Adam D.
Gustafson

Summary

I'm a Quality Assurance professional with 13 years of hands-on experience inspecting and certifying aircraft for flight readiness. I've led hundreds of maintenance audits across military and commercial platforms—CH-53E, CH-53K, and A350—making independent airworthiness decisions that directly impact safety. I translate complex technical requirements into actionable compliance strategies for maintenance and production teams.

Impact

Experience

1. 2023-2026

   Quality Inspector / Quality Assurance Representative

   AVMAC LLC · Hollyridge, NC

   • Developed and owned a quality assurance strategy for 10 aircraft maintenance operations, identifying test coverage gaps and designing inspection protocols to catch systemic deficiencies before they impacted flight operations, reducing repeat discrepancies across the fleet.
   • Identified procedural and documentation deficiencies in maintenance inspection workflows and directed implementation of 5 corrective actions and process improvements to prevent recurrence and streamline compliance verification, lowering inspection defect escape rate.
   • Served as senior Quality Assurance authority conducting program-level audits and hundreds of maintenance inspections, exercising independent judgment over Safety of Flight discrepancies and airworthiness decisions.
   • Interpreted and enforced NAVAIR maintenance policy to ensure compliance across scheduled and unscheduled maintenance actions on multiple aircraft platforms.
   • Identified systemic maintenance, documentation, and procedural deficiencies; directed corrective actions and verified closure to prevent recurrence.
   • Advised maintenance leadership, engineering representatives, and production personnel on risk acceptance, technical discrepancies, and inspection findings impacting aircraft readiness.

2. 2018-2022

   Detachment Leading Staff Non Commissioned Officer / Senior Maintenance Advisor

   US Marines · Hollyridge, NC

   Show the military equivalent

   • Provided senior technical oversight for deployed aviation maintenance operations supporting large-scale personnel, equipment, and logistical movements.
   • Certified maintenance documentation accuracy, tool control compliance, and technical data adherence in high-tempo operational environments.
   • Operated as a trusted advisor to executive leadership on maintenance readiness, inspection posture, and Safety of Flight risk.

3. 2012-2018

   Quality Assurance Representative / Aircraft Maintenance Inspector

   US Marines · Hollyridge, NC

   Show the military equivalent

   • Performed independent inspections of aircraft systems, structures, hydraulics, and corrosion control processes in support of flight operations.
   • Verified maintenance actions complied with approved technical manuals, engineering directives, and quality standards prior to aircraft release.
   • Executed final inspections and functional checks during day and night operations, ashore and at sea.

4. 2026-Present

   Quality Inspector (Airbus Contractor)

   Airbus Kinston · Kinston, NC

   • Performed inspections of aircraft structures, systems, and assemblies to verify compliance with engineering drawings, specifications, and quality requirements.
   • Reviewed production and inspection documentation to ensure conformity with approved technical data.
   • Documented nonconformances and coordinated corrective actions with quality and production leadership.

5. 2012-2022

   Aircraft Technician / Structures & Hydraulics

   US Marines ·

   Show the military equivalent

   • Performed aircraft structural repairs, corrosion treatment, component installation, and system troubleshooting.
   • Supported periodic inspections and maintenance documentation in compliance with technical manuals.

Skills

Education and certifications

Service record

Branch

U.S. Marine Corps

Rank

E-6

Years served

2012 – 2022

Specialty / MOS

6153