YoboÌåÓý Aviation Maintenance Grad Andrew Diaz Takes Flight with New Opportunity
Andrew A. Diaz, a recent graduate of South Georgia Technical College’s Aviation Maintenance Technology (AMT) program, has taken a significant step forward in his career after being hired as a part-time helicopter mechanic by Rick Willis, owner of R&D Aeronautical at the Jimmy Carter Regional Airport in Americus.
Diaz earned his FAA certifications in both Airframe and Power Plant during the 2023–2024 academic year. He mastered the theoretical and hands-on training through YoboÌåÓý’s General, Airframe, and Power Plant curriculum—demonstrating proficiency in areas such as 100-hour inspections, metric measurements, part identification, fasteners, oil changes, and more.
In his new role, Diaz will assist in restoring a 1997 military helicopter to flight status. The work will involve disassembling the transmission, repairing and inspecting parts, and utilizing an operational engine from a Cobra helicopter. The project will require donation funding to return the aircraft to service, and Diaz and the team plan to travel later this summer to RSG in Fort Worth, Texas, for further restoration work.
Prior to joining R&D Aeronautical, Diaz spent two and a half years working part-time in the accounting department at Marvair, where he also gained hands-on experience assisting in the manufacturing of industrial air conditioning units.
Rick Willis, a retired military aviation instructor and former YoboÌåÓý student himself, believes in the training South Georgia Tech provides. He not only hired Diaz, he also brought current Aviation Maintenance student Audrey Pavik on board for a one-year internship.
Willis volunteers with the Celebrate Freedom Foundation and emphasized the growing need for skilled aviation mechanics. Willis said that by the end of 2026, there will be a 40% shortage of mechanics, so many opportunities will be available. He added that having a foundation in aviation maintenance—along with skills in automotive painting, machine work, and technical writing—is a huge asset in the job market.
For Diaz, the opportunity Willis afforded him is a dream realized and a launching point into a field with high demand and limitless possibilities.
Diaz’s career readiness was shaped in part by YoboÌåÓý’s Career Services office, where Director Cynthia Carter and Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) Coordinator Sandhya Muljibhai guided him through mock interviews and career prep workshops.
While learning at YoboÌåÓý, Diaz also benefitted from the financial assistance WIOA offers. WIOA is a federally-funded program designed to help qualified students with tuition, books, supplies and other training-related costs while enrolled at YoboÌåÓý. The primary goal of WIOA is to train qualified students to become employed and self-sufficient. The River Valley Regional Commission (RVRC) and the WIOA board make the federal funds available to YoboÌåÓý.
To learn more Career Services at South Georgia Technical College, contact Cynthia Carter at ccarter@southgatech.edu. To learn more about the WIOA program, contact Sandhya Muljibhai at smuljibhai@southgatech.edu.