Bret Oestreich was in the United States Air Force as a Crew Chief on C-130 aircraft for four (4) years. He has been a Certified A&P Technician since 1995, when he started in General Aviation and finished his private pilot's certificate. He has been employed at Southwest Airlines (SWA) as an Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT), fiberglass composite - structure mechanic since 2012. Prior to SWA, Bret was a 737 tail and engine technician, fiberglass composite technician on DC-10, MD-11, A-300, and sheet metal and tail and engine technician on MD-80 aircrafts at American Airlines in Tulsa, OK.
Bret was also a union Safety Coordinator and chaired Accident Investigations for eight (8) years, and was a union Maintenance Technical Representative in American Airlines Maintenance services (MRO) for two (2) years. He has been an active leader and a staunch AMFA advocate, promoter, and organizer in multiple card drives and campaigns for more than 18 years. Bret co-chaired in forming an organizational structure, constitution, and organizing campaign for an independent union for American Airlines Mechanics and Related: Association of Maintenance Professionals (AMP).
Bret was elected as a Local 11 Delegate for the 2016 National Convention. He was elected to the office of National Director of AMFA in 2016 and is now serving his second four (4) year term as National President (formerly known as National Director).
Bret has been married for 20 years and has two daughters.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
The duties and responsibilities of the National President are outlined in Article VI Section 3 of the AMFA Constitution.
Gene Painter grew up in Independence, MO, home of Harry Truman. He graduated high school in 1977 and joined the United States Air Force, where he served as an electrician and environmental system technician. The last few year of his 17 years career he was in Quality Control and Depot level maintenance. He also instructed aircraft damage repair and CPR-first aid.
Gene started with Southwest Airlines in October of 1994 in Houston, TX, transferred to Phoenix, AZ for couple of years, and next -- and last stop -- was Dallas, TX. He served as union steward and Vice President of Local 11 in Dallas.
Gene's dad was always involved with the union serving on his contract negotiating committee: "I'm proud to be following in his footsteps and being a part of serving the union."
The duties and responsibilities of the Assistant National President are outlined in Article VI Section 4 of the AMFA Constitution.
Jay Johnson has been employed at Southwest Airlines (SWA) as an Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT), Structure Mechanic since 2002. Prior to SWA, Jay was Director of Operations for Aircraft Interior and Design and in Field Service at Aviall Engine Overhaul Facility, Ryder Aviation, Greenwich Air Service, and GE On Wing Support.
Jay served as the Treasurer for AMFA Local 11 from 2013-2016, and he was an Observer at the SWA Negotiations. In 2015 Jay was elected as an alternate Delegate for the 2016 National Convention.
In 2016 Jay was elected to the office of National Secretary/Treasurer of AMFA and is now serving a four (4) year term.
Jay is married for 26 years and has one daughter.
The duties and responsibilities of the National Secretary/Treasurer are outlined in Article VI Sections 5, 6, and 7 of the AMFA Constitution.
Scott King started his aviation career attending Skyline High School in his hometown of Dallas, Texas where he began working to achieve A&P license. He finished at Tarrant County Junior College.
After working in general aviation at Aviall Jet Engine Overhaul and Pan Am, Scott landed at Delta Airlines, where he worked until 2009.
In April 2009, he started at Southwest Airlines (SWA) as a Regulatory Affairs Analyst, then transferring to the “floor” as a Mechanic in September of 2011.
Since becoming a member of AMFA, Scott has served on the Professional Standards Committee, on the By-Laws Committee, as a Shop Representative, as the Alternate Outsource Liaison Representative, and as the Primary Outsource Liaison Representative. Scott is extremely honored to serve the membership as the National Safety and Standards Director.
The airline industry has undergone a substantial change in the attitude towards Aviation Maintenance Technicians and related positions. With this it has become more evident in recent years that AMFA must hold the industry and its members to the highest standards of safety while maintaining the standards that are expected by licensed professionals. By promoting that safety is the first priority within our profession, the role of AMFA is more important than ever.
The duties and responsibilities of the National Safety and Standards Director are outlined in Article VI, Section 9 of the AMFA Constitution.
Earl Clark has worked in the airline industry since 1979, first starting with Transamerica Airlines working as a Technician Helper and then a Technician (1979 – 1985). In 1985 he received his Airframe and Powerplant licenses and then worked for Southern Air Transport (1985 – 1991) as Engine Shop and Line Technician. Earl currently works for Alaska Airlines as a Technician. He started in 1991 in the hanger in Oakland, CA working heavy maintenance. In 2004 he was furloughed, then bumped into San Francisco Line, and then recalled back to the Oakland Line where he works today. During the above time period, Earl completed his Associates of Arts degree in Electronics form Chabot College in Hayward, CA (1983).
Earl has been an active member since AMFA was voted in at Alaska Airlines in 1998. He has served as the Airline Representative for the Alaska membership form 1998 to 2008: first with Local 37 from 1998 to 2004, then with Local 9 from 2004 to April of 2008, and last for Local 32 from April 2008 to December 2008. In addition, Earl been elected by the membership to serve as a delegate to the 2000, 2001 Special, and 2004 National Conventions. He has served as a negotiator while an Alaska Airline Representative and as Region I Director has been the Negotiating Committee Chairman for negotiations at Alaska Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Horizon Air. He has served as an Arbitration Board Member at Alaska Airlines and a Special System Board Member for the Local 32 Southwest members. In 2001 he served as an Aircraft Accident Investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board in the investigation of Alaska Airlines Flight 261.
Earl is 54 years of age and married with three sons ages 14 to 26 years of age. Earl is proud the acknowledge that his father continues to work in the industry and is an Aircraft Technician for UPS and is a FAA Charles Taylor Award recipient with over 55 years in aircraft maintenance.
The duties and responsibilities for the Region Directors are outlined in Article VI Section 10 of the AMFA Constitution.
Will Abbott’s aviation career began in the United States Navy, followed by AirTran Airways, Delta Airlines, Omni Air International, and Southwest Airlines. Welcomed to the Southwest Airlines family in 2006, Will has worked Line RON, Hangar RON, Day Line, and Day Structures.
Will has also held positions in AMFA as Shop Representative, Area Representative, Professional Standards Representative, Vice President of Local 18, Co-Chair of the committee tasked with re-establishing Local 4, and as an Informational Picket Committee member. Will participated in every AMFA, SWAPA, TWU556 picket event conducted in 2016.
Will recognized that with each position came certain responsibilities. The most important characteristic required to be the best at each position is passion for our membership. In being passionate about our members and our cause, it meant taking the effort to actively engage members at crew meetings and station visits. Being actively involved allows for our collective concerns to be addressed within the scope of that position. The challenge is not only for myself, but also for the members take ownership of being knowledgeable of the Union, industry, and the company so that we will make the best decisions for the future for ourselves and our families.
"Let us not seek to fix the blame for our past, let us accept our own responsibility for the future." - John F. Kennedy
