OUR  MAINTENANCE TEAM

Shawn has deep aviation roots in the St. Louis Region. He graduated from Parks College of Aviation in 1989 and began his career at St. Louis Regional Airport where he maintained Cessna pistons to Hawker HS125 Business Jets. Shawn led the start of the Hawker Maintenance Program at Elliott Aviation in Moline, IL. He worked at Executive Beechcraft and AVMATS in St. Louis before founding SRT Aviation at Mt. Vernon Outland Airport in 2006. At MVN, Shawn maintains an FAA Certified Part 145 Repair Station, oversees multiple Airframe/Powerplant Mechanics, and is responsible for several flight training airplanes.

Joshua has been a part of the SRT Family for almost as long as it has been in Mount Vernon. He got his start in aviation as a UH-60 Blackhawk technician in the US Army, and got his A&P in 2009, and his IA in April 2026. He worked for Lufthansa Technik North America cleaning turbine engines for UPS, had a short stint as a video game tester for SONY Entertainment, worked with a crop dusting company, and eventually became a mechanic for SRT in late 2010. Since joining, he helps with IFR and VFR certifications, Annuals and STC installations, as well as having a knack for finding things others might miss.

Matthew decided on a career in aviation towards the end of high school. Soon after, he started flight training and obtained a Private Pilot’s License in 2020. During summer breaks in college, he worked at Flora Airport as an airport care worker. At the same time, Matthew also worked in agricultural aviation at Flora Airport as a field mapper and chemical mixer, and a loader and fueler on Air Tractor aircraft. Matthew is a 2023 graduate of Southern Illinois University of Carbondale, receiving an A&P license and a degree in Aviation Technologies. He moved to Indianapolis in 2023 to work at Lift Academy, working on Diamond aircraft and Austro diesel engines. In May 2025, Matthew moved back to Southern Illinois, joining SRT Flightline as an A&P. He loves being around aircraft big and small. While working, he strives to treat all aircraft with care and respect. 

Nick Hall got his start in aviation by enlisting in the US Air Force during high school. After graduating, he began his enlistment and became a Hydraulic/Pneumatic system specialist on aircraft after his completion of a 7 month tech school program along with an Inflight refueling course. He went on to work on reconnaissance aircraft including the SR71, U2/TR1, KC135Q and T-38’s. After leaving the Air Force he got into General aviation at Parks Airport working on Cessna210, Beechcraft Barons, King and Queen Airs and Cessna Caravans. The company sent him to Bakers School of Aeronautics in Nashville TN. Once an A/P he moved on to heavy aircraft at Evergreen Air Center in Tuscon AZ. At Evergreen he complied with A,B,C,D checks on B737, B747-100, 200,300,400, B757, B767,B777, Airbus340, 370, DC9, MD80 and MD90. After experiencing the commercial world he moved on to Corporate Aircraft at Bombardier working on BR710 aircraft engines. Later he moved to the factory side of aviation at Eclipse Aviation in Albuquerque NM, doing Structures work and engine assembly on Pratt and Whitney PW600. Now he’s at SRT Flightline in Mount Vernon, Illinois doing 50,100 hr. and annual inspections along with repair and maintenance where he gets to work alongside an amazing team of fellow aviation specialists.

Colton Snuffer began his aviation career by enlisting in the U.S. Air Force in 2019. He dedicated five years to serving as an Avionics Specialist on the B-52H Bomber at Barksdale Air Force Base, where he gained expertise in advanced wiring maintenance and specialized training in micro and macro soldering through the Air Force Repair Enhance Program. Originally from Southern Illinois, Colton chose to return home to further his career in aviation and expand his skills, inspired by opportunities at Mt. Vernon Airport. After six years of active-duty service, he transitioned out of the Air Force in November 2025 and will join the Air Force Reserves at Scott Air Force Base in 2026.

Shirley is the glue that holds the flight instructors and airframe/powerplant technicians together. A veteran bookkeeper, Shirley came to SRT Flightline/Outland Flight Instruction from a Part 141 International Airline Academy where she served in the capacities. Her friendly voice is likely the first one year hear when you call.