Grow-Your-Own-Mechanic graduate promoted to KC-135R dedicated crew chief

  • Published
  • By Arnold Gardner
  • 97th Maintenance Directorate
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Patrick A. Madl, a civilian employee with the 97th Maintenance Directorate at Altus Air Force Base, was recently promoted to KC-135R Dedicated Crew Chief. Mr. Madl is the first graduate of the Southwest Technology Center (SWTC) Grow-Your-Own-Mechanic (GYOM) course to attain this highly skilled position.

As a Dedicated Crew Chief, Mr. Madl is the technical authority on the maintenance and history of his designated aircraft. He is also responsible for performing, coordinating and overseeing flightline maintenance on his aircraft as well as periodic maintenance inspections.

A 2002 graduate of Altus High School and a 2003 graduate of SWTC, Mr. Madl has been employed at the base since 2003. Following in the footsteps of his grandfather and uncle, both former aircraft mechanics with the Air Force, Mr. Madl credits his success in large part to his family. Through their support he was able to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts of America, an organization he still supports and volunteers with. He is also a Lieutenant with the Martha Volunteer Fire Department in Martha, Oklahoma.

When asked how he initially became interested in an aviation career, Mr. Madl said it happened when he attended Career Day at SWTC in the twelfth grade and heard the GYOM program explained in great detail. Fond memories of the stories his grandfather and uncle told of fixing and flying military aircraft pushed him to pursue the education and hands-on skills needed to become an aircraft mechanic. Additionally, the thought of a good paying job almost straight out of high school was very exciting. The idea there would be competition for a limited number of positions didn't hold back this overachiever. Being handy with tools and having passion for working outdoors proved to be all he needed to succeed.

Recalling his first day on the flightline, Mr. Madl said, "I remember looking at that big KC-135R and thinking how on earth can I ever learn to work on this massive piece of equipment." Teamed with Mr. Frank Favalora, Mr. Madl's worries were put to rest. "This guy seemed to know everything there was to know about aircraft maintenance," said Mr. Madl. 

A shift change gave him a new mentor and trainer, Mr. Shawn Atwood, who began fine tuning the skills Mr. Madl already mastered. It was then things started to fall into place. "At this point I knew with the training I was receiving, I had a career," said Mr. Madl. He went on to say, "I'll never forget how I felt the day I looked around the Altus Air Force Base flightline knowing my grandfather and uncle walked this same concrete, touched the same grounding points and perhaps put their hands on the same crew ladder I had just touched. I was filled with pride knowing I was following in the footsteps of two special heroes in my life."

When asked who he thanks for his success he said, "I'm very thankful for my family and friends who always believed in me. I owe a lot to the A-TEAM management and SWTC for the training opportunities they provided. I'm also grateful to the crew chiefs who trained me, the supervisors and flight crews who trusted in my abilities along with all the specialists who taught me new aircraft systems. And a very special thank you to Mr. Frank Favalora, Shawn Atwood and Mike Michelson, they started me off on the right foot and for that I'm very grateful."