2022 AMT 40 Under 40 Maintenance Professionals: David G. Miller, Assistant Shop Lead, Aerostar
David Miller said he’s always been technical and mechanically minded.
“My love for applied physics and my job allow me to further my knowledge. My father introduced me to aviation at a young age and exposed me to the precision and detail that accompanies many of the jobs I still perform today,” he said.
Miller is the assistant shop leader for Aerostar, where he has worked for the past four years.
“I enjoy business in general, however aviation is intriguing, and I enjoy learning and becoming competent working in all aspects of aviation. The aviation industry is a perfect fit for me because it is always progressing and there will always be more to learn,” he said.
Miller said that learning and taking on new challenges and passing the knowledge he’s gained on to others is one of his favorite aspects of the job.
“I also enjoy the training aspect of my job and fine-tuning a technician to better suit them for the industry,” he continued, adding that he would like to see better training opportunities offered in the future.
Frank Lapcheske, Aerostar’s VP of Operations, said: “This young man is the best technician I have seen in my 28 years in aviation and has endless potential. He is eager to learn, even things that don't necessarily pertain to his job. He pays attention to detail and understands technical issues better than anyone in the shop and really far exceeds anyone I have been around. David is one of those rare individuals that have absolutely no weaknesses and exceeds expectations on every level.”
“Simply put, the training that schools put into the technician plays a vital role in the technician’s future and thereby paid forward to the aviation industry,” he said.
Miller added that he wishes students were made aware of the potentials of an aviation career earlier on in their education.
“Why isn’t aviation at all levels offered from the cradle of public education? You have to live in certain zip codes for it to even cross your radar. Even if you are lucky enough to have that available, you may or may not be the lucky one that comprehends it, yet there aren’t enough trained technicians to support the industry's maintenance requirements,” he said.
