Duncan Aviation recently named Jeremy Rangel Vice President of Maintenance for the company's Lincoln, Nebraska, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility. In this position, Rangel is responsible for the facility's airframe and paint services.
Rangel was most recently Duncan Aviation's Airframe Services Manager in Lincoln, where he managed more than 250 technicians. In the nearly eight years since he was hired at Duncan Aviation in 2010 as a technician without an A&P, Rangel earned status as a certificated A&P aircraft mechanic and was promoted to Weekend Shift Team Leader before being tasked with managing the entire Airframe department.
"Since he was hired, Jeremy quickly grasped the roles and responsibilities necessary to be an effective manager, and worked diligently to understand complex situations," says Mike Minchow, Duncan Aviation President. "He has excelled in his ability to identify a problem, perform an effective root cause analysis, and implement actionable and preventative measures. He is also able to think creatively and look for innovations in all areas of the company."
Shortly after becoming Airframe Services Manager, Rangel recognized that the industry was demanding more qualified technicians than currently available. He worked with his team to develop a new entry-level technician program. By on-boarding new team members as Tech Helpers, experienced technicians could offer guidance and on-the-job training.
"Though it was successful, we identified areas of theoretical and practical training that would yield better results through standardization," Rangel says. "That is exactly what we did, working with the US Department of Labor and the Nebraska Department of Labor. We now have a true pathway to help new team members become knowledgeable, well-rounded aircraft technicians."
This formalized Apprenticeship Program is nationally registered with the US Department of Labor and the Department of Education and is available at Duncan Aviation's full-service maintenance facilities in Lincoln; Battle Creek, Michigan; and Provo, Utah. The program provides those who enroll a streamlined and focused approach to training for the FAA Airframe & Powerplant certificates. The program carries with it Duncan Aviation's reputation for quality, knowledge, and leadership.
Rangel was a C-130 Crew Chief in the Air Force for six years before joining Duncan Aviation. He has held positions on the Advisory Board for the Iowa Western Community College Aviation Department and the Western Nebraska Community College. While at Duncan Aviation, Jeremy earned his bachelor's degree in Business through Bellevue University. He is currently working on his master's degree in Finance.