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Celebrating Excellence: Dwayne Chandler Takes the Helm as Director of Avionics Business Development

Dwayne-Chandler

East Alton, IL- January 8, 2026 —West Star Aviation is excited to announce the promotion of Dwayne Chandler to the position of Director of Avionics Business Development. With over 30 years of experience in business aviation and avionics, Dwayne brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise that will significantly enhance our operations.

This promotion highlights West Star Aviation’s commitment to quality and our dedication to providing great service to our customers. As a leading player in the avionics industry, we understand that having a dedicated leader for avionics business development is important. This initiative will streamline processes and improve teamwork, allowing us to implement a clear strategy across the company. By aligning our efforts, we are better able to meet our customers’ needs and take advantage of new opportunities in the market, strengthening our position as an industry leader.

Marty Rhine, Chief Sales Officer, commented on Dwayne’s promotion: “Dwayne is a highly respected industry expert with deep technical knowledge, strong market insight, and a proven track record of delivering exceptional results. His leadership in this new role will not only add substantial value for West Star Aviation but will also enhance our ability to support our customers effectively.”

“I am incredibly honored to step into this responsibility at West Star Aviation. Working alongside such an exceptionally talented avionics team is genuinely inspiring, and I look forward to the exciting opportunities ahead,” said Dwayne Chandler. “Together, we will focus on nurturing relationships and delivering innovative solutions that meet our customers’ evolving needs in the avionics sector.”

This new structure underscores our commitment to listening to our customers and vendors and adapting our services to fuel their success. We believe that Dwayne’s leadership will be instrumental in driving our avionics initiatives forward, enabling us to deliver even greater value to our clients and partners.

Please join us in congratulating Dwayne Chandler on his well-deserved promotion! For any inquiries or support, feel free to reach out to Dwayne directly.

About West Star Aviation
With more than 79 years of industry experience, West Star Aviation stands as a leading independent Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) provider. Employing over 3,000 professionals, West Star offers comprehensive services from our strategically located full-service facilities in East Alton, IL; Grand Junction, CO; Chattanooga, TN; Millville, NJ; Perryville, MO; and Statesville, NC, as well as satellite locations in Denver, Houston, Minneapolis, and Chicago. The company’s extensive capabilities encompass maintenance, paint, interior, and avionics services, supported by the largest Aircraft On Ground (AOG) network in the country, ensuring prompt and reliable mobile repair services nationwide.

For Media Inquiries, Please Contact:

Dana Seese

Chief Marketing Officer

Mark White

RSM, California

Dave Godo

RSM, Ohio Valley

Mark Daniels
Tim Cane
Robbie Johnson

RSM, Mid Atlantic

Santiago Carol

RSM, Latin America

Steve Fleeman

RSM, Landing Gear

Contact Us

WSAA will be piloted at the East Alton, IL facility with the first round of apprentices anticipated to start in August 2024. For more information on West Star Aviation employment or WSAA apprentice selection criteria, please visit www.weststaraviation.com/wsaa-academy or contact Katie Johnson (katiejohnson@wsa.aero) or Dave Lagermann (dlagermann@wsa.aero).

Application & Selection Process

Before applying, please be aware of the standards of conduct for employment with West Star along with the strict requirements below while attending WSAA.

  • Working in Aviation requires a commit to being drug-free.  Pre-employment drug testing along with random and reasonable suspicion testing is required for all companies employing people working in safety sensitive positions. The position you are considering applying for is safety sensitive.  If hired, you must pass a DOT drug test to start working, if you fail the job offer is rescinded.  If you pass, you must remain drug-free during employment, failing a random or reasonable suspicion test may result in termination of employment.  Please note: marijuana is legal in certain states however the FAA follows Federal law where marijuana is illegal.  This means testing positive for marijuana, or any other illegal drug, will prevent you from working in Aviation. 
  • The first 7.5 months will follow a strict schedule: Monday – Friday 7:00am – 3:30pm (breaks and meal periods provided). 
  • The expectation is to arrive inside the learning center and clocked in at 7:00am.
  • While attending WSAA, no more than 4 hours a week can be missed.  Extenuating medical circumstances will be given full consideration with supporting documentation.
  • WSAA follows an FAA approved curriculum which has certain requirements including attendance. 
  • Testing for the FAA license at the conclusion of WSAA is required, along with passing.  Two opportunities to test will be provided, if needed.  Employment may terminate if the FAA license is not obtained.
  • Candidates will be contacted to complete pre-screening assessments and questionnaires. 
  • Qualified candidates will be contacted in late November and scheduled for a tour and interview with Hiring Managers at West Star Aviation in East Alton, IL.
  • To be qualified, candidates must pass the pre-screening process along with submitting a negative DOT drug test result.
  • Finalists will be selected after onsite interviews. Job offers will be extended in mid-December with a start date of January 9, 2024.
  • Pay while learning in the Academy will be $20 per hour.  Upon successfully graduating and obtaining your FAA license, pay will increase to $27 per hour.