FRANKFORT, Ky. — Brad Schwandt has been appointed deputy commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Aviation, Transportation Secretary Greg Thomas announced earlier this month.
Schwandt’s aviation career took off as a teen, when he began washing planes part-time at the Riveredge Flight School, as well as spending several hours at a small airport in St. Louis. Later, he began a career with Engine Air Ltd. working on radial engines and performing line maintenance on Douglas DC-6 aircraft.
Schwandt attended the University of Missouri where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in economics and was a reserve police officer for the city of Columbia, Mo.
The following year, Schwandt began working at UPS in ground operations. He went on special assignment in 1992 with Corporate Industrial Engineering as a part of the Aircraft Maintenance Methods Development Team and spent the next 16 years serving in multiple aviation management positions.
His his longest stint was serving as the director of maintenance and aircraft maintenance operations manager.
In 2019, Schwandt retired from UPS after 35 years of service and will continue his aviation career with the Kentucky Department of Aviation.