David and his team keep Aussie crews safe in the skies

FROM a young age, David Kennedy set his sights on serving with the Royal Australian Air Force.

After leaving St Augustine’s College in Cairns, David commissioned into the air force as an aeronautical engineering officer through the Australian Defence Force Academy.

Now 23, Flying Officer Kennedy is responsible for leading a team of maintenance personnel to maintain the technical airworthiness of the KC-30A refuelling aircraft deployed to Operation OKRA to support Coalition air strike operations in the Middle East.

“It’s my job to ensure that the scheduled and unscheduled maintenance is done safely and sustainably,” FO Kennedy said.

“If the aircraft can’t be fixed in time for the next refuelling mission, it’s my job to make the engineering decision whether the aircraft can safely fly with the defect.

“I received four years of leadership and management training while I completed my engineering degree and this training enables me to make these kinds of decisions.”

FO Kennedy said it was a lot of responsibility for someone of his age, but that was one of the great things about being trained by the air force.

“They empower their peo- ple through training and development to take on responsibilities you would never get so early in another career,” he said.

“Every time the KC-30A completes its mission, I feel pride knowing that my efforts have paid off, that our team has worked together, and that we have contributed positively to the Iraqi people to enable them to take their country back from Daesh.”