Tyndall airman drives mission success with innovative problem-solving

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. — When Senior Airman Andrew Collier arrived at Tyndall in August 2023, the aircraft metals technology shop was still clawing back from the devastation left by Hurricane Michael. The storage closet was bare, the tool tracking system empty, and the mission demanded momentum. Collier helped rebuild the section piece by piece — and today he is channeling that same urgency on the flightline, turning ideas into parts that keep aircraft moving and costs in check.

Part machinist, welder and additive manufacturing specialist, the 325th Maintenance Squadron journeyman has become a go-to problem-solver for quick-turn, custom fixes that would otherwise sideline aircraft and equipment. His portfolio ranges from precision reaming of corroded F-35 fastener holes to welding broken trailers and 3D-printing components that eliminate bottlenecks.

“A lot of our job, if we do it right, saves the Air Force a lot of money,” Collier said. “The price of material, whether it’s plastic, rubber or metal is a lot cheaper than sending it elsewhere or buying a brand new one.”

One recent example: a 3D‑printed cover he designed to blunt the sharp corners of a missile loading table. The simple add-on prevents accidental contact with an aircraft’s skin — damage that can cost more than $100,000 to repair and force weeks of downtime. The inexpensive, made‑to‑fit fix has been fielded across the flightline to help keep jets available for missions.

That kind of practical innovation aligns with the metals technology shop’s broader mandate. The team supports the F‑35A Lightning II enterprise at Tyndall by translating engineering intent into workable, flightline-ready solutions — repairing structures, inspecting for corrosion and sustaining the specialized support equipment that surrounds fifth‑generation fighters.

Their reach extends beyond aircraft maintenance. When the 325th Medical Group needed a precisely dimensioned chair for pilot measurements, the shop fabricated one in-house, avoiding a $20,000 purchase. At the request of the 325th Security Forces Squadron and the Office of Special Investigations, they destroyed confiscated weapons. They also produced corrected placards for aerospace ground equipment to meet inspection standards and avert penalties.

“Collier is a master at designing and creating blueprints,” said Master Sgt. Ryan McGarrigle, 325th MXS metals technology section chief. “He is the one behind the scenes doing the work most people never see. When civil engineering, security forces or aerospace ground equipment personnel come to the shop for help, we point them in his direction and he finds a way to make it happen.”

Collier’s path to the career field was shaped early. His father, an Air Force veteran who served six years in security forces, encouraged a hands-on approach that matched his son’s kinesthetic learning style. “He did a really good job of finding out how I learned best,” Collier explained. “We found out that we enjoyed working with our hands a lot, so working on cars, working on stuff around the house, just anything with our hands.”

Before enlisting, Collier completed a civilian machinist apprenticeship with PFAFF, a German firm that builds molds for the automotive sector. The skill set translated directly to the Air Force’s metals technology requirements and affirmed his decision to serve. “I liked the idea of serving after my dad did and just serving in general,” he said.

At Tyndall, his first mission was administrative but essential: accountability. “From day one, I was making MILs,” Collier said, referring to the master inventory lists crucial for tool accountability. “Our shop had zero tools [in the tracking system], and now we have over 13,000 … It was a lot of work.”

With the shop reconstituted, Collier spends most days translating maintenance needs into tangible solutions — modeling a part, cutting raw stock, welding a repair, or printing a prototype, then refining it based on feedback from maintainers. The output is visible and immediate, a trait he says makes the work uniquely satisfying.

“Our job is very tangible,” he said. “You [can] see what you’re doing, the impact it has because you fabricate something and you [can] hold it in your hand. I fixed this. … I helped save money. I helped solve this problem. … I enjoy everything about my job. I don’t see myself getting out for a very long time.”