Christopher Ruvalcaba

He maintains the avionics systems on 12 helicopters used for emergency medical services, news operations, and organ transplant deliveries.

Born in Whittier, California, he spent his early childhood in Guadalajara, Mexico, where his father served in the Mexican Air Force. He served 4 years in the U.S. Navy as an aviation electrician's mate on MH-60S Seahawk helicopters, then worked as an integration technician at SpaceX and an avionics technician at Gulfstream Aerospace before joining Helinet Aviation in 2022.

U.S. Navy aviation electrician's mate training

He describes wanting a job that combined "working with my hands" and "airplanes" — exactly the kind of hands-on technical interest that leads students toward avionics and maintenance careers, not just piloting.

Técnico en aviónica que mantiene helicópteros médicos y de noticias, con una trayectoria que pasó por la Marina de EE.UU., SpaceX y Gulfstream Aerospace.

• The Flight Paths of Latinos in the Aviation Industry — The San Fernando Valley Sun