Tech. Sgt. Brian Watson

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Tech. Sgt. Brian Watson is a crew chief with the 1st Aviation Standards Flight (ASF) at Will Rogers World Airport, Okla. Watson's day-to-day duties involve performing pre- and post-flight inspections and maintenance on Bombardier Challenger 600 series aircraft, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airframe.

What makes Watson unique, in comparison to other crew chiefs in the Air Force, is that he's airframe and powerplant certified, which is an FAA requirement for aircraft mechanics at the 1st ASF, since they work on civilian jets.

Watson recently transferred to the 1st ASF after three years with the 507th Maintenance Group at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. He said the change was necessary for his growth as a mechanic and to help set up post-military opportunities.

"Working on the civilian aircraft will give me experience for when I retire, so I can easily find better jobs outside of the military," Watson said. "This allows me more options in the civilian world, like working at airports, both private-area and commercial."

Watson has also shown interest in becoming an FAA aviation safety inspector. In that role, he'd oversee various maintenance programs throughout the U.S. to ensure they're operating in compliance with FAA practices and regulations.