VP Aviation Technical Services is proud to recognize Chad Sanders as the recipient of the 3rd Annual Tom Ventresco Leadership Award.
This award honors leadership that reflects where VP Aviation came from and where it is going. It represents the standards Tom Ventresco helped establish and the forward-looking mindset that continues to shape VP Aviation’s Mobile Response Teams today.
Chad was selected by his peers, fellow members of the Mobile Response Teams, making this recognition especially meaningful.
Leadership Recognized by the Team
Chad Sanders is an Aircraft Structures Mechanic with an A&P who has been with VP Aviation for several years. As a consistent presence on Mobile Response Teams, Chad is known for leading by example in the field, maintaining professionalism under pressure, and supporting the people working alongside him.
Peer selection is a defining part of the Tom Ventresco Leadership Award. It reflects respect earned on the hangar floor, on the road, and during demanding aircraft maintenance projects. Chad’s teammates recognize his integrity, technical expertise, and steady leadership across assignments.
Carrying Forward a Legacy
The Tom Ventresco Leadership Award was created to honor the leadership principles that helped build VP Aviation into the aircraft maintenance powerhouse it is today. While the award carries Tom’s name, its purpose is forward-looking. It recognizes individuals who take those principles and apply them to the challenges of today’s aviation maintenance environment.
Benji Farr, Owner and Vice President of Technical Operations at VP Aviation, presented the award.
“Tom believed leadership showed up in how you treated people and how you handled the work,” said Farr. “Chad reflects that every day. He leads without ego, stays focused on the job, and sets the standard for how our Mobile Response Teams operate.”
Mike Chally, President and Owner of VP Aviation, added:
“Chad understands what it means to represent VP Aviation in the field. He brings consistency, professionalism, and respect for the craft of aircraft maintenance. That mindset is exactly what continues to move this company forward.”
Trusted by Customers, Respected by Peers
Chad is widely respected by customers for his positive attitude and clear communication. He interacts easily with maintenance leadership, adapts quickly to new environments, and takes pride in delivering quality aircraft maintenance wherever the work takes him.
His expertise in aircraft structures, combined with his A&P, allows him to contribute at a high level across projects while representing VP Aviation with professionalism.
Why the Work Matters
When asked about his favorite part of the job, Chad pointed to the nature of Mobile Response Team work itself.
For him, the appeal is that the office view is always changing. Traveling means not going to the same place every day or seeing the same thing over and over. Each assignment brings new aircraft, new challenges, and new environments, keeping the work engaging and rewarding.
That perspective reflects the mindset VP Aviation values: adaptability, pride in the work, and appreciation for the unique demands of aircraft maintenance in the field.
Honoring the Past, Building the Future
The Tom Ventresco Leadership Award represents more than recognition. It reinforces the leadership standards that continue to guide VP Aviation’s Mobile Response Teams as the company grows and supports customers across the industry.
To learn more about the award and view previous recipients, visit:
See who won last year’s Tom Ventresco Leadership Award
VP Aviation congratulates Chad Sanders on receiving the 3rd Annual Tom Ventresco Leadership Award and thanks him for the leadership he brings to aircraft maintenance teams every day.
