Manuel Suarez

Mazar-I Sharif, AFG

- June 2011 - November 2011

• Hours per week: 42
• Tower/Non-Radar Approach Controller
• Supervisor: Cody James ((325)514-4769)
• Okay to contact this Supervisor: Yes
• Tower and non-radar approach controller at Mazar Tower. Provided for the safe, orderly, and expeditious flow of air traffic within high-density, high-volume airspace at a joint civil/military airport. Handled multiple aircraft types simultaneously within the same pattern, to include heavy aircraft, rotary wing, fixed wing, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Used standard Federal Aviation Administration procedures, US Army Air Traffic Control procedures, and standard ICAO procedures. Used non-radar procedures as the primary means of providing vertical, lateral, and longitudinal separation to aircraft within area of responsibility. Employed thorough knowledge of local procedures and aircraft performance characteristics to make instantaneous decisions for the proper sequencing and separation of aircraft in flight. Coordinated plans and actions with pilots and other controllers at Kabul ACC to ensure a safe, orderly, and expeditious flow of traffic. Disseminated information regarding weather, airport conditions and closures, special use airspace, and adjacent airspace information. Sequenced and separated UAV traffic into a dense traffic pattern. Maintained alertness over sustained periods of pressure and had sound judgment to select and take the safest and most effective course of action from among several available choices. Employed thorough knowledge of all applicable FAA Orders, US Army regulations, and ICAO directives. Trained 27 German Air Force, Hungarian Air Force, and US Army controllers on both tower and non-radar approach. Issued clearances and traffic information to aircraft arriving, departing or operating within the traffic area. Determined the order of departures and assured departing IFR and VFR flights operated in accordance with established operations rules and procedures, issued clearances, times and instructions to IFR, VFR and special VFR traffic. Prepared flight progress strips, posted and relayed IFR departure and arrival reports, obtained clearances for instrument flights, reported arrival and departure of instrument flights, and relayed clearances, instructions and advice to aircraft. Issued ground control instructions to aircraft and vehicles on all parts of the airport except the runway in use, including but not limited to: taxi clearances and relay departure clearances from approach control to instrument flight aircraft. Determined when aircraft and ground vehicles may safely cross active runways. Received, posted, and relayed pertinent flight data information and messages. Received Letter of Commendation from German Senior Air Traffic Control Officer in charge of facility for handling all positions within the facility simultaneously under severe jamming from a VIP's escort vehicles in the vicinity of the airport.

Taji Tower

Shift Leader/Tower Controller - April 2009 - April 2010

• Shift Leader/Tower Controller
• Supervisor: Joseph Mann ((254)535-9031)
• Okay to contact this Supervisor: Yes
• Hours per week: 72
• Supervised and directed all phases of subordinates' work. Maintained facility records, evaluated the overall effectiveness of facility systems and equipment and recorded and reported all outages. Responsible for the efficient use of airport traffic area airspace to minimize delays and maximize effective mission time for aircraft under the tower control system. Provided advice and instruction during complex or emergency traffic situations. Assisted and directed subordinates in completion of various forms and records as required. Employed thorough knowledge of all applicable FAA Orders, air traffic facility forms and logs, and US Army regulations. Instructs trainees in methods, techniques, regulatory requirements, and monitors trainee performance. Performs Supervisor duties as assigned in Tower. Conducted on-the-job training for over 18 personnel, all while safely sequencing and separating over 60,750 aircraft at one of the busiest Army Airfields in the world with more than 380,000 aircraft movements during OIF 09-10. Provided Air Traffic Services within the control system, such as taxiing and takeoff instructions, as well as clearances to ensure the safe, orderly and expeditious flow of air traffic within Taji AAF's Class D airspace. Provided separation between aircraft operating in the Class D airspace and on the runway, helipads/rotary wing landing areas and movement areas. Responsible for sequencing, spacing, and issuing clearance and control instructions to aircraft operating in Class D airspace and provided limited weather observations to aviators within the Class D airspace.

Robert Gray Army Airfield

Tower Controller - March 2008 - March 2009

• Tower Controller
• Supervisor: Howard Rogers ((254) 394-1080)
• Okay to contact this Supervisor: Yes
• Hours per week: 48
• Provided safe, orderly, and expeditious flow of air traffic within the Robert Gray Army Airfield (RGAAF) Class D Airspace. Used detailed knowledge of statutes required by the Federal Aviation Administration to sequence and separate aircraft under Visual Flight Rules (VFR), Special Visual Flight Rules (SVFR) and Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions. Employed standard Federal Aviation Administration and US Army Air Traffic Control procedures in issuing air traffic control instructions and advice to aircraft in the vicinity of RGAAF to ensure proper separation of aircraft and to expedite their safe and efficient movement within the control system. Employed thorough knowledge of local procedures and aircraft performance characteristics to make instantaneous decisions for the proper sequencing and separation of aircraft in flight. Coordinated plans and actions with pilots and other controllers to ensure a safe, orderly, and expeditious flow of traffic. Maintained alertness over sustained periods of pressure and had sound judgment to select and take the safest and most effective course of action from several available choices. Used the Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System (STARS) radar system to determine aircraft identification, location, and spatial relationship to other aircraft. Used the FDIO to enter and/or amend flight plans and information. Issued clearances and traffic information to aircraft arriving, departing or operating within the traffic area. Determined order of departures and ensured departing IFR and VFR flights operated in accordance with established operations rules and procedures. Issued clearances, times and instructions to IFR, VFR and special VFR traffic. Prepared flight progress strips, posted and relayed IFR departure and arrival reports, obtained clearances for instrument flights, reported arrival and departure of instrument flights. Relayed clearances, instructions and advice to aircraft. Issued ground control instructions to aircraft and vehicles on all parts of the airport except the runway in use, to include: taxi clearances and relay departure clearances from approach control to instrument flight aircraft. Determined when aircraft and ground vehicles may safely cross active runways. Employed thorough knowledge of all applicable FAA Orders, air traffic facility forms and logs, and US Army regulations. Provided safe, orderly, and expeditious flow of air traffic within the Robert Gray Army Airfield (RGAAF) Class D Airspace. Used detailed knowledge of statutes required by the Federal Aviation Administration to sequence and separate aircraft under Visual Flight Rules (VFR), Special Visual Flight Rules (SVFR) and Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions. Employed standard Federal Aviation Administration and US Army Air Traffic Control procedures in issuing air traffic control instructions and advice to aircraft in the vicinity of RGAAF to ensure proper separation of aircraft and to expedite their safe and efficient movement within the control system. Employed thorough knowledge of local procedures and aircraft performance characteristics to make instantaneous decisions for the proper sequencing and separation of aircraft in flight. Coordinated plans and actions with pilots and other controllers to ensure a safe, orderly, and expeditious flow of traffic. Maintained alertness over sustained periods of pressure and had sound judgment to select and take the safest and most effective course of action from several available choices. Used the Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System (STARS) radar system to determine aircraft identification, location, and spatial relationship to other aircraft. Used the FDIO to enter and/or amend flight plans and information. Issued clearances and traffic information to aircraft arriving, departing or operating within the traffic area. Determined order of departures and ensured departing IFR and VFR flights operated in accordance with established operations rules and procedures. Issued clearances, times and instructions to IFR, VFR and special VFR traffic. Prepared flight progress strips, posted and relayed IFR departure and arrival reports, obtained clearances for instrument flights, reported arrival and departure of instrument flights. Relayed clearances, instructions and advice to aircraft. Issued ground control instructions to air

Baghdad Radio AIC

Air Traffic Controller/CIC - December 2011 - Present

• Flight Following/AIC
• Baghdad Radio AIC
• Supervisor: Zachary Rubin ((360) 259-8801)
• Okay to contact this Supervisor: Yes
• Provided up-to-date airspace information to aircraft operating in area of responsibility, including, but not limited to: zone closures, restricted areas, fire missions, controlled detonations, weather, NOTAM information and LZ/HLZ statuses. Received, posted, and relayed flight data information and messages. Coordinated with pilots, other controllers, and adjacent air traffic control facilities. Supervised other controllers in the absence of the shift leader at the busiest Army Airspace Information Center in Iraq.