Patrick Albert Westerlund
San Diego
Summary
Aviation Maintenance Executive specializing in large-scale aircraft sustainment and production operations. Achieved high levels of operational readiness and aircraft availability through effective management of flight line operations, heavy maintenance coordination, and logistics integration. Focused on transitioning into a civilian leadership role within commercial aviation or defense contracting, driving process improvements and fostering high-performing teams.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Aviation Maintenance & Production Manager
UNITED STATES NAVY
San Diego
01.2022 - Current
- Direct enterprise-level maintenance and production operations for 36 aircraft and 750 personnel, executing organizational and intermediate sustainment activities
- Lead daily production control, scheduling, and resource allocation to maintain high aircraft availability and mission readiness
- Managed supply chain forecasting and material planning for engines, components, and critical consumables, ensuring timely availability of resources
- Published readiness metrics, risk assessments, and performance dashboards to senior leadership, providing insights for informed decision-making
- Coordinated cross-functional stakeholders (operations, logistics, engineering, supply) to meet deployment timelines, facilitating seamless operational execution
- Develop Plans of Action & Milestones (POA&M) for aircraft transitions and major operational events
- Oversee workforce training, certifications, and manpower distribution to optimize productivity
Detachment Maintenance Officer | Production Manager
UNITED STATES NAVY
Japan
01.2019 - 01.2022
- Led maintenance operations for 12 aircraft and 275 personnel supporting carrier strike group deployments
- Increased technician utilization and productivity 65% through data-driven trend analysis tool and workload balancing
- Conducted process audits and implemented corrective actions improving preventative maintenance effectiveness
- Chaired weekly planning boards with Air Wing stakeholders to identify and address operational risks
- Managed sustainment of aircraft, support equipment, and personnel during overseas operations to ensure mission readiness
Material Control & Quality Assurance Officer
UNITED STATES NAVY
California
01.2016 - 01.2019
- Led maintenance operations for 12 aircraft and 275 personnel, ensuring readiness for carrier strike group deployments
- Conducted process audits and implemented corrective actions improving preventative maintenance effectiveness
- Conducted process audits and implemented corrective actions, enhancing effectiveness of preventative maintenance protocols
- Chaired weekly planning boards with Air Wing stakeholders, identifying and mitigating operational risks
- Led maintenance operations for 12 aircraft and 275 personnel supporting carrier strike group deployments
Engine & Maintenance Program Assessment Lead
UNITED STATES NAVY
Japan
01.2014 - 01.2016
- Achieved 100% engine pool availability across three fleet areas, enhancing mission readiness
- Directed sustainment of 450+ engines/modules for 11 carrier strike groups, ensuring operational readiness
- Led multi-site inspection teams to audit maintenance programs for compliance and process integrity, reinforcing quality assurance
- Implemented new support capability for emerging P-8A aircraft platform
Maintenance Control Supervisor | Quality Assurance Supervisor
UNITED STATES NAVY
Japan
01.2009 - 01.2014
- Led and synchronized maintenance operations for 165 technicians supporting 12 F/A-18E Super Hornet aircraft, ensuring high aircraft availability, mission readiness, and safety-of-flight compliance.
- Directed maintenance planning for scheduled, unscheduled, and corrective actions; optimized workload distribution to minimize downtime and enhance operational readiness.
- Managed compliance of 43 Naval Aviation Maintenance Programs, ensuring adherence to DoD standards and technical directives while driving continuous process improvement.
- Served as Quality Assurance Supervisor, overseeing inspections of engines, components, and support equipment; conducted audits, root-cause analysis, and corrective actions to maintain regulatory and safety compliance.
- Performed trend analysis and risk assessment to identify systemic issues, improving maintenance efficiency and lifecycle performance.
- Administered technical publications, configuration control, and department safety programs to maintain procedural accuracy and reduce operational risk.
- Directed large-scale contingency logistics and evacuation operations, relocating 2,100 personnel and 65 aircraft during Operation Tomodachi, ensuring zero loss of assets and uninterrupted mission capability.
- Contributed to organizational excellence recognized with Commander Naval Air Pacific Battle “E,” Secretary of the Navy Safety Award, and Maintenance Excellence Award.
Instructor & Training Division Lead
UNITED STATES NAVY
California
01.2006 - 01.2009
- Managed technical training pipeline, resulting in graduation of 438 aviation technicians
- Developed and modernized courseware for Boeing F/A-18 platforms to enhance training effectiveness
- Certified and qualified instructors and master trainers, ensuring high standards of training delivery
Quality Assurance Representative | Line Maintenance Supervisor | Power Plant Supervisor
UNITED STATES NAVY
01.2002 - 01.2006
- Trained, audited, and monitored maintenance actions across 13 work centers for 13 F/A-18E Super Hornet aircraft.
- Full Systems QAR Qualified - Successfully performed over 70 work center and program audits with 100% accuracy.
- Managed high-tempo flight line operations during 2005 & 2006 SFARP Guam detachment, directing completion of over 1,000 maintenance actions supporting 300 critical training sorties and 500 flight hours, achieving 100% sortie completion rate.
- Leveraged expertise in aircraft systems and demonstrated leadership as power plant Leading Petty Officer to execute a fuel cell replacement in only 15 hours, a process typically requiring over 96 hours.
- Achieved full qualification in multiple roles including Safe-for Flight, Full Systems QAR, CDQAR, and others, demonstrating comprehensive expertise in aircraft maintenance and safety.
Education
Senior Enlisted Academy Graduate -
Senior Enlisted Academy
Newport, Rhode IslandSkills
- Aircraft Sustainment
- Fleet Readiness
- Maintenance Operations
- Quality Assurance & Compliance
- DCMA/NAVAIR Standards
- FAA & DoW Regulatory Compliance
- Continuous Process Improvement
- KPI management
- Budget & Cost Control
- Program & Production Management
- Cross-Functional Leadership
- Union collaboration
- Secret Security Clearance
Awards
- Meritorious Service Medal
- Navy Commendation Medal (5)
- Navy Achievement Medal (6)
- Unit & Campaign Awards (4)
- Volunteer Service Medal (2)
Job Related Training
- DON Security Manager Course, San Diego, CA
- Expertise in Naval Aviation Maintenance
- Aircraft Maintenance/Production Manager
Technical Systems
- NALCOMIS / OOMA
- Aircraft maintenance Data Systems
- Reliability & Trend Analysis Tools
- Microsoft Office / Excel / Power BI
- ERP & Supply Chain Systems
Timeline
Aviation Maintenance & Production Manager
UNITED STATES NAVY
01.2022 - Current
Detachment Maintenance Officer | Production Manager
UNITED STATES NAVY
01.2019 - 01.2022
Material Control & Quality Assurance Officer
UNITED STATES NAVY
01.2016 - 01.2019
Engine & Maintenance Program Assessment Lead
UNITED STATES NAVY
01.2014 - 01.2016
Maintenance Control Supervisor | Quality Assurance Supervisor
UNITED STATES NAVY
01.2009 - 01.2014
Instructor & Training Division Lead
UNITED STATES NAVY
01.2006 - 01.2009
Quality Assurance Representative | Line Maintenance Supervisor | Power Plant Supervisor
UNITED STATES NAVY
01.2002 - 01.2006
Senior Enlisted Academy Graduate -
Senior Enlisted Academy