July/August 2024 - 20

40 UNDER 40
What's one thing everyone should know about being a director of maintenance?
" Being a director of maintenance is more than a production role, " replied Tirso Guerrero,
who is Director of Maintenance for HAECO Americas in Lake City, Florida. " It is the key role
in transforming a business. It's being able to anticipate the growth of the market and having
the ability to prepare the talent in the market to meet the demand while growing a culture of
quality and safety that exceeds industry standards, "
Guerrero became a D.O.M. in 2023 and has been focused on mentoring and developing his
staff to be able to support the frontline employees and the financial well-being of the facility.
What motivates him? " Organization growth and different ways to innovate aviation maintenance
services keep me motivated, " he said.
As a leader, Guerrero said his preferred method of motivating others is by investing in them,
empowering them to act and make decisions as leaders and providing the tools and resources
to help them succeed.
Guerrero has been recognized as a high performer within the HAECO/SWIRE operation,
which opens training and developmental opportunities to him on a global scale.
" I have always challenged myself, my thinking and ways of operating - globally this would
Tirso Guerrero
Director of Maintenance
HAECO Americas,
Lake City, Florida
Age: 39
AviationPros.com/55039733
be another challenge I would love to face, " he said.
He encourages evolving and adapting, and avoiding stagnancy and mediocrity, which he
said can be " career-killers. "
Working for Spirit Airlines, Joseph Harmon has held various leadership roles within multiple
departments. From technician, he advanced to quality control inspector. Next, for just
over a year, he was an inspector, then he was promoted to quality control supervisor before
landing in his current position: senior maintenance manager at the Dallas/Fort Worth station.
Within his peer group and among eight other managers, he was moved to Top Talent.
According to Harmon this means " always staying engaged in the operation and constantly
looking for ways to improve the overall safety and efficiency of the department. As well as
collaborating with other department leaders to effectively provide a safe and on-time service
for our guests. "
To use his experience within the departments, he joined Spirit's negotiating committee and
is helping negotiate a collective bargaining agreement for the tech ops team.
As time allows, Harmon takes part in numerous job fairs and tells future A&P technicians:
" Aviation is a great and exciting career field providing a dynamic work environment, professional
growth, and it sparks innovation. "
He serves on the advisory board of two A&P schools to help provide curriculum guidance
Joseph Harmon
Sr. Manager MX, DFW
Spirit Airlines
Age: 35
AviationPros.com/55039748
to ensure graduating students are ready for a successful career in aviation.
To anyone already in the industry, he encourages, " Embrace change and new challenges
that come your way, stay positive and always look for ways to enhance your skillset. "
What helped Harmon advance in his career is " having great leaders, staying persistent in learning
different aspects of aviation and learning other roles that interact with your current position. "
When he was younger, he watched agricultural planes flying over. While attending A&P
school, he found his first job in aviation building/working on agricultural aircraft.
20 JULY/AUGUST 2024
AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY

July/August 2024

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