Justin Mahler is the director of engineering at Spectrum Aeromed. It’s his job to oversee the design and certification processes as modifications are made to aircraft. He coordinates with the Federal Aviation Administration, as well as foreign aviation authorities.
It’s part of his job and his personality to pay major attention to detail. Justin is also the company’s Designated Engineering Representative (DER), meaning he serves as the liaison between customers who want aircrafts adjusted and the FAA. He is part of the certification team that makes sure regulations are followed.
Having the benefit of a DER saves time and makes the process much more efficient for customers because otherwise time needs to be scheduled directly with the FAA, which can add extra time onto a project.
Justin’s favorite part of his career is the uncertainty – each day is different. A sales representative may want to talk about a project, which could be outfitting a helicopter in the Middle East or making adjustments to a bush plane in Alaska. He never knows what the next project will hold.
“Our whole mindset is that the customer is first,” Mahler says. “We want to make sure the customer is taken care of – at the end of the day, they’re the ones saving lives, they’re making a difference.”
Mahler has been in his role more than 10 years. He was recognized in 2012 as one of the “40 Most Influential People Under the Age of 40” in North Dakota by Prairie Business Magazine.
Learn about the rest of the Spectrum Aeromed team here.