Joint Base MDL senior NCO, Oakland native, leads maintenance operations center in Southwest Asia

Published June 21, 2010
By Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol
380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- In his deployed job, Master Sgt. Terrance A. Johnson works in the heartbeat of maintenance operations for the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing -- the maintenance operations center, or MOC. It's a job he said he's more than happy to be a part of.

"I supervise eight Airmen who all monitor and coordinate with multiple flightline agencies on maintenance operations," said Sergeant Johnson, who serves as the MOC superintendent for the 380th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron. "We have a busy job managing support for a wing with four different types of airframes and many specialized maintenance Airmen."

Sergeant Johnson said the MOC monitors and coordinates sortie production, maintenance production and execution of the flying and maintenance schedules while maintaining visibility of fleet health indicators. Through coordination with maintenance units, the MOC communicates priorities for competing limited resources such as fuel or calibration docks, wash racks and dispatched specialists from the maintenance squadrons based on daily flying schedules and maintenance priorities. The exchange of information between squadrons, Sergeant Johnson said, and the MOC must be in sufficient detail to allow the MOC to comply with reporting requirements and to identify potential problems.

An aerospace maintenance superintendent by Air Force specialty, Sergeant Johnson said what his team does is critical to the success of deployed flying operations.

"We're extremely important," said Sergeant Johnson, who is deployed from the 305th Maintenance Operations Squadron, 305th Air Mobility Wing, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. "The MOC serves as the eyes and ears of the flightline. The entire air tasking order is based on aircraft status that we update and monitor."

To effectively lead the MOC, Sergeant Johnson draws on experience he's gained from more than 15 years of service. According to his official Air Force job description for an aerospace maintenance superintendent shows that he is trained to advise on problems maintaining, servicing and inspecting aircraft and aerospace support equipment. He is able to use technical data to diagnose and solve maintenance problems on aircraft systems and interpret and advise on maintenance procedures and policies to repair aircraft and support equipment.

Aerospace maintenance Airmen like Sergeant Johnson can also troubleshoot and maintain aircraft structures, systems and components. They test repaired components using mockups and test equipment and adjust, align, rig and calibrate aircraft systems. They also perform engine run-ups and accomplish weight and balance functions.

Futhermore, Sergeant Johns is trained to supervise and perform aircraft and component inspections, interpret inspection findings and determines adequacy of corrective actions, and to inspect and check components for clearances, tolerances, proper installation and operation.

When he left his hometown of Oakland, Calif., 15 years ago to join the Air Force, Sergeant Johnson said he had many reasons to serve.

"I joined the military to see the world and to provide a stable like for my family," Sergeant Johnson said. "I am extremely appreciative of the opportunity the military has provided for me."

The master sergeant said he is also proud to deploy.

"I deploy to support the war effort," Sergeant Johnson said. "Deploying is what the military is all about. It's what we do and I'm proud to contribute."

The 380th EMXS is a sub-unit of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing. The wing is home to the KC-10 Extender, U-2 Dragonlady E-3 Sentry and RQ-4 Global Hawk aircraft. The wing is comprised of five groups and 18 squadrons and the wing's deployed mission includes air refueling, air battle management, surveillance, and reconnaissance in support of overseas contingency operations in Southwest Asia. The 380th AEW supports operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.