(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Navy veteran and Texas State Technical College alumnus Carlos Rodriguez is giving back to the college as a new aviation maintenance instructor at TSTC’s Harlingen campus with the goal of preparing students for future jobs as aircraft mechanics.
“I’ve been on the job for a month,” Rodriguez said. “I’ve enjoyed teaching the students in the classroom and sharing my work experience to motivate them to be successful in our program.”
Rodriguez earned associate degrees in Aircraft Airframe Technology in 2019 and Aircraft Powerplant Technology in 2021 from TSTC. After leaving the military, he gained experience as a contractor for the Department of Defense for a year in 2017. Before returning to TSTC to teach, he worked at Envoy Air in Dallas, Space X’s launch facility in Brownsville, and Boeing in San Antonio.
Among the current students who Rodriguez has motivated with his job experience is Ricardo Andrade, of Santa Rosa. Andrade is studying for an Associate of Applied Science degree in Aircraft Airframe Technology.
“I like the passion that Mr. Rodriguez has when he talks about the aviation field,” he said. “His real-world examples give us an idea of what we can expect in our future jobs.”
Leo Guajardo is team lead for TSTC’s aviation maintenance program in Harlingen.
“Carlos’ expertise is a valuable asset to our program,” he said.
Rodriguez said his new role as an instructor gives him satisfaction.
“It’s a great feeling to know that the education I’m teaching can lead our students to a great-paying career,” he said.
According to onetonline.org, aircraft mechanics and service technicians in Texas earn an average of $77,640 a year. The website projected that there would be a 16% increase in the number of such jobs in the state from 2020 to 2030.
TSTC offers Associate of Applied Science degrees and certificates of completion in both Aircraft Airframe Technology and Aircraft Powerplant Technology at its Abilene, Harlingen and Waco campuses.
For more information about TSTC, visit tstc.edu.
