TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- From identifying negative trends to safeguarding technical data, the 325th Maintenance Group’s quality assurance team provides the support needed to ensure Tyndall’s F-35 fleet remains combat ready.
QA achieves this by conducting continuous evaluations and inspections to ensure every maintenance action across the installation meets Air Force standards, giving commanders clear visibility into aircraft health, trends and compliance.
“We track every inspection,” said Tech. Sgt. Michael Davenport, 325th MXG quality assurance programs manager. “If something becomes a repeat issue, we flag it so commanders can address it before it affects readiness.”
Behind the scenes, QA’s program team consolidates inspection data for the entire maintenance group. Their responsibilities include observing hands-on maintenance, reviewing documentation, verifying major component installs and ensuring technical orders, policy letters and Air Force instructions are current and accurate. Whether they are working with a small shop or the fighter generation and maintenance squadron, the team verifies every Airman follows the proper procedures.
“Everything in maintenance is guidance-based,” explained Davenport. “If something changes, it’s on us to make sure Airmen have the correct procedures. If they don’t, that means we didn’t do our job.”
QA’s oversight extends beyond Tyndall’s daily operations. When Airmen prepare for a temporary duty assignment, large-scale exercise or real-world deployment, the team ensures support equipment, technical orders and major maintenance actions meet standards before assets leave the base.
“We practice how we play,” Davenport said. “If the call comes and we’ve got to go, nothing should feel foreign. We’ve done this before and that’s the whole point.”
QA’s presence during high-tempo operations, such as major engine or component changes, helps prevent costly mistakes. One missed step can cause damage to an aircraft, and the team is there to make sure nothing gets overlooked.
Everything must function as designed when needed, whether it’s for a training sortie or a real-world mission, said Tech. Sgt. Russell Poulson, 325th MXG technical order distribution office manager. QA’s work ensures the safety and reliability of aircraft and weapons systems wherever Tyndall’s Airmen operate.
By enforcing accountability, accuracy and compliance across the maintenance group, QA helps enable Team Tyndall’s ability to deliver combat airpower anywhere the mission demands.