By Gary Rice
Public Affairs Specialist

She is something of an institution at the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Depot Cherry Point. And according to her co-workers, Production Controller Essie L. Taylor is a joy to work with and a pleasure to be around.

“She’s always helpful to everybody, and I’ve never seen anything but a smile on her face,” Aircraft Engine Mechanic Supervisor Charlie Justice said. “She does whatever it takes to get the job done and would bend over backwards and tie herself in knots if that’s what it took.”

“She’s really an exceptional and remarkable person,” Production Controller April Crawford added. “She’s always happy and full of energy.”

In her job in the Engine Rotor Repair, Balance and Test Shop, Taylor supports the entire Engine Branch and Welding Shop on night shift. She chases, routs, expedites, orders, and receives aircraft engine rotor parts to ensure the mechanics have what they need to work with.

“What I do is build up units,” Taylor said. “That is, I gather all the bits and pieces together so that the mechanics can do their jobs and assemble them.”

“She does everything in her power to get them the parts they need to build any and all components in this shop,” Justice said. “She’s a very dedicated and responsible individual.”

Taylor says she will be 75 years young this month. Originally from Broad Creek, North Carolina, she has been working at Cherry Point for over 31 years. Prior to coming to the depot, she worked as a supervisor at a shirt factory in Morehead City for 25 years. She says those were tough years in many ways, and she was glad for the opportunity to go to work at the depot.

“When I came to work here, my intention was to do the best I could,” Taylor said. “I did not have a mechanical background, but I did what I had to do to learn the job. I feel like we all work together here as a team to get the job done. It’s been a very rewarding experience.”

NAVAIR Depot Cherry Point provides maintenance, engineering, and logistics support on a variety of aircraft, engines, and components for all branches of the U.S. armed forces. Employing almost 4,000 people, the depot is the only source of repair within the continental United States for many jet and rotary wing engines. It is the Navy’s center of excellence for rotary wing aircraft, providing engineering and logistics support for all Navy helicopters.

Taylor started at the depot as an airframes helper in the F-4 Hangar, which was at that time located in Building 137. She later worked in Packing and Preservation for four years before transferring to production control. She has been in the Rotor Shop for 25 years and was head production controller on day shift for 19 years prior to moving to the night shift. She is also a qualified member of the Goldplate team, the depot’s maintenance program supporting the Presidential Helicopter Squadron (HMX-1).

Taylor has been a widow for 35 years since her husband died of a heart attack. She also lost her only son to a heart attack 23 years ago, when he was only 34. At her home, Essie enjoys spending time on her main hobby, gardening, and she also cares for her granddaughter, who has heart and lung problems. She says she is not planning to retire anytime soon and – since she enjoys the people she works with, gets strong support from supervisors, and appreciates the benefits of government service – would like to stay around for a while.

“Essie considers the depot to be like a part of her family,” Justice said. “She thinks we’re all her children, and if she wanted to stay here another 20 years, no one would complain.”

Taylor remembers her years of hardship in the shirt factory and says, “I really appreciate my job here, and I want to do the best I can for as long as I can.”

NAVAIR provides advanced warfare technologies through the efforts of a seamless, integrated, worldwide network of aviation technology experts.

Photo Caption: In the Rotor Pool area of the NAVAIR Depot’s Engine Rotor Repair, Balance and Test Shop, Production Controller Essie L. Taylor checks a box of aircraft engine rotor parts. (Photo by Gary Rice)