GREENSBORO, N.C. — North Carolina has been a leader in aviation since the beginning of flight, and a new program is adding to the state's long list of flight accomplishments. 

Guilford Technical Community College has partnered with Marshall, a United Kingdom-based company that provides C-130 aircraft to the U.S. military. A new partnership on the Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro is providing an opportunity for those with military aviation experience to work on some of the military's largest planes. 

Dennis Smith working on his skills. (Spectrum News 1/Sydney McCoy)

Five maintenance crew chief members are training through the partnership of GTCC and Marshall to work at the new facility. 

One of those employees and students is Dennis Smith, a former U.S. Navy aviation machinist mate who has over 30 years of experience in military, cargo and passenger aircraft maintenance. 

“Back when I was about 14 or 15, my neighbor, who was much older than me, had the airplane. It was on a string, and he was flying it around. It kind of amazed me,” Smith said. 

From that toy, his love for planes grew. He has worked on planes around the world, in and out of the military, from the panels of the plane to the black boxes. This new program brings Smith back to an early love, C-130s. 

“It's not a pretty airplane, but most folks that need a C-130 love to see it coming because of its mission capabilities, of being able to carry people and supplies, medical equipment, troops, to or from even humanitarian missions that these aircraft can carry out in different parts of the world in a moment's notice,” Smith said. 

Smith can go back to his roots of working on the structures of the planes instead of the electrical side, working through his course with GTCC and Marshall to lead the first group of students who will begin the 10-week program next year. 

GTCC and Marshall are looking for people who have military aviation experience to take part in the program, which will include Marshall employees paid to take the course at GTCC.  

“They will become full-time employees with Marshall. So that is when they start training. They're actually getting paid for the training as well through Marshall, fill out the uniforms, etc…” said Tony Turner, GTCC director of the Aviation Manufacturing Quick Careers Program. 

Rendering of the Marshall USA facility at PTI. (Courtesy: Marshall)

The five maintenance crew chief members all have experience in military aviation and lead the employees in the course on C-130s in the 190,000-square-foot facility that will open at PTI in January. 

“We're going to take these young folks, and we're going to nourish them and build up their confidence. Whereas when I give them this project, I don't have to stand over their backs 24-7 and see that they accomplish it,” Smith said. 

The facility will have six bays for maintenance on the C-130s along with a paint bay that will allow country-wide support for the U.S. military fleet and provide jobs to retired military members in our state. 

“I want to see people do better than me. I don't mind that at all. It makes me feel proud when I see someone that once was under me,” Smith said. 

The program is planning for the facility to be staffed with over 300 people by the time they reach occupancy.