Savannah Technical College Aviation Maintenance Instructor Michael Skinner has been selected as STC’s 2018 Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year. The Rick Perkins Award for Excellence in Technical Instruction honors outstanding faculty members at each of the Technical College System of Georgia institutions. Skinner will represent Savannah Technical College in the statewide competition.
 
“Mr. Skinner has demonstrated professional excellence and service both in the classroom, as well as in the local community,” said STC President Dr. Kathy Love. “He has a passion for helping students achieve their dreams and goals for college, career and life.”
 
Skinner started his aviation career as a member of the United States Marine Corps, where he served as a mechanic and a supervisor. His duties included inspection and repair of a fleet of 12 aircraft, as well as oversight of other maintenance personnel.  He also served as the Occupational Safety Manager for all facilities on the base to provide training and assistance on guidelines set forth by Department of Defense, OSHA and the EPA.
 
After separating from the Marines, Skinner continued his aviation maintenance career working on both military and civilian aircraft.  His duties included structure work, fuel cell work, engine work, and training new personnel (on the job and in the classroom).  He enjoyed passing the knowledge he had learned onto the new employees and recruits, so he decided to look at teaching/instructing for the next phase of his career.
 
He started his teaching career working part time with the Technical College of the Low Country to develop and implement an FAA short course. This course was designed to prepare transitioning Marines from the military to the civilian workforce by helping them prepare and earn their FAA Mechanic’s Certificate with an Airframe and Powerplant rating.
 
Skinner became a member of Savannah Technical College’s faculty in September 2013.  He was able to take his skill sets and use them to help the College gain FAA Part 147 certification on May 1, 2014.
 
Besides being a devoted aviation maintenance instructor, he in active in the community doing Civil War reenactments. He uses this opportunity to teach the public, old and young, about our country’s history. He volunteers his time with K-12 kids to show them and demonstrate the way things were during this time period.