Aviation maintenance students excel at national competition in Orlando
May 12, 2026 : By Ted Allen - Office of Communications & Public Engagement
The National Aviation Maintenance Competition team from Liberty University School of Aeronautics finished in the top 10 of collegiate and university programs at the Aerospace Maintenance Competition during the MRO Americas conference, held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., in April.
Liberty landed in eighth place out of 51 collegiate and university programs and 26th out of 90 overall. The team placed in the Top 10 in 13 events and shaved off approximately 24 minutes from its overall completion time last year, when it placed 17th.
“These results reflect the dedication of our instructors and coaches, the effectiveness of our program, and the caliber of our students,” said Liberty first-year coach Trey Lyons (’23, ’25). “The competition remains a strong platform for industry engagement and for our students to shine as Champions for Christ in the industry.”
Team members James Quarberg, Ethan Steele, Jackson Hamstra, Taryn Moon, Johnathan Krichbaum, and Trevor Hill competed in 29 maintenance events that tested the skill and knowledge required of an aviation maintenance technician.
Quarberg and Moon placed first in the Barfield Air Data Test, besting the second-place team from the U.S. Military Academy.
Hill was awarded a $2,000 grant from Aviation Workforce Solutions as one of the competition’s Phoebe Omlie Scholarships winners.
Quarberg and Steele also placed second in the Edge and Panel Sealing event while Moon finished second in the PPG Virtual Reality Paint Booth competition. Krichbaum finished second in the Electrical Wire Harness Testing event.
More than 50 Liberty students competed for the six positions on this year’s team.
“The quality of competition has remained consistent,” Lyons
said, noting that more and more schools are investing in the competition due to the potential for job offers from major airlines and other companies. “They view this as a recruiting tool and count on the schools to send out the best of the best of their students. They received incredible direct industry engagement, resulting in on‑the‑spot job offers for our students, affirming industry confidence in their technical skills and professional readiness.”
Steele received a job offer from Victory Lane Aviation, one of the team’s sponsors at this competition whose CEO is a Liberty alumnus. He also had an on-the spot interview with Pratt & Whitney, an engine manufacturer.
Moon had an on-the-spot interview with American Airlines, and Quarberg, who finished 13th among collegiate competitors in the Express Avionics Extract Fan competition, earned an on-the-spot interview with FedEx.
“They were very impressed with (Quarberg’s) attitude and attention to detail while performing in that event,” Lyons said.
Lyons, who finished his AMTP degree and earned his Airframe and Powerplant certificate in 2022 before completing his B.S. in Aviation Maintenance: Management, was named the Aviation Maintenance Training Program’s Instructor of the Year at the School of Aeronautics’ final meeting of the spring semester on Tuesday in the Montview Student Union, Alumni Ballroom.
He had never been to the national competition before as a student or staff member but said he plans to return as the team’s coach in the fall semester.
“I really enjoyed being a part of the team this year, and they did a great job,” said Lyons, who was assisted by Keith Belcher and Owen Stout. “They made me proud and excited to improve the team for next year.”
The AMTP program recently held its completion ceremony on May 1. Team members Hill and Hamstra were two of the 17 graduates honored.
>> Liberty’s Aviation Maintenance Technician Program (AMTP) is a one-year program that provides FAA Part 147 Airframe & Powerplant certification with the option of pursuing a two-year Associate of Arts degree. It offers a growing fleet of aircraft and expanded hangar space out of the School of Aeronautics facilities near the Lynchburg Regional Airport. Graduates enjoy a nearly 100 percent job placement rate, with over 640,000 new aircraft mechanics needed worldwide over the next 20 years. They use their skills in faith-based mission aviation organizations and in corporate, commercial, and general aviation settings.
