AVMAC

Don Buzard, COO and Roberto Bert Ortiz, President and CEO

This distinct edge stems from the leadership of Roberto “Bert” Ortiz and Don Buzard, both of whom spent more than three decades ensuring Navy aircraft performed flawlessly in some of the world’s most challenging environments. Their transition from military service to the boardroom didn’t end their commitment to the flight line, it led to the company’s inception.

Under their guidance, and with a team composed predominantly of veteran personnel, AVMAC channels decades of hands-on service into results the Department of Defense (DoD) can trust. The company delivers high-level analysis, consulting, technical and management support that consistently meets and often surpasses client expectations.

“Who can better support today’s warfighters than those who wore the same cloth and actively employ veterans?” says Ortiz, President and CEO.

Shaping a Veteran Force Committed to Readiness

The idea for AVMAC took root while its future founders were still serving the Navy. During that time, they witnessed a costly misstep. The Navy divested much of its in-house shipboard aviation experts when designing and overseeing new vessel construction. When ship platforms were delivered, it became clear that gaps in technical knowledge had led to design limitations that affected aviation support.

That experience drove home a clear lesson; without deep, specialized aviation knowledge, overall air operations at sea falters. They built AVMAC from the ground up, bringing the expertise needed to keep critical support systems reliable.

Many of AVMAC’s contractor maintenance support (CMS) teams are Marine Corps veterans who served in the squadrons they now support. They know the pace, the discipline and the competing demands Marines face.

Seasoned professionals with decades in government service inspect and maintain shipboard aviation facilities. Electrical engineers bring experience from building the Navy’s newest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, while the division director draws on skills honed through the Huntington Ingalls Apprenticeship Program and years in shipbuilding.

The story is just as strong in the aviation side. Many of AVMAC’s CMS personnel spent entire military careers working on the same aircraft they now maintain as contractors. They know every quirk, every sound, every fix. It’s mastery no textbook could deliver.

This background has made AVMAC a trusted partner, and it’s why AVMAC emphasizes that the DoD gains best results when partnering with Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses, Veteran-Owned Small Businesses and other veteran-led organizations.

“We have a tendency to go above and beyond, to support those men and women who are still serving, and that’s our way of giving back,” says Buzard, COO.

Maximizing Aircraft Reliability and Performance

Highly skilled maintainers and technicians form the backbone of every aircraft squadron, each a complex ecosystem in its own right.

Their skills extend to egress and environmental systems like ejection seats, cartridge-actuated devices and oxygen delivery and to Aviation Life Support Systems that protect pilots in the air and on the ground.

Beyond hands-on maintenance, AVMAC staff manage the operational backbone of overseeing maintenance control, keeping meticulous logs and records, analyzing data, managing materials and tools, handling hazardous substances, calibrating equipment, and ensuring the readiness of every item on the Aircraft Maintenance Material Readiness List. They also safeguard quality through detailed inspections and by managing technical publications libraries.

On most contracts, AVMAC supports existing uniformed commands, but in some cases, the company assumes full responsibility for managing an entire maintenance program. In these instances, AVMAC is accountable to the immediate superior in command of inspectors and evaluators, who regularly assess program readiness at the squadron level. The company has repeatedly exceeded standards in these audits, a performance that reduces risk for the command and amplifies its operational capability.

Maintaining Readiness Under Challenging Conditions

One example of AVMAC’s impact can be seen in its long-running work with MAG-11’s legacy F/A-18 squadrons. It has been a constant presence within MAG-11 operations for more than a decade, keeping the aircraft mission-ready through dedicated maintenance and upkeep. The challenge grew unexpectedly when the Navy withdrew all sailor maintainers and aircrew from the squadron, leaving Marines with too many jets and too few hands to maintain them. AVMAC adapted quickly, expanding its CMS staff by an extraordinary 142 percent.

The demands didn’t stop there. Headquarters Marine Corps began shifting active-duty personnel from the F/A-18 training squadron to bolster F-35 units in the next contract cycle. AVMAC made a 40 percent staffing increase, taking over nearly every work center and program management role within the squadron. The results spoke for themselves. Despite a reduced active-duty workforce, squadron readiness improved measurably.

AVMAC’s expertise extends far beyond the flight line. At Navy Air Type Commander headquarters, a dedicated logistics team manages support equipment worldwide, tracking assets and moving them where needed most to prevent shortages and keep operations running smoothly. They also provide depot-level engine repair for the F404 engines that power the F/A-18 Hornet. AVMAC delivers the full spectrum of aviation support from organizational maintenance to intermediate and depot-level work.

Meeting the Highest Squadron Inspection Standards

In Navy and Marine Corps aviation, as in other branches, safety and readiness are measured through constant and exacting scrutiny. Squadrons undergo a steady cycle of inspections, from wing and type commander reviews to Naval Safety Center audits. From hydraulic control to corrosion prevention, even simple tasks require certification since one mistake can turn routine maintenance into danger.

When AVMAC teams step in, their work is weighed against the same rigorous standards as active-duty personnel. Inspectors review every aspect of operations, from program management to training delivery to strict compliance with safety protocols. In Miramar, California, for example, AVMAC has assumed full maintenance responsibility for the aging F/A-18 Hornet fleet. With Marines shifted to newer platforms, AVMAC keeps these legacy aircraft mission-ready under close command oversight and with inspections that are just as thorough as those faced by uniformed squadrons.

For AVMAC, this is more than business. Veterans at every level bring skill and commitment, making it a trusted partner for the DoD to keep aircraft, ships and personnel mission-ready.