David Junior Herrera
Menifee
Summary
Proven Operations Manager with over 23 years of leadership experience, guiding high-performing teams and driving mission success across diverse and challenging environments. Recognized for leading cross-functional groups through complex project development, execution, and training initiatives. Adept at assessing team performance and delivering tailored training to strengthen capabilities and drive continuous improvement. A strategic communicator with a strong ability to lead multicultural teams and manage stakeholder engagement across international security operations. Experienced in drafting and overseeing critical naval correspondence, including military orders, Naval messages, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Demonstrated leadership in providing operational and logistical support to program management offices and government entities. Passionate about empowering organizations and individuals by shaping effective policies and cultivating a culture of excellence and accountability.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Electronic Integrated Systems Mechanic
Letterkenny Munitions Command
09.2024 - Current
- Duties include rebuilding, overhauling, installing, troubleshooting, repairing, modifying, calibrating, aligning, and maintaining integrated electronic systems, primarily air to air and air to ground missile systems. This work requires knowledge of electronics principles involved in several applications such as radar, data processing, and data display and usually mechanical and hydraulic knowledges involved in operation of equipment such as control valves, gyros, turret mounts, and mechanical computing devices.
- Demonstrate extensive practical knowledge of the theories and practices of electromagnetic propagation, electronic circuits, computer theory, hydraulic or pneumatic control and power systems, and many other areas covering a wide range of system applications.
- Attend Tier 2 meetings and provide input on maintenance production goals and provide updates on personnel matters.
- Operate and utilize a diverse range of advanced test equipment while maintaining and troubleshooting electrical power control systems to ensure optimal performance. Additionally, I meticulously document all maintenance activities and actions taken and conduct thorough research and analysis of technical aids to support system improvements.
- Collaborate with and in the absence of the Wage Lead assume their responsibilities in directing maintenance actions in support of the NAVAIR armament repair facility (NARF).
Aviation Ordnance Department Manager
US Marine Corps / Marine Logistics Squadron 11 (MALS-11)
12.2022 - 09.2024
- Led 70+ personnel in overseeing the ordnance department. Managed the completion of Ordnance-related project requests while ensuring all duties were conducted in accordance with applicable publications, checklists, and standard operating procedures. Established training programs; applied administrative procedures necessary to operate a squadron ordnance department; conducted administrative and material inspections; performed the duties of quality assurance inspector; prepared naval correspondence, messages, orders, instructions, and safety notices.
- Served as an Interservice expert, contributing to the formation of project teams to achieve organizational goals. Matched workers with jobs that best suited their skill sets and monitored efficiency, timelines, and completeness. Held meetings to set priorities and identify and overcome obstacles.
- Marine Corps Personnel Qualification and Certification Program for Class V(A) Ammunition and Explosives and ensured that over 200 personnel were qualified and certified for explosive work tasks and operations.
- Functioned as the Occupational Sponsor for nine squadrons, managing qualification boards. Conducted interviews, provided career counseling for direct reports, and wrote detailed evaluations. Identified qualification gaps and implemented measures to provide essential training. Spearheaded personnel management including conflict resolution, and disciplinary matters. Played a pivotal role in determining advancements.
Ordnance Division Manager / Explosive Safety Specialist
US Marine Corps / Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 (VMFA-121)
07.2019 - 12.2022
- Advised Senior Officers and provided cross functional support toward planning, evaluation and implementation of aviation and ground explosive operations. As a member of a major staff, prepared and presented reports on readiness and logistics to highest Marine Corps and Navy aviation command levels.
- Served as Ordnance Division Manager for the F-35B Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program within the squadron.
- Solved technical problems of various levels of scope and complexity by employing data and root cause analysis to maintain high standards of customer satisfaction and reliability.
- Managed the ordnance inventory communication, production activity and schedules with Program Managers across all military branches.
- Prepared Naval correspondence, military orders, naval messages, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) as required.
AVIATION ORDNANCE FIRST LINE SUPERVISOR
US MARINE CORPS / MARINE LIGHT ATTACK HELICOPTER SQUADRON 469 (HMLA-469)
05.2013 - 07.2019
- Supervised the inspection, maintenance, and repair of armament systems and equipment; along with the loading and unloading of aviation weapons and ammunition associated with H-1 aircraft; conducted administrative and material inspections; performed the duties of quality assurance inspector; prepared naval messages, orders, instructions, and safety notices.
- Supervised the assembly, loading, and unloading, testing, and troubleshooting of aircraft weapons and release and control systems.
- Led, mentored, and managed over 30 technical personnel assigned to the Ordnance Division, resulting in on-time ordnance evolutions including weapons/munitions delivery, loading, arming, de-arming, downloading, and turn-in with a qualified and competent ordnance team.
- Established a technical training program and provided technical instruction to ordnance division personnel concerning ordnance handling safety, techniques, and equipment functional tests.
- Coordinated worldwide transportation of aircraft armament equipment, armament weapons support equipment and manpower to support aviation operations.
- Planned and created doctrine for new and untested weapons employment strategies that are now part of the training regimen.
COURSE MANAGER / CURRICULUM DEVELOPER
US MARINE CORPS / TRAIN THE TRAINER SCHOOL, TRAINING AND EDUCATION COMMAND (TECOM)
05.2011 - 05.2013
- Planned daily production efforts involving the inspection, maintenance, and repair of armament equipment; along with overseeing the assembly and disassembly of aviation weapons associated with the F/A-18, AV-8B, KC-130J, and F-35B aircraft.
- Provided daily supervision and mentorship to up to 35 division personnel in the areas of Operational Risk Management, Safety, Finances, Education, Leadership, and self-improvement, resulting in meritorious promotions, license, and qualification upgrades.
- Instructed and supported various phases of United States Marine Corps training courses.
- Planned and developed Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) used by personnel across the organization.
- Provided counseling, development, evaluation, and leadership to hundreds of new trainees annually, focusing on their leadership attributes, competencies, and technical/tactical proficiency.
- Revised and standardized training programs and created and revised field training exercise manuals and standard operating procedures.
- Managed a student-centric classroom environment, ensuring that all instruction was Outcome-Based Training & Education oriented, while facilitating the small group learning process and evaluating the performance of each student.
- Prepared reports, Naval messages, standard operating procedures, course curriculum changes, manpower and equipment readiness documentation.
WEAPONS DIVISON MANAGER/QUALITY ASSURANCE SPECIALIST
US MARINE CORPS / MARINE AVIATION LOGISTICS SQUADRON 11 (MALS-11)
06.2008 - 05.2011
- Supervised the safe storage, assembly, delivery, and expenditure of over 508,000 pounds of Class V(A) munitions valued at $14,288,933 in support of six Marine Aircraft Group-11 squadrons.
- Managed and scheduled the training requirements and professional development of 17 team members in the Weapons Division resulting in the qualification upgrade of 5 Quality Assurance Safety Observers, and 6 Team Leaders.
- Performed Quality Assurance Audits of all Naval Aviation Maintenance Programs using evaluation checklist resulting in a grade of noteworthy for the Weapons Division Semi Annual Audit.
- Generated over 50 Conventional Ordnance Deficiency Reports for unserviceable munitions and tracked each asset for proper disposition.
RECRUITING STATION ASSISTANT MANAGER / PRODUCTION RECRUITER
US MARINE CORPS / RECRUITING STATION SACRAMENTO / RECRUITING SUB-STATION SOUTH SACRAMENTO
06.2005 - 06.2008
- Trained in, taught, and mastered Professional Selling Skills (PSS).
- Trained in social media platforms to improve the company’s presence in the community.
- Established working relationships with all educational institutions, both High School and Community Colleges, and civilian agencies in accordance with the Senior Manager’s goals.
- Worked independently in a culturally diverse area miles away with little guidance from superiors.
- Canvassed / prospected the population for prospective applicants, screening each applicant to determine eligibility relative to established standards of age, citizenship, prior service, physical, moral and education standards.
- Prepared the members of the Delayed Entry Program (DEP) both mentally and physically for the rigors of recruit training.
- Successfully screened 57 working applicants for processing at Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) for mental and physical qualification.
- Recognized with a meritorious promotion for achieving the company’s contracting mission and 100% of the company’s shipping mission with contracting and shipping quality achieved above company standards.
ARMAMENT WEAPONS SYSTEMS EQUIPMENT DIVISION SUPERVISOR / QUALITY ASSURANCE INSPECTOR
US MARINE CORPS / MARINE AVIATION LOGISTICS SQUADRON 11 (MALS-11)
07.2000 - 06.2005
- Deployed to Southeast Asia in support of the Unit Deployment Program coordinating with the supply division to ensure a continuous flow of parts to achieve a 100 percent Ready for Issue (RFI) rate.
- This allowed the expenditure of over 281,000 rounds of small arms ammunition, over 41,000 rounds of 20mm ammunition, and 32 short tons of class V(A) munitions to be expended in support of coalition forces supporting combat operations.
- Performed duties as the Armament Weapons Systems Equipment Supervisor by ensuring proper production output and maintenance practices were adhered to in accordance with the Naval Aviation Maintenance Program (NAMP).
- Managed all team members technical training, licensing, maintenance qualifications and annual training requirements for my division.
- Performed duties as a Collateral Duty Inspector and work center supervisor for my division and ensured all team members adhered to appropriate publications and directives while performing maintenance tasks.
- Maintained 100 percent accountability of 800-line items by utilizing the All Weapons Information System (AWIS) providing a real time depiction of on hand assets to higher headquarters.
- Liaison with Ordnance Production Control to establish Aircraft Armament Systems priorities to meet production needs.
Education
High School Diploma -
Colusa High School
Colusa, CA01.2000
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Mt. San Jacinto College
07.2025
Skills
- Production Control
- Quality Assurance
- Process Improvement
- Interpersonal Communication (Bilingual)
- Microsoft Office/M365 Suite
- Team Leadership/Training
- Interagency Coordination
- Physical Security
- Records Management
Job Related Training
- Advanced Leadership, 2020-01-01
- Aviation Ordnance Managers Career Progression Level 1, 2019-01-01
- Risk Management, 2015-01-01
- Human Resource Management, 2015-01-01
- Anti-terrorism Officer (ATO) Level II, 2015-01-01
- Logistics and Cyber Intelligence, 2013-01-01
- Scrum Principles, 2010-01-01
- Information Management, 2005-01-01
- Hazardous Waste Supervisor Course, 2005-01-01
Awards
- 2023-01-01, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for meritorious service in the planning, evaluation, and execution of critical operational logistics and training requirements.
- 2019-01-01, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for excellence in logistics and personnel management.
- 2015-01-01, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for unique managerial skills within multiple billets.
- 2009-01-01, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for superior performance while deployed to Iraq.
- 2005-01-01, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for superior performance as a Quality Control inspector.
Timeline
Electronic Integrated Systems Mechanic
Letterkenny Munitions Command
09.2024 - Current
Aviation Ordnance Department Manager
US Marine Corps / Marine Logistics Squadron 11 (MALS-11)
12.2022 - 09.2024
Ordnance Division Manager / Explosive Safety Specialist
US Marine Corps / Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 (VMFA-121)
07.2019 - 12.2022
AVIATION ORDNANCE FIRST LINE SUPERVISOR
US MARINE CORPS / MARINE LIGHT ATTACK HELICOPTER SQUADRON 469 (HMLA-469)
05.2013 - 07.2019
COURSE MANAGER / CURRICULUM DEVELOPER
US MARINE CORPS / TRAIN THE TRAINER SCHOOL, TRAINING AND EDUCATION COMMAND (TECOM)
05.2011 - 05.2013
WEAPONS DIVISON MANAGER/QUALITY ASSURANCE SPECIALIST
US MARINE CORPS / MARINE AVIATION LOGISTICS SQUADRON 11 (MALS-11)
06.2008 - 05.2011
RECRUITING STATION ASSISTANT MANAGER / PRODUCTION RECRUITER
US MARINE CORPS / RECRUITING STATION SACRAMENTO / RECRUITING SUB-STATION SOUTH SACRAMENTO
06.2005 - 06.2008
ARMAMENT WEAPONS SYSTEMS EQUIPMENT DIVISION SUPERVISOR / QUALITY ASSURANCE INSPECTOR
US MARINE CORPS / MARINE AVIATION LOGISTICS SQUADRON 11 (MALS-11)
07.2000 - 06.2005
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Mt. San Jacinto College
High School Diploma -
Colusa High School
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