Marine Aviation Veteran Uses SkillBridge to Cross Over to a Civilian Career

Throughout his 11-year career in military aviation, Taylor Johnson has been just as comfortable standing in front of a class as he is sitting in the middle of one.

And that ability, among others, has paid off for him.

As an avionics technician and instructor in the U.S. Marine Corps, the 40-year-old Tennessee native taught the intricacies of the tiltrotor systems for the unique Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey.

As a student, he amassed enough practical experience to test for his Airframe & Powerplant license–which he earned after completing a SkillBridge program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Worldwide Campus.

“I was teaching avionics, and right across the hall was the flight line,” Taylor said. “And I'd walk across the hall and sit down with the rest of the students, and I would crunch through powerplant class. By the time it was all said and done, I had earned certifications in about five MOSs (Military Occupational Specialty) that were designated to me, and I knew that it was going to work to my advantage.”

How Does the SkillBridge Program Work?

That hard work, preparation and those extra MOSs ensured that when the time came to transition from the military after nine years of active duty and two years in the Reserves, Taylor was ready to take advantage of the SkillBridge course offered by Embry-Riddle Worldwide.

Part of a renowned Department of Defense initiative that offers transitioning military members valuable training opportunities during their last 180 days of service, it was SkillBridge that gave Taylor the final push toward his A&P certificate.

“There was a lot of information to take in a short period,” said Taylor, who gave high marks to his Embry-Riddle instructor, Dr. James Clinton Stockton, who “really knew the inner workings of an engine, and he knew how to explain it. Having someone who took the time to go through things with you like that was a real help.”

Taylor combined the knowledge from the course and the Aviation Maintenance Technology Part 65 certificate he earned from Embry-Riddle in 2021 with his experience as an avionics technician instructor and as a powerplant student in the military.

He then spent two days alone in a hotel room, preparing for the practical portion of his A&P exam.

“I sat in front of a mirror and would read the question out loud, so it was like somebody was asking me, and then I would answer the question,” he said. “I literally went through every question in the book.”

The Marine Corps Opens the Door

Taylor’s blend of determination, ingenuity and flexibility reflect his background as the son of a Navy sailor who served aboard the Lockheed Martin P-3 Orion. While he was born in Memphis and spent much of his youth in Tennessee, Taylor has also lived in Hawaii, Guam and Pensacola, Florida.

Taylor initially wanted to become a Naval Aviator, and he earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics so he could become an officer. But that process proved slower and more complex than initially thought, so he chose another course.

“I was a 28-year-old guy with a college degree, and I enlisted in the Marine Corps,” he said.

That turned out to be a good decision. He became an Avionics Technician specializing on the Osprey. He earned his wings as an Aircrewman and flew as an aerial observer before becoming an avionics instructor.

But he knew other opportunities were waiting.

“My dad had gotten out of the Navy by then and went to work for FedEx,” Taylor said. “He kept telling me: ‘You have to get your A&P,’ and he kept pushing me. And I thought, ‘If I am going to do it, I should do it now.’”

That’s how Taylor became an instructor in one maintenance field and a student in another, an arrangement that worked only because he had the drive and capability to pull it off.

“I went to [powerplant] classes every day and then worked as an instructor at night,” Taylor said. “Then I would get some sleep and do it again.”

Managing such a hectic daily schedule wasn’t easy, but it was worth it. Taylor was one of two in his class of 30 or so students who got the okay to the test for A&P. Even then, his civilian FAA examiners could hardly believe he was so prepared.

“They told me, ‘You’re an Avionics guy, so we can give you the Airframe and General test, but your MOS doesn’t qualify for powerplant,’” Taylor said. “And I told them to look at all of my MOSs, and when they did, they asked me, ‘How did you do that?’”

Making the Transition From Military to Industry

As ready as he was, Taylor still learned a great deal in his SkillBridge course, thanks again to Dr. Stockton’s ability to make sense of some of the difficult concepts related to aircraft powerplants.

“I could troubleshoot, I could remove and replace,” he said. “But actually understanding how everything is going to network together, that can be a different story. Dr. Stockton made it clear what was important. And he was there because he actually wanted to be, and he enjoyed teaching people about engines and how they work.”

Finally, armed with all the ratings he needed, Taylor applied to FedEx two years ago and landed a position as an Aircraft Scheduler and Router overseeing the company’s Airbus fleet for the Maintenance Operational Control Center. His job involves ensuring aircraft are getting the proper scheduled or unscheduled maintenance while making the flights run on time.

“It’s kind of like putting together a puzzle that keeps moving around,” Taylor said. “It can be fun at times, and at other times, well, you just have to find a way to make it work.”

As Taylor prepares to start his third year at FedEx, he’s aiming to trade in his current office job to get his hands on airplanes again.

“Right now, my goal is to go and turn wrenches on FedEx aircraft,” he said, referring to the company’s Boeing and Airbus fleet. “I want to try that and then ultimately maybe end up being a Control Center Technician who is sitting inside and guiding other technicians through steps they need to troubleshoot and resolve problems that occur during normal aircraft operations.”

When he looks back on his journey so far, Taylor is grateful for the opportunities he’s had to learn and for the unwavering support of his family, most notably his wife, Rachel. She looks after 10-year-old Daniel and 4-year-old Evelyn, and the couple is preparing to welcome their third child in April 2024.

“I met her while I was in the military, and, you know, being a military spouse is never easy,” he said. “She’s just awesome. She is always there to support me.”

Taylor is also grateful for his Embry-Riddle experience and how it helped propel his career forward.

“I feel like the instruction that I got in the class was better than a lot of the instruction I got when I was getting my bachelor's degree,” he said. “I feel like Dr. Stockton actually cared more than, you know, a typical professor going through the steps, just trying to get through another semester. I really enjoyed it.”

Could SkillBridge Help You?

For any transitioning service members who may be considering SkillBridge at Embry-Riddle, Taylor offered this advice:

“You need to have your head on straight, and you need to be ready to work. And you must make some sacrifices, but it’s only for eight or nine weeks. Once you get through it, you'll look back and be glad you did. I would recommend it.”

What can we help you prepare for? Apply at Embry-Riddle today.