Amber Jackson
Winchester
Summary
Aviation quality and avionics professional with over 15 years of experience supporting military and DoD aviation programs. I specialize in managing technical risk, coordinating cross-functional stakeholders, and ensuring aircraft systems meet contractual, regulatory, and customer requirements. My background spans avionics maintenance leadership, contractor surveillance, process audits, and corrective action management, with a strong foundation in project planning, schedule impact assessment, and continuous improvement. Currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics with minors in Engineering and Mathematics and formal training in technology project management.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Quality Assurance Specialist
Defense Contract Management Agency
08.2021 - Current
- Plan and execute risk-based surveillance aligned with Key Contract Requirements (KCRs), supporting aircraft system delivery, compliance, and schedule performance across manufacturing, repair, overhaul, and modernization efforts.
- Review contracts, technical data packages, and quality requirements (AS9100D, ISO 9001:2015, DFARS, AQAP) to identify requirement gaps and technical risk affecting avionics/electrical and flight-control-related deliverables; issue Contract Deficiency Reports (CDRs) to prevent downstream cost and schedule impacts.
- Analyze defect trends, nonconforming material (NCM), and customer complaints tied to aircraft electronics and avionics production to drive corrective action and reduce repeat escapes.
- Lead process audits and evaluations to verify contractor compliance with contractual/regulatory and NATO customer requirements; manage CARs through closure, validating root cause, corrective action plans (CAP), and effectiveness.
- Coordinate with contractors, customers, and internal stakeholders to communicate quality risk and production/schedule impacts; elevate issues to program managers when severity threatens delivery milestones.
- Maintain accurate program visibility and reporting via PDREP, CRR records, Letters of Delegation (LODs), PQDR monitoring, and RFV review/processing.
Quality Assurance Specialist
Defense Contract Management Agency
08.2019 - 08.2021
- Developed and executed surveillance plans to manage quality/delivery risk for aviation manufacturing and repair work involving avionics/electrical components and flight-control-related hardware.
- Reviewed contracts and technical data packages for requirement completeness and flow-down; issued Form 1797 requests and CDRs to resolve deficiencies impacting acceptance and delivery.
- Supported QMS audits and product acceptance for DoD and FMS customers, driving corrective actions when nonconformances created performance or schedule risk.
- Advised as a QA SME on surveillance risk consequence/likelihood adjustments using customer feedback and defect data.
Lead Instruments and Flight Control Systems Specialist C-17A
U.S. Air Force
01.2016 - 08.2019
- Led avionics maintenance execution for 11 personnel supporting C-17A aircraft, prioritizing work to meet mission schedules and aircraft availability targets.
- Oversaw troubleshooting and verification of avionics and flight-control systems including MIL-STD-1553 multiplex data bus, inertial navigation, ILS, TACAN, autopilot/electronic flight control, air data/pitot-static, radar altimeter, and comm systems.
- Analyzed maintenance data to identify reliability trends, recommend corrective actions, and adjust training focus to improve production effectiveness and reduce repeat discrepancies.
Instruments and Flight Control Systems Specialist C-130H
U.S. Air Force
07.2008 - 01.2016
- Diagnosed and repaired C-130H avionics and flight control systems using schematics, wiring diagrams, integrated test systems, and electronic measurement equipment.
- Supported systems including radar, MIL-STD-1553, flight director, inertial navigation, ILS, TACAN, autopilot, flight control, air data control/pitot-static, radar altitude, communications, and data recording.
- Maintained compliant documentation and used maintenance data/inspection findings to recommend corrective actions supporting sustained aircraft availability.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Aeronautics
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Daytona Beach, FL 03.2026
Associate's degree - Avionic Systems Technology
Community College of the Air Force-Air University
Maxwell AFB, AL04.2011
Skills
- Performance monitoring
- Application audits
- Correction action planning
- Sampling
- Analytical thinking
- Risk management
- Defect tracking
- Quality management systems
- Technical documentation
- Personnel management
- Project management
Certification
- Engineering and Tech Mgmt ETM 1010 - February 2024
- AQAP Quality Assurance Standards - September 2022
- Effective Control of Nonconforming Material (NCM) - July 2022
- Lean Six Sigma for Manufacturing - January 2022
- GD&T/Measuring Techniques Course - December 2021
- Intermediate Production, Quality, and Manufacturing Fundamentals - June 2021
- Data Collection and Analysis Application - September 2020
- Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education (SEJPME) Course - Mar 2017
Timeline
Quality Assurance Specialist
Defense Contract Management Agency
08.2021 - Current
Quality Assurance Specialist
Defense Contract Management Agency
08.2019 - 08.2021
Lead Instruments and Flight Control Systems Specialist C-17A
U.S. Air Force
01.2016 - 08.2019
Instruments and Flight Control Systems Specialist C-130H
U.S. Air Force
07.2008 - 01.2016
Associate's degree - Avionic Systems Technology
Community College of the Air Force-Air University
Bachelor of Science - Aeronautics
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Certifications, licenses, and credentials
Technology Project Management Credential - September 2024
Additional information
- DCMA Award for Excellence - April 2024
- Annual Appraisal Award for Performance - June 2023
- Annual Appraisal Award for Performance - June 2022