Desiree Salas

• Performed organizational and intermediate level maintenance on MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned rotary-wing aircraft and associated support equipment in accordance with NAVAIR technical publications and Navy maintenance standards.
• Conducted schedules and unscheduled inspections, troubleshooting, and repair of airframe, powertrain, drive, and flight control systems to ensure aircraft were safe, fully mission capable, and ready to support fleet operations.
• Qualified GMVO (Ground Maintenance Vehicle Operator) with responsibility for ground control of MQ 8C during engine and rotor engagement, ground functional checks, and pre flight testing prior to pilots assuming control.
• Qualified Plane Captain (PC) responsible for final pre-flight and post-flight inspections, safe aircraft movement on the line, fueling coordination, and serving as the pilot’s primary point of contact for aircraft condition and launch readiness.
• Qualified Plane Captain (PC) responsible for final pre flight and post flight inspections, safe aircraft movement on the line, fueling coordination, and serving as the pilot’s primary point of contact for aircraft condition and launch readiness.
• Held Collateral Duty Inspector (CDI) designation, independently inspecting completed maintenance, verifying compliance with technical data, and signing off aircraft as safe for flight as part of the Quality Assurance program.
• Consistently adhered to Navy and command safety, FOD, PPE, and hazmat requirements while working in hangar, flight line, and shipboard environments.
• Served as lead mechanic during multiple contract periods, assigning daily tasks, coordinating with production/maintenance control, and mentoring junior mechanics on technical procedures, ground ops, and safety.
• Helped sustain high aircraft availability for test events and operational missions by quickly troubleshooting and correcting recurring discrepancies, reducing repeat gripes and maintenance-related downtime.

Kay and Associates, Inc. Aircraft Mechanic 2

• MQ-8 Day Shift Lead
• MQ-8 Night Shift Supervisor
• FOD Program Manager
• MQ-8B/C Collateral Duty Inspector
• MQ-8B/C Plane Captain
• MQ-8B/C Ground Maintenance Vehicle Operator
• MQ-8B Vibration Analysis Technician

• Maintained all aircraft in accordance with organizational maintenance requirements.
• Maintained repair logs to document all corrective and preventive aircraft maintenance.
• Trained a number of new employees according to company standards.
• Performed flight line functions including pre-flight and post-flight requirements.

• Performed aircraft maintenance for scheduled preventive actions and unscheduled requirements.

• Performed welds on various types of connections using Arc Welders to complete tasks on-time and with high-quality final results.
• Welded in flat, horizontal, vertical and overhead positions.

• Performed organizational and phase-level airframe, hydraulic, and structural maintenance on HH 60H/HH 60F Seahawks supporting Naval Special Warfare and combat search and rescue missions.
• Qualified Plane Captain (PC) and APU Turn Operator, conducting pre /post-flight inspections, ground turns, and systems checks to ensure aircraft safety and mission readiness.
• Served as Night Shift Supervisor and Lead Airframer in the phase shop, supervising junior sailors and overseeing depot-level inspections and repairs on multiple aircraft.
• Completed deployments and detachments to Iraq, UAE, Kuwait, and multiple CONUS and European sites in support of high-tempo flight operations and training.