StandardAero recognized Joe “Ski“ Suszczynski, training manager at its Dallas-Fort Worth Service Center, as a recipient of the FAA Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award. His journey began at age 14 at Aviation High School in Queens, New York, a public, FAA-accredited program. “It’s in your DNA,“ Suszczynski shared. “Aviation has been in my DNA since I was 14. If you don’t love it, it’s work.“
After four and a half years of classroom training and hands-on shop time — including maintaining the school’s own aircraft — he graduated with both his diploma and his FAA certification at just 17 years old. He returned for six additional months of extended training to obtain his Powerplant certificate.
Suszczynski went on to serve 21 years in the United States Air Force as a jet engine technician. He later transitioned to civil aviation roles at Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio, eventually joining Raytheon as a site supervisor where he was responsible for hiring and developing a team of more than 50 technicians. During his Air Force career, he also taught Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) students as an adjunct instructor with Embry-Riddle in Germany.
Suszczynski joined StandardAero in 1999, continuing in a similar role, bringing his leadership, technical knowledge and growth mindset.
In 2022, Suszczynski transferred to StandardAero’s DFW facility to lead training initiatives, a natural fit given his long history of developing emerging aviation talent. “What really excites me is when I’m training somebody,“ he said. “Whether it’s one, five, or ten years later, you see them grow and expand — and then they come back to tell you how much it meant to learn to do things the correct way.“
Suszczynski said his leadership philosophy centers on integrity, clarity, and accountability. His personal motto — “Do what’s right when nobody is looking“ — guides how he works, teaches and leads. As he puts it, “Do my actions mimic what I say? Do I walk the walk?“ Whether he is delivering technical instruction, reinforcing safety practices, or picking up FOD on the shop floor, Suszczynski led by example.
“Aviation has helped me get to where I am today,“ he shared. “It’s given me financial security, and it’s also taken sweat and tears. But the greatest reward is passing the baton on to others and watching them grow.“