Marine Corps seeks to utilize Lightning Technician Program

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Caleb F. Butler
  • 56 FW/PA

LUKE AIR FORCE BASE—U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Cooper McQuade, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 214 airframe mechanic, signals an F-35A Lightning II pilot to brake prior to launch May 9, 2022, at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. McQuade is one of twelve Marines sent to Luke from Marine Corps Air Station Yuma to learn about Luke AFB’s Lightning Technician Program in order to implement the program at their base. The Lightning Technician Program blends F-35 maintenance career fields to maximize manpower utilization while shrinking units’ deployment footprint to fit the Air Force's Agile Combat Employment concept. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Caleb F. Butler)