The SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Competition Gave This CNM Graduate a Glimpse of Life as an Aviation Mechanic

Francisco Romero has competed in SkillsUSA at the state level twice before, but this year was the first time he qualified for nationals. He admits competing in the Aviation Maintenance Technology competition at the national level was more intimidating than he expected. 

“Everything about nationals is more intense; there’s more stations, more pressure, and more opportunities to get distracted,” he says. “But I’m so thankful for this opportunity.”

The SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference is the largest gathering of the next generation of America’s skilled workforce. This annual one-week conference gives students the opportunity to connect with industry professionals, enhance their leadership skills, and showcase their talents in over 110 skilled trade competitions ranging from advertising design to welding. 

Francisco graduated from CNM’s Aviation Technology program this Spring and was excited to put his skills to the test at the national SkillsUSA Aviation Maintenance Technology competition. 

During the eight-hour competition, Francisco worked through 11 stations that tested different critical aviation maintenance skills including hardware identification, general safety knowledge, and knowledge of federal aviation guidelines.

Even though Francisco didn’t end up medaling at nationals, he enjoyed how much the competition pushed him outside of his comfort zone. 

“Competing at this level really challenged me in a way I hadn’t been before, and that alone made the experience worth it,” he says. 

Francisco also met with industry professionals while he was at the National Leadership and Skills Conference, which helped give him a better idea of what to expect when he enters the workforce. 

“I met with companies like Delta (Airlines) and American (Airlines) when I wasn’t competing, and their insight really helped me understand what to expect when I start applying for aviation technician positions,” he explains. 

Now that he’s back from SkillsUSA, Francisco is going to focus on completing his Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) exams. Once he completes these exams he will be able to start his career in aviation maintenance. 

More than anything, Francisco is honored to have competed at this level and in the field he hopes to enter. 

“Just going to the national competition is a really big deal, and the aviation mechanics competition is smaller than some of the other competitions at SkillsUSA, so it puts me in a small group of really talented people and that makes the experience that much more special,” he says.