He now works for the National Air Transportation Association, where he interned before filling his current position of manager of regulatory affairs. His job focuses on two aspects of aviation: air charter and flight training. The air charter work is primarily working with airplanes, resolving regulatory issues, and educating the aviation industry. The flight training is similar to work that takes place at flight schools around the country.

Collin is especially experienced in flight training because he is a flight instructor on weekends.

“I really enjoy the responsibility and the fact that I can help improve aviation for everyone,” Collin says.

One of Collin’s favorite aviation experiences was when he was still an intern for the National Air Transportation Association and was able to attend the Experimental Aircraft Association’s AirVenture Convention in Wisconsin. He met many people in the aviation industry and even heard a speech by retired United States Air Force Major General Chuck Yeager, a test pilot.

Collin sees a great deal of potential within his current job and hopes to strengthen both the flight training and air charter committees. He suggests that high school students interested in aviation work really hard and “discover any avenue in aviation.” 

Tales from a NASCAR pit crew

Not many occupations are judged in 14-second increments. But as a front-tire changer in NASCAR’s Nationwide Series, it’s the amount of time Martin Coberly has to put on a new front tire when NASCAR drivers pull into the pit during races.

Martin, who graduated from Monacan High School in 2008, knew he wanted to be a mechanic but never aspired to work as a mechanic in professional racing. However, he was interested in doing some racing himself. “My grandfather and I used to work on cars together,” Martin says.

Martin took Automotive 1 and Automotive 2 classes at the Chesterfield Technical Center, giving him a foundation in auto mechanics. His career launched into racing when he worked as a mechanic for ARCA Racing Series, a smaller car race series. While there, he volunteered to help change tires at races. He started training for the role and soon moved up. In 2010, he was hooked up with a NASCAR World Camping Truck Series Team and moved up to the Nationwide Series this year.

“I always wanted to race, but I’d never thought I’d actually have a job in it,” Martin says. “Then I decided one day, ‘I know a guy in a Nationwide Series, and I’m going to go in there and help him out,’ and I kept moving up to bigger and bigger teams.”

Martin worked for NASCAR on weekends while completing his associate’s degree in high performance motor sports at the University of Northwestern Ohio. He plans on continuing his career with NASCAR.

“I’m still trying to work my way up,” says Martin. “I’m in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, so if I get an offer to work on a Sprint Cup Series, I’d take it in a heartbeat.”