Joel Brashear

After high school, Joel Brashear joined the US Air Force following in his grandfather’s footsteps. He later transitioned from active duty to school life and moved across the country 900 miles to attend Spartan. At Spartan, Joel was the president of Spartan’s AMT Society and competed in the annual Aerospace Maintenance Competition. In 2016, Joel received the James Rardon Aviation Maintenance Technician Student of the Year Award. This award recognizes the outstanding achievement of an Aviation Maintenance Technician student.

At Spartan’s April 2016 career fair, Joel was offered a position with Endeavor Air. Shortly after graduating; Joel garnered his A&P certification and soon after that moved to Tennessee to start his career as an Aviation Maintenance Technician for Endeavor Air. Today, Joel also continues to serve his country as a member of the US Air Force Reserves.

Transcript: 

Hi, I’m Joel Brashear and I'm an aviation maintenance technician for Endeavor Air. After high school I decided to go to college, but I just didn't really know what I wanted to do, and so I wasn't committed. I didn't show up to class, so I decided that I wanted to join the military.

The reason I actually joined the Air Force was my grandpa was in the Air Force in the 50s, and I'd always kind of wanted to fallow in his footsteps. He was a pretty big mentor in my life. I'm married, have been five years. I have a daughter. Got married when I was active duty. We got married on the beach in Navarre, Florida, it was really great.

When we transitioned from active duty to school life, it was really hectic. You know moving – we moved across the country nine hundred miles back to Oklahoma. You know, found an apartment - tiny apartment in Tulsa.

Through the AMT society at Spartan, we heard about the aerospace maintenance competition. So immediately, me being very competitive, I decided yes, I want to do that. Damien Bowling had called me into his office one day and said, “We've nominated you for this award. I need you to write up this this package for me.” (ATEC Student of the Year.) It was really amazing.

At the end of April we had our career fair, which I interviewed with several companies, including Endeavor. After they offered me the job, there was a condition that I had to have my A&P before they would hire me. There's no one in this hangar that does not have their A&P.

I graduated May 13th and then got my airframe shortly after that. Went did my military duty, came back. I got my powerplant and then a few days later we moved to Tennessee, and I started July 5th here at Endeavor. I like working here because a typical day is not always so typical – you're going to always have something different. I've done paint. I've done hydraulic work, landing gear, engine work. I like doing all that.