MARTINSBURG, W.Va. -- Master Sgt. James Dollinger, is a crew chief for the 167th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. He has served at the wing for nine years. Prior to joining the 167th Airlift Wing, Dollinger spent nine years on active duty for the U.S. Air Force.
As a crew chief, or aerospace maintenance technician, Dollinger is considered a jack-of-all-trades concerning aircraft maintenance.
“We keep the aircraft flying so [the wing] can provide support all over the world,” Dollinger said.
Currently, he is assigned to the 167th AMXS’s support equipment section’s consolidated tool kit area.
Senior Master Sgt. Randall Dyson, the support equipment supervisor, said Dollinger is a true professional in all aspects of his job.
“As a recently promoted master sergeant, he has stepped into even more of a leadership role within the shop and is proficient on all aspects of the C-17 support equipment-related tasks and equipment and eager to train others,” Dyson said.
Dollinger continually volunteers for additional duties such as flood relief, wing inspection team, and first sergeant tasks. He is also qualified to serve as a crash recovery team chief.
“He recently performed as an en-route crew chief at Rota, Spain and will soon be performing an en-route at Incirlik, Turkey,” Dyson said.
En route crew chiefs provide maintenance support to transient aircraft, or aircraft en route from one location to another.
Dollinger has a bachelor’s degree in business management. His hobbies include riding and working with his horses and training his dog in search and rescue.
“I have a bloodhound that is in search and rescue training now in hopes to be able to give back to the community,” Dollinger said.
He said he is most proud of having a wife and family who supports him and his military career no matter where it takes him.