July/August 2024 - 16

40 UNDER 40
Micah Denney is dedicated to excellence in all arenas. An outstanding technician with
exceptional leadership capabilities, he consistently sets high standards for himself and his team.
" Overall, the personnel I work with, the customers, and all the different project types I am
involved with. Brings that level of 'that's why I like aviation,' " Denney said.
Denney is a graduate of Greenville Technical Community College. He served with L3 on
multiple foreign fields. Since joining Stevens, he has excelled in various roles, including technician,
crew lead, production supervisor, and now, government program manager.
Committed to lifelong learning, Denney constantly strives to improve both quality and
production. His dedication to continuous improvement is evident in every task he undertakes.
He is also deeply committed to growing as a leader, always seeking new ways to inspire and
motivate others to excel.
Denney's passion for aviation and leadership is contagious. His ability to blend technical
Micah Denney
Government
Program Manager
Stevens AeroSpace
and Defense Systems
Age: 38
AviationPros.com/55039100
expertise with strong leadership skills makes him a valuable asset to our team. His unwavering
commitment to excellence and his proactive approach to personal and professional
development set a remarkable example for his peers and subordinates.
Denney's journey from a technician to a government program manager showcases his
versatility and dedication. His contributions have significantly impacted Stevens operations,
driving improvements in both efficiency and quality.
Denney's leadership and passion for inspiring others to achieve their best ensure that he
continues to be a driving force within the industry. His relentless pursuit of excellence and his
commitment to lifelong learning make him a standout professional and a true inspiration to all.
In fewer than six years at SafeTech-USA, Matthew DiGuardi has progressed from an apprentice
technician to the highest position in the facility.
DiGuardi began servicing life rafts and has become an expert in the repair and overhaul of
aircraft emergency equipment and knows what is required in the United States and Europe.
Today, as the facility manager of the SafeTech shop in Ridgeland, South Carolina, he oversees
the facility's finances, work intake, outgoing work, and profit and loss reports, as well as
the overall well-being of the employees and the equipment. As needed, he also travels to other
SafeTech locations.
Consistently, DiGuardi takes training courses and so far, has obtained his repairman certificate
and his certificate for hydrostatic testing of cylinders. He also is a certified trainer and fills in
for the vice president when needed.
" The thing I enjoy most about the industry is the opportunities that come from it and the
connections you gain from putting in time in the industry, " he said.
As a facility manager, DiGuardi has implemented numerous programs including Strategic
Matthew
DiGuardi
Facility Manager
SafeTech-USA
Age: 35
AviationPros.com/55039738
Thinking and employee of the month.
" Strategic Thinking is something I came up with for my employees at the shop, " he said. " It
gets them involved with the success plan of growing this facility. Their ideas on how to make
this facility keep succeeding. It gets the employees involved with facility more and gives them
a sense of ownership over what they have control over. "
Another program DiGuardi implemented is 4DX, a structured program that monitors the
work in progress as well as the goals and targets for each shop.
To succeed in aviation maintenance, he emphasizes the importance of paying attention to
details because, he said, " It is an important skill for aircraft mechanics, it allows them to maintain
high standards of safety when inspecting. "
16 JULY/AUGUST 2024
AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY

July/August 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of July/August 2024