in excellence and has undertaken some extreme responsibilities. The commitment he has in seeing company projects through is nothing short of service before self. Alphonso comes in early, stays late, and even sets aside his personal life on his days off to meet with customers or even come to work, roll up his sleeves, and work right alongside the mechanics that he manages. He is one of a kind, and without him, there is no way that I could do my job. Alphonso and I have been working side by side to change our department from the ground up. In efforts to become a more efficient and productive shop, he has given his time, ideas, and own money to see the efforts through and actually be the change that our company needs to succeed. He is a great leader for our team, and as an employee he has earned my absolute trust and respect,” said Shawn Odell Justus, Million Air’s director of maintenance, when nominating Torrez.
For the future, Torrez says: “I aspire to learn, grow, and evolve as a human and technician. I would like to learn more platforms and eventually own my own facility. I happily pass on my knowledge and accept any knowledge from anyone willing to share it.”
