James Coleman receives a certificate, designating him as the Depot Silver Eagle, from Capt. Tim Trainer, NAVAIR Depot North Island commanding officer. Photo by Joe Feliciano

Coleman named Silver Eagle at Depot

By Bill Bartkus
NAVAIR Depot North Island

CORONADO, Calif. – James Coleman, an aircraft mechanic with Field Service Production at NAVAIR Depot North Island here, has been named the Silver Eagle. The award is given to the civilian employee with the longest tenure at the Depot.

Coleman has been working at the Depot since September 1961 when he started his civil service career as an aircraft assembler with what was then the Overhaul and Repair Department (O&R). Prior to coming to work for O&R, he completed a five-year tour in the Navy.

At O&R, Coleman worked on the first team that overhauled an F-4H fighter in 1962 before being selected as a crew leader on the F-3H and F-4H assembly lines where he remained for 10 years. He received a promotion to aircraft examiner in 1971 while working on the CH-46 and CH-53 helicopter overhaul and modification line.

Ten years later in 1981, he transferred to Field Service.

As a Field Service examiner, Coleman is certified by all Cognizant Field Activities to perform Aircraft Service Period Adjustments, Planned Maintenance Intervals, and Integrated Maintenance Concepts and Programs.

As a member of the Field Service Examination and Evaluation Team, Coleman is certified to perform electrical, sheet metal, and mechanical evaluations on all aircraft in the Navy and Marine Corps inventories.

He currently works on the F-16 and AV-8 programs.

NAVAIR provides cost-wise readiness and dominant maritime combat power to make a great Navy and Marine Corps team better.