ZACHARY FINCH
Crestview,FL
Summary
A seasoned aviation professional with twenty years of United States Air Force service, I bring deep expertise across both legacy and fifth‑generation fighter platforms with nine years on the A‑10 and fourteen years on the F‑35. My career has progressed from hands-on air‑vehicle mechanic and flight-line expeditor, through quality-assurance inspection and ALIS/ODIN instructional development, to senior instructional roles where I authored and delivered over 1,000 hours of training and modernized the Air Force’s F-35 maintenance curriculum. After retiring in 2023, I transitioned to the private sector, first as an ALIS mobile trainer for Delaware Resource Group teaching foreign JSF partners, then as an ALIS instructional‑systems designer for Lockheed Martin, crafting working instructions and courseware still in active use. Currently I serve as an F‑35 Field Support Engineer with Lockheed Martin at Eglin AFB, providing on‑site diagnostics, troubleshooting guidance and customer training that sustain aircraft safety, readiness and technical accuracy
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
F-35 Field Support Engineer, Systems Engineering Field Tech Support Sr
Lockheed Martin
Eglin AFB, FL
09.2023 - Current
- Responsible for delivering precise F-35 mission- and air-vehicle system troubleshooting using advanced diagnostic platforms (JARVIS, CRE, VAS etc.), performed rapid fault isolation on avionics, flight-control systems, PTMS, landing gear and hydraulic systems, and acted as the customer's technical lifeline to ensure aircraft remained ready, safe, secure and continuously improving.
- Designed and led on-site, hands-on training and mentorship programs covering advanced troubleshooting, complex maintenance procedures and safety protocols; cultivated a "troubleshoot first" culture that reduced unnecessary RTOKs and boosted the squadron's self-sufficiency in maintaining aircraft readiness.
F-35 ALIS Instructional Systems Designer/Air Vehicle and ALIS SME
Lockheed Martin Rotary Mission Systems
Eglin AFB, FL
06.2023 - 06.2023
- Responsible for analyzing, designing, developing, implementing, and evaluating ALIS training courseware.
- Assist with interim and final quality assurance reviews of all training products. Review and analyze training feedback documentation and formulate recommendations for improvement.
- Currently serving as the dual hat ISD/F-35 ALIS/Vehicle Systems Subject Matter Expert (SME), established continuous communication channels with instructors, ensuring the seamless flow of information enhancing the quality of ALIS courseware across the enterprise.
- Proficient in operational ISD analysis, development, implementation, and evaluation processes, effectively orchestrating the creation of high-quality instructor guides, student materials, and training programs.
F-35 ALIS Mobile Training Team
Lockheed Martin
Eglin AFB, FL
02.2023 - 06.2023
- Responsible for teaching 23 different ALIS specific training courses to DoD and foreign JSF partners.
- Served as a SME in coordination with ISD's for ALIS courseware development.
F-35 Flight Line Expediter/Production Supervisor
United States Air Force
Eglin AFB, FL
07.2020 - 02.2023
- Responsible for directing, controlling and coordinating scheduled flying and maintenance on 26 F-35A aircraft valued at $3.4B.
- Worked closely with maintenance personnel and FSEs to troubleshoot and fault isolation of vehicle system/APG, avionics/mission systems, and weapons systems.
- Directed maintenance operations for 465 personnel/civilians in 5 different specialties as well as coordinated maintenance support/equipment with AF back shops & civilian contractor agencies.
- Verified/coordinated aircraft status changes/examined Production Aircraft Inspection Requirements (PAIRS) and Time Compliance Technical Directives.
- Enforced strict adherence to Joint Technical Data and reviewed ALIS documentation and authored/reviewed Action Requests.
- Generated aircraft for joint exercises/taskings/air shows.
- Implemented fleet's disaster preparedness/response measures.
- Executed daily/long-range flying & maintenance schedules to balance aircraft availability with $32M flying hour program.
F-35 Technical Training Instructor Supervisor APG
United States Air Force
Eglin AFB, FL
06.2016 - 07.2020
- Supervised 42 Instructors across 10 Air Force Specialty Codes (AFSC).
- Managed instructor proficiency, qualifications, internships, teaching evaluations, degree contracts, and Community College of the Air Force Instructor Certificates (CIC).
- F-35 Subject Matter Expert/ liaison between host unit and training detachment.
- Applied Instructional System Design and Technical Writer Training, developed course training standards, student guides, course measurement devices, and training literature for F-35 maintenance training.
- Extensive use of the Analyze, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation (ADDIE) process to ensure curriculum projects met all military and civilian customer requirements.
Quality Assurance Inspector, F-35
United States Air Force
Eglin AFB, FL
06.2014 - 06.2016
- Performed F-35 quality verification inspections to include; F135 engine and Integrated Power Plant (IPP) installations, all aspects of Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS) documentation, final review of Action Requests (AR's), and other miscellaneous aircraft inspections.
- Advised the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO), Air Combat Command, Air Education & Training Command and 33rd Fighter Wing concerning Autonomic Logistics Info System (ALIS) vital connectivity.
- Certified F-35 aircraft weight & balance manager/technician.
- Developed training guides on local procedures/initial operating instructions for CMMS and CRM documentation.
F-35 Dedicated Crew Chief (APG), F-35
United States Air Force
Eglin AFB, FL
01.2012 - 06.2014
- Coordinated maintenance actions and determined airworthiness on 26 assigned F-35A aircraft.
- Performed engine/IPP runs, POS/IOS/BOS flight inspections, special inspections, hot pit refueling, towing, and engine module/all LRU replacements.
- Utilized technical drawings/schematics to troubleshoot aircraft faults/anomalies and perform corrective actions.
- Inputted, monitored, and enforced aircraft maintenance documentation utilizing ALIS and submitted discrepancies to leadership and Joint Program Office (JPO).
- Ensured aircraft equipment accountability, tracked and recorded all asset conditions utilizing ALIS, its sub-systems and legacy systems.
A-10 Dedicated Crew Chief APG
United States Air Force
10.2003 - 01.2012
- A-10 A & C Subject Matter Expert.
- Performed A-10 preflight, thru-flight, post-flight inspections, launch and recovery duties, serviced fuel, oil, hydraulic, and pneumatic systems.
- Managed the inspection, repair, troubleshooting, and modification of 27 assigned A-10 aircraft.
- Performed TF-34 engine maintenance.
Education
FSE 101 -
Lockheed Martin
Ft worth, TX02-2024
Associate of Applied Science - Instructor of Technology And Military Science
Community College of The Air Force
Montgomery, AL01-2019
Associate of Applied Science - Aviation Maintenance
Community College of The Air Force
Montgomery, AL01-2017
Skills
- Extensive F-35 ALIS experience
- 3 years experience with critical platforms such as; JARVIS, JEDI, STARK, VAS, PDM, etc
- Aircraft Maintenance (23 years)
- Military Operations (20 years)
- Military Training (4 years)
- Instructional Systems Development (4 years)
- Technical Writing (4 years)
- Teaching and applying instructional aids (4 years)
- Project coordination, cross-functional team leadership
- Team Leadership (15 years)
- Logistics Management
- Current Secret Security Clearance
Timeline
F-35 Field Support Engineer, Systems Engineering Field Tech Support Sr
Lockheed Martin
09.2023 - Current
F-35 ALIS Instructional Systems Designer/Air Vehicle and ALIS SME
Lockheed Martin Rotary Mission Systems
06.2023 - 06.2023
F-35 ALIS Mobile Training Team
Lockheed Martin
02.2023 - 06.2023
F-35 Flight Line Expediter/Production Supervisor
United States Air Force
07.2020 - 02.2023
F-35 Technical Training Instructor Supervisor APG
United States Air Force
06.2016 - 07.2020
Quality Assurance Inspector, F-35
United States Air Force
06.2014 - 06.2016
F-35 Dedicated Crew Chief (APG), F-35
United States Air Force
01.2012 - 06.2014
A-10 Dedicated Crew Chief APG
United States Air Force
10.2003 - 01.2012
FSE 101 -
Lockheed Martin
Associate of Applied Science - Instructor of Technology And Military Science
Community College of The Air Force
Associate of Applied Science - Aviation Maintenance
Community College of The Air Force