Alumni Spotlight - Tim Johnson

Tim Johnson, Mission Aviation Fellowship

Tim Johnson truly exemplifies the spirit of the EvCC tagline, “Stay Close…Go Far.” Graduating from the EvCC aviation maintenance training program in 1971, Tim eventually joined Mission Aviation Fellowship, providing services to indigenous people and enabling the work of some 1,500 churches, healthcare organizations, and relief agencies. After flying airplanes in the Australian outback, Tim moved to Brazil, where he flew for over 20 years, assisting villagers (shown above). Today, he manages the aircraft maintenance facility on the Amazon river bank near the city of Manaus. “EvCC was close when I needed it,” he says. “I was able to get my A&P license there, later enabling me to obtain my dream job with Mission Aviation Fellowship.”

How did you choose EvCC? Was there a selection process involved in your decision making?

I'm afraid I can't say there was much of a selection process! I wanted an A&P license, and it was the nearest place to finish that while living at home.

Do you think your time at EvCC helped you pursue your current career? How?

The A&P license was a pre-requisite for this work, though I wasn't necessarily planning on this for sure at the time.

What did you do after you left (or graduated from) EvCC?

I spent three years in the army (partly in aviation), then lived 12 years in the Washington DC area before entering Mission Aviation Fellowship - for two years in Australia and since then, here in Brazil.

Was there anyone during your time at EvCC who acted as a mentor for you? Tell me about that relationship and why it was valuable.

The instructors worked from the heart, but I don't think I would say I had a mentor. 

What words of advice would you give to current EvCC students?

I am a firm believer in community colleges. If you apply yourself, you'll do well getting a trade or those first two years in college. If you can get big scholarships, go wherever, but it is not worth running up a huge debt just to do the whole four years at big money university.  
 
To learn more about Tim Johnson, please visit his website: https://www.maf.org/johnson

Alumni ad published 4/14/2014