DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- Each year people join the Air Force for different reasons, some join because they like airplanes.

Airman 1st Class Jovani Montenegro, 436th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, joined the military in 2011 after going to college for aviation and decided he wanted a career in the aviation field.

"With no experience, I picked the job of being a crew chief because I get to work on anything and also have to the opportunity to get my hands on everything on the plane," said Montenegro.

Montenegro was selected to be an assistant dedicated crew chief for the C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft 5002. His aircraft currently has the second best rate since transformed into a C-5M.

Tech Sgt. Greg Siglock, 436th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief and Monentego's supervisor, said during Montenegro's tenure as a dedicated crew chief, his plane only failed to meet the mission capable-rate metric once.

"It was because of his initiative and his superior knowledge that he was handpicked to be an assistant dedicated crew chief," he said.

Montenegro believes he was chosen as an assistant dedicated crew chief because of his work ethic and organization.

"I took my time to actually learn and get into the books," said the native of San Antonio. "I learned how to do what I could without anyone actually telling me what to do. I just went out there and took it upon myself to learn."

Montenegro said that dedication came in handy when an accident happened that forced him to react quickly

While the plane was being placed on jacks the aircraft started rolling back and got disconnected from power. The ladder that is used to go up inside the plane split in half. The only way to stop the plane was to hit the brake to stop the plane, he said.

"We didn't stumble or anything it was just our first reaction," said Montenegro.

Montenegro was tasked with the management of Air Force Material Command's C-5M 3.5.2 software upgrade on his assigned aircraft. He teamed with both the 418th Test Squadron and Lockheed Martin engineers validating the new software during numerous test flights. His maintenance efforts directly facilitated the success of the $20M test flight program correcting over 25 nuisance faults and improved mission capable rates for the entire C-5M fleet.

Montenegro said his dream assignment would be in Hawaii because he loves the beach.

"I was born in Panama and lived there for nine years of my life because my dad was stationed there," said Montenegro. "I have also lived in Puerto Rico because my dad is Puerto Rican. I just like being on the beach."

Montenegro said his father inspires him because he has been a hard worker all his life and retired from the military and he strives to follow that example

"This is my career and I want to keep striving to do better," said Montenegro. "I think I am on the right path if I continue to go to school and work."

Montenegro has two associate degrees and still continues to further his education by attending Emery Riddle Aeronautical University. He also obtained his Airframe and Power Plant license with only a little more than two years in the Air Force.

"A1C Montenegro is one of the top Airmen and hardest working in the 436th AMXS," said Siglock. "His vast knowledge and experience of the aircraft is beyond his peers."