Thomas Buell
Why did you decide to pursue a career here?
As an aircraft mechanic with both civilian and military experience, I sought a career in which I could continue to work in the field and support national defense. A love for aviation and desire to serve our country run deep in many of us. From the start when I joined the Flight Test Facility in 2004, it was evident this place is unique and has many talented personnel. Our airborne R&D role in support of national security brings together aircraft maintainers; operations staff, including pilots and flight-test directors; technical groups, including program managers; test engineers; mission system integrators; and engineering support groups. Coming together for a flight-test campaign is always rewarding.
What advice would you give to someone looking to enter your field?
Aircraft maintenance is a very exciting career. Safety of flight is paramount, and there is no greater sense of accomplishment than when that airplane rolls out, no matter the task. The military is a great way to kick off an aviation-related career but not the only way. For the civilian side, get your licenses and get to work! For both, plan on nights, weekends, and inclement weather. Also plan on travel, opportunities to maintain a wide range of aircraft, and camaraderie. As with any career, early on you are building technical skills and relationships. Be patient, as your most routine tasks may be your biggest stepping stones. The airplanes you work on are amazing machines. I still love the sound and feel of a turbine engine whining during taxi out and take off.
Where are you from?
My wife and I are from northeastern Connecticut, dubbed the quiet corner of Connecticut. We spend a lot of time there. We like to support small businesses such as farms and orchards by purchasing locally grown fruit, vegetables, and maple products. Now living in central Massachusetts, we maintain a large vegetable garden of our own and on Sundays set up a free vegetable wagon for neighbors and passersby. We try to give back to the community while maintaining that local charm we appreciate so much ourselves.
Outside of your technical work, what are you passionate about?
My true passion is forestry management. I manage forest health and wildlife habitat through the Massachusetts Forest Stewardship Program, which is open to private landowners with 10 or more acres of woodlands. Landowners who enroll work with a forester to create a 10-year management plan for their property. My wife and I are also members of the Massachusetts Forest Alliance and its Tree Farm Program, through which we attend workshops and woodlot tours to learn how to be good stewards of the land. We actually live on a family tree farm — no, not Christmas trees but standing timber — whose woodlot has been formally managed since 1970. A proud moment was the expansion of our woodlot operations in a nearby town. We are now managing almost 120 acres of forest.
What are your hobbies?
My wife and I enjoy going on our pontoon boat at the lake camp in the quiet corner. Our dog Duke is my co-captain and loves when we take family and friends for a boat ride and fish. We also enjoy a workday in the woods, which entails maintaining forestry roads, hiking trails, and wildlife habitat and tackling invasives. Clearing a blowdown after a storm and building brush piles can create a wonderful habitat for animals such as rabbits, birds, and bears. The wildlife seem to be pleased with our efforts, as we have seen not only deer and turkey but also coyotes, bobcat, and moose.