Embry-Riddle’s SkillBridge Puts Women on Track for Aviation Maintenance Careers

As Paula Vargas prepares to leave the Navy in December, she’s found the perfect bridge to the civilian career she’s been dreaming about.

The same goes for Donna Erazo, who is transitioning from the Army in January and was searching for a new career field she could get excited about.

Vargas, 32, is a Colombian native who moved to Miami when she was 10. A self-described “late bloomer,” she joined the Navy at age 27 after a stint in the finance industry and “fell in love” with working on gas turbine engines — while also discovering she had a knack for it.

Erazo, 26, grew up in Chickamauga, Ga., joined the Army in 2016 and was a biomedical equipment specialist who has been deployed to Iraq and is now stationed at Ft. Campbell, Ky. She enjoys working with her hands and is anxious to learn more about the aviation industry.

Both are thrilled to be making strides in what has traditionally been an area of aviation dominated by men.

Vargas and Erazo are among the women now enrolled in Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Aviation Maintenance Technology SkillBridge program, which connects veterans and those transitioning from the service to career opportunities with committed aerospace industry partners such as AAR, HAECO Americas, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Pratt & Whitney, and Standard Aero.

“Although we still have a long way to go, we’re pleased that more women are seeing aviation maintenance as a great career opportunity,” said Angela Albritton, Director of Military Relations and Strategic Initiatives at the Worldwide Campus. “Once our cohorts complete the program [in November 2021], we’ll have graduated more than 200 transitioning service members and veterans, 9% of which are female.”

Erazo and Vargas took a break from their classwork to discuss how the AMT program is making a difference for them.

Q: How did you learn about the AMT program?

Paula: I have been stationed in Norfolk and I was looking for something that could help me continue working in aviation maintenance. I had heard about SkillBridge, and I did some research online and found the Embry-Riddle program. The funny thing, I was actually already enrolled there, because I am pursuing my bachelor’s degree in Aviation Business Administration at the Worldwide Campus.

Donna: I first heard about it in a briefing from the Soldier for Life Transition Assistance Program. Of all the briefings, that was the one that really piqued my interest and made me want to learn more. The idea of joining the aviation industry was very exciting.

Q: What attracted you to the program?

Paula: At the start, I just wanted to find a way to keep doing the work I was doing in the military without having to worry about being deployed all the time, which is important because I want to start a family soon. I also knew it would help me earn my Airframe & Powerplant certificate. Overall, I could see it would help make my transition out of the service easier.

Donna: I was very curious about that part of the aviation industry. When you think of flying, most people think of pilots and flight attendants, but maintenance technicians are kind of in the background. But they do very important work. The idea of working in the background while still making a real contribution was attractive to me.

Q: What do you like most about the program since your cohort started?

Paula: Actually, I am even more surprised and pleased with this program now that I am into it. The instructor is excellent and because the class is live online, there is interaction with classmates, and we have people from all over. Maybe the best surprise was seeing how involved the industry partners are in the program. We’ve done virtual intros already and I can already see this is going to be an excellent way to build the connections I will need for the future.

Donna: I have really enjoyed getting to know the other people in my class and seeing their passion for aviation. We have taken several field trips so far and it’s wonderful to see how excited they are and how willing they are to share their experiences with me. I am really looking forward to being part of an industry that generates passion and enjoyment like that.

Q: What is it like to be one of a handful of women enrolled?

Paula: I am more or less used to it by now. In the maintenance field, I have been surrounded by men throughout my military career and it’s never really been a problem – especially once they see that I know what I am talking about and what I am doing. It also helps that I am not afraid to get my hands dirty.

Donna: It’s actually not all that different from being in the military. When I first joined the service and I was training in San Antonio, I was one woman among 20 men. Now in this class, I am one woman out of 10 men. But we all have to reach the same standards to succeed, so I am comfortable with that.

Q: What initially sparked your interest in this career field?

Paula: It actually came after I joined the Navy. Having been in finance as a career, I didn’t know that I was going to fall in love with engineering and maintenance. But I love troubleshooting and I love knowing that I can fix things.

Donna: I love working with my hands, and I really wondered what it would be like to have such an important role in the aviation industry.

Q: Do you think it's important for more women to work in areas traditionally dominated by men?

Paula: Absolutely. I have to credit the Navy with opening my eyes to the kinds of opportunities people might think are more for men. But it’s been very satisfying to explore engineering and also to learn that I don’t need to rely on other people. I’ve also learned that machines make sense to me.

Donna: I do. I think it’s important to show younger people that they can do whatever they want and that’s an example I want to help set. You never know who you might inspire just by showing up and doing your job every day. And, after my military experience, I am excited the opportunities that are available for women in the civilian world.

Q: What advice can you offer women who are interested in the program but hesitant about joining?

Paula: Give it a try! You have to take advantage of the available opportunities, and there are so many that come with a program like this. It will help you build connections and open doors to great companies.

Donna: Don’t turn away out of fear if it’s something you really want to do. I have never been one to hesitate or pass up a great opportunity, so it doesn’t bother me that this might be a field dominated by men. Making big changes is all about taking small steps. Just take a chance on yourself.

As more women and people of color discover the benefits of the training and the direct connection to industry hiring managers, Embry-Riddle’s AMT SkillBridge program is becoming a conduit to bring additional diversity to this rewarding field.

The innovative program, which already helped dozens of Marines at Camp Lejeune-New River make the leap to great civilian careers, has been expanded to include Ft. Campbell, Ky., Ft. Carson, Colo., Ft. Bragg, N.C., Camp Pendleton, Calif., and Jacksonville, Fla. It’s also available as a virtual program through Embry Riddle’s Hurlburt Field campus in Ft. Walton Beach, Fla.