By Connor Trett
Published: Nov. 18, 2023 at 3:49 PM MST

SERGEANT BLUFF, Iowa - A local aircraft mechanic is being celebrated for five decades of service to the aviation industry.

Vincent Chicoine was given the most distinguished aircraft maintenance award recognized by the FAA, the Charles Taylor “Master Mechanic” Award, This award is given to celebrate senior mechanics who have worked for 50 years.

Chicoine was not only gifted a plaque, pins, and certificates commemorating his achievements, but the FAA also printed and bound every document on file they had that showed what projects he’s worked on spanning back to the 1970s.
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After receiving his award, Chicoine said he hoped that the next generation could follow in his footsteps.

”I’d like to encourage young people to think about getting into the aircraft maintenance business because there’s a lot of different skills you can learn there,” said Chicoine.
He is just the 30th Iowan to receive the Charles Taylor “Master Mechanic” Award.

In May 2024, Anthony Imparato received the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award from the Federal Aviation Administration. The award recognizes the lifetime accomplishments of senior mechanics in the aviation maintenance industry.

Anthony grew up in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY, near LaGuardia Airport, and was inspired to pursue a career in aviation from his fascination with airplanes from a young age. He always knew he wanted to pursue a career in aviation and received his license in 1974 from Aviation High School in Queens, NY.  He began his career as a flight line mechanic for Capital Airways at JFK Airport and has since filled many different roles in his over 50-year career in aviation.

​He served on the board at George T. Baker Aviation Technical College in Miami-Dade County and was a chairman of the Beacon Council Aviation Committee, Miami-Dade. His other membership appointments include the AMA (Avionic Maintenance Association) and ARSA (Aeronautical Repair Station Association).

After working the flight line, Imparato became a manager of aircraft maintenance and technical instructor for Eastern Airlines. He conducted training classes on the L-1011, B-757, B-727, A-300, B747, CF-6, RB-535, JT8D engines, and boroscoping. When reflecting upon his memories of training pilots and maintenance personnel, he recalls them as some of his fondest yet most challenging tasks.
In the 1990s, Anthony was promoted from Director of Aircraft Maintenance at Butler Aviation to VP of Sales and Marketing Services in Garden City, New York. He served as Senior vice president of Quality and Operations at Kellstrom Industries from 2001 to 2005 and then worked for Barfield in Miami, Florida, moving from Senior vice president of Quality to Senior vice president of Operations at six locations until 2021 when he retired. In 2022, he began serving in an advisory role at Aero Instruments and Avionics in Western New York.

Upon receiving the Charles Taylor Award, Imparato said, “It’s a great honor to receive such a prestigious award and be part of the only 30,000 recipients in the world. When asked about how it feels to receive such a rare award, Anthony said, “It’s a great honor to receive such a prestigious award and be part of the only 30,000 recipients in the world to wind this award since its beginning. As I look back at my career, I am blessed to have met many talented people who played a huge role in my development. Also, the support from my family was always with me. I’m thankful to all of them.”

The FAA awarded the prestigious Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award to Long Island-based mechanic Ed Libassi, honoring over 50 years of dedicated service to the aviation industry. Libassi, owner of A&P Aircraft Maintenance, received the award during an April 2023 ceremony surrounded by peers, family, and friends.

Starting his career at 19, Libassi built a lasting legacy in New York aviation, moving his maintenance shop through several local airports before settling at Long Island MacArthur Airport (KISP). His extensive career included 16 years with Eastern Airlines and over a decade handling emergency maintenance for airlines at KISP

Beyond routine maintenance, Libassi has managed complex aircraft recoveries and now operates A&P Aviation Consulting, providing investigation services for accident-related maintenance. For more information, learn more about the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award on the FAA website.

Learn more about the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award here.

Larry Riggs, the Aviation Center Logistics Command FAA branch chief, was honored with the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award for over 50 years of dedicated service in aviation in 2017. Starting in 1966 as an Air Force structural mechanic, Riggs's career spanned roles from Alaskan bush pilot to supporting Department of Defense special operations, including counter-narcotics work during the 1980s. His extensive experience includes over 4,000 flight hours and early work on GPS technology development.
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His career is marked by high-stakes operations and adapting to technological evolution, which he cites as highlights due to the constant, real-time problem-solving involved. Colleagues, including ACLC quality assurance specialist Shawn Howard, described Riggs as a vital mentor who enhanced team capabilities at Cairns Army Airfield with his deep knowledge of federal regulations and military operations.

Nominated for the award by colleagues for his dedication, Riggs views the milestone as a result of his passion for mechanical work and dedication to the team. Despite his extensive career, Riggs has no immediate plans for retirement, stating he will continue working as long as he is healthy.