Mike Wenzel - WW5ENZ

Born in Toledo, Ohio in 1951, I moved with my parents to Huron, California just a few years later. I attended schools in Anaheim, California and graduated from Chaminade Collage Prep School then attended West Hills Collage in Coalinga, California. Soon after that I joined the USAF.

My career began in 1971 as a DFCS Technician in SAC on B-52H Aircraft. I was stationed at Wright Patterson AFB, KI Sawyer AFB, Ellsworth AFB, and then as a Branch Chief at Fairchild AFB. During my career I received a Bachelor’s Degree in Electronics Engineering Technology from the University of South Dakota by attending weekend and night classes. I was reassigned to USAFE in 1987 as a Senior Master Sergeant at RAF Bentwaters, England where I served as the Maintenance Supervisor for the 510^th Fighter Squadron managing 20 A-10 aircraft. When I returned to the States in 1990, I was assigned to Carswell AFB, Texas. After attaining the grade of Chief Master Sergeant, I organized one of the first ACC Two Level Maintenance Avionics Repair Facilities in the Air Force.

In 1992 I was assigned to Tinker AFB to organize a new avionics depot process. This new process was designed to greatly reduce turn time for avionics component replacement. I retired from the USAF in 1994 and was rehired into Civil Service as a WS-15 and eventually promoted to GS-13.

I applied for and was hired to the position of Deputy Director of Maintenance at Randolph AFB in 1998 where I assisted in the transition of T-37 and T-38 aircraft to civilian GS maintenance. After two years I was promoted to GS-14 and returned to Tinker AFB to eventually become the Director of the KC-135 maintenance and overhaul squadron. I attended the University of Tennessee at Knoxville where I received a Master of Business Administration Degree (MBA) and was promoted to GS-15, a civilian grade equivalent to a Colonel. I was reassigned to the Commodities Maintenance Group as the Civilian Director where I spent my last 5 years in Civil Service before I retired in 2011.

Since then, I’ve been active in Amateur Radio Activities, RVing, Boating, and maintaining our home on one acre in Oklahoma.

TANKER_1 — KC-135 entering PDM in Strip Phase

TANKER_2 — KC-135 flyby with boom extended

DUKE_OF_KENT_1 — Mike (center) chatting with the Duke of Kent (facing away), London, 2005

DUKE_OF_KENT_2 — Duke of Kent, left, and Mike in London, 2005

SHINGO_PRIZE — Mike receiving the Shingo Prize for Commodities Process Improvements

ADD_1 — 60-004 receiving engine maintenance on the KI Sawyer AFB ramp.

ADD_2 — Working a Defensive Fire Control System red-ball prior to engine start on KI Sawyer AFB ramp

ADD_3 — Snow in front of hangar doors at KI Sawyer AFB

ADD_5 — B-52H. M-61 Gun mockup in DFCS Shop

ADD_6 — US Navy flying patterns over Rockport TX.

ADD_7 — Mike on cover of RAF Bentwaters Base Magazine after receiving Senior NCO of the Year Award

ADD_8 — A-10 headed To Desert Storm. 96 aircraft were cycled through Maroon, Spain from England and Myrtle Beach AFB

Mike Wenzel - WW5ENZ, AFFC #642

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