2022 AMT 40 Under 40 Maintenance Professionals: Rolando Rodriguez, Director of Maintenance, Sun Valley Aviation
Rolando Rodriguez is the director of maintenance for Sun Valley Aviation, a fixed-based operator in Harlingen, Texas. He graduated from the Texas State Technical College Aviation Maintenance program in 2007, earning certificates of completion in Aircraft Airframe Technology and Aircraft Powerplant Technology.
Rodriguez began his career as an aircraft technician for Eagle Aviation in Abilene, Texas, then moved to Gulf Aviation in Harlingen, Texas. There, Rodriguez’s duties increased and he was promoted to director of maintenance.
Through word of mouth, he heard that Sun Valley Aviation had opened an FBO in Harlingen. He applied and became its director of maintenance. Today, he is director of maintenance for the company’s FAA Part 135 air carrier operation, oversees the FAA-certified repair station and serves as the company’s director of operations. He oversees a team of five A&P mechanics and four avionics technicians as they maintain and modify general aviation aircraft, including corporate turboprops and jets.
Sun Valley President Pat Kornegay said, “Rolando has played a pivotal role in the growth of Sun Valley's maintenance operations, which now include on-call maintenance services for several major airlines serving Valley International Airport.”
Rodriguez, having executed stock options, now holds an ownership position in the company.
Kornegay concluded, “Rolando is an excellent example of what an aviation maintenance professional can achieve by applying learning skills, adaptability, leadership, and work ethic in this industry.” He continues to mentor young mechanics who have gone through the Aviation Maintenance program at Texas State Technical College, three of whom work under his guidance at Sun Valley Aviation.
He told his alma mater that issued a news release about the four alumni working at Sun Valley, that what he enjoys most is the company’s family culture: “Mr. Kornegay, who is the company’s president, and his family live and breathe aviation,” he said. “That is one thing that brought me here.”
