October_2021 - 10

Ben Clark, 37, Associate Director of Academic Affairs, Aviation Institute of Maintenance, Virginia Beach, VA
B
en Clark considers himself a true native son of Virginia Beach,
Virginia. There, he's had the lifelong luxury of seeing and hearing
the planes from the Naval Air Station Oceana, the " Sound of
Freedom, " as they say in Virginia Beach. He's witnessed how careers
in aviation can deeply impact a person's well-being and their families
in many positive ways.
" I also was lucky enough to have parents who ensured that their
sons appreciated history, " said Clark, who has fond memories of
learning at the Wright Brothers National Memorial. " I've always
felt a connection to this industry where people, goods, commerce
and technology meet. "
Clark said he has been blessed throughout his career to have
people help guide him. " None of my success would have been possible
without Pam Freund hiring me into the Aviation Institute of
Maintenance (AIM); our regional director Greg Daniel accepting
me into our Management Training Program; and I would not have
made it another inch without Dr. Joel English, our executive vice
president, motivating and pushing me to better myself. "
Clark has been with AIM for the past 14 years. He's worked his
way from a cubicle in the financial aid office to being the executive
director of two campuses in Virginia. Today he is the associate
director of Academic Affairs. He also is AIM's international business
specialist.
Clark studied history and earned a bachelor's
degree from James Madison University.
He earned a master's in Higher Education
Administration from the University of
Louisville and is enrolled at Hampton
University's Ph.D. program in Higher
Education Management. He graduated from
AIM's internal management training program
and is an ACCSC speaker and school auditor
and a contributor in AIM's partnership with Avotek. He is working
to obtain a drone operator's license.
Nominating Clark for this year's 40 Under 40 award, Dr. Joel
English, AIM executive vice president, said, " Perhaps Ben's most
significant contributions are in his service within youth in aviation
programs. " In five cities, Clark operates a dual enrollment
high school program. Students in 11th and 12th grade can take
the general curriculum within Part 147 as part of their high school
program then apply those credits to becoming a certified mechanic.
" My favorite part of my career is offering our summer Jet Camps
across the USA, " said Clark. " We engage students, boys and girls,
ages 5-17, via various camp activities. Providing new career pathways
to the younger generation and teaching them new career
opportunities is an excellent reason to go to work each day. "
Emily Applegate, 36, Quality Control Supervisor, American Airlines, Owasso, OK
E
mily Applegate's aviation career was sparked as a young girl flying
a kite in a pasture. She yelled for her mom to " bring it down,
bring it down. " She promptly ran over, sat on it and said " Now go! "
Applegate went on her first discovery flight after high school at
Spartan College of Aeronautics, and was hooked. She earned FAA
certifications as a commercial pilot, remote pilot, ground instructor,
aircraft dispatcher, airframe and powerplant mechanic and
authorized inspector, and bachelor's degrees from Metropolitan
State University of Denver in aviation management and technology.
Applegate quickly realized preventative maintenance and inspections
were the next highest costs of aircraft ownership. With every
intention of owning her own aircraft and the curiosity of how airplanes
operate, she pursued her A&P to lower the cost of owning
an aircraft and to learn more about the aircraft she had flown. In
a constant pursuit of aviation maintenance, she became an FAA
certified IA. Applegate was torn with the decision of being behind
the controls or turning wrenches, then found a position in Tulsa,
Oklahoma at the world's largest aircraft maintenance base.
Working for American Airlines, she went from a compliance
engineer to a quality control/NDT supervisor responsible for the
NDT inspection of American Airlines engines, landing gear and
airframe components. She currently leads a team of 30 NDT inspectors.
Although Applegate was extremely busy working under FAR
121 and 145 operating certificates, she felt the need to educate
10 OCTOBER 2021
future generations using skills and knowledge
she had acquired.
With her mechanical aptitude and love of
aviation she was offered a position at Tulsa
Tech teaching future A&P's. Sheryl Oxley, aviation
maintenance coordinator at Tulsa Tech,
said, " Emily has taught in virtually every area of
aviation maintenance technology with superb
preparation and effectiveness. She has shown
to accept any new challenge with enthusiasm and strives to be the
best she can be at anything she commits to doing. She embodies professionalism
and consistently displays the highest degree of integrity. "
In addition to this latest award, Applegate has received the silver
award in the 2020 FAA AMT Awards Program; first place in the
2014 Skills USA State AMT Competition; first place in the 2012
PAMA AMT Competition; fourth place in the 2014 Air Race Classic
(Team Racing Rosies); tenth place in the 2021 Air Race Classic
(Team Racing Rosies), as well as others.
As an air racer in the Air Race Classic, she volunteered with the
local Girl Scout troops along the race route to teach them about
flying, mechanics and air traffic control. She said, " My teammate
and I dressed up as Rosie the Riveter to inspire others that 'We can
do it!' Just like women during the war efforts; any goal is achievable
if you set your mind to it. "
AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY

October_2021

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