MOS 6073 Aircraft Maintenance Material Control Chief to Civilian: Production Control & Planning Career Guide
Career paths for 6073 Material Control Chiefs. Includes salary data $75K-$135K+, maintenance planning, production control, and aviation operations management.
Bottom Line Up Front
MOS 6073 Aircraft Maintenance Material Control Chiefs are senior operations and planning specialists with 12-20+ years coordinating maintenance schedules, managing aircraft status, planning resources, and serving as the nerve center of aviation maintenance operations. Your expertise in maintenance planning and scheduling, production control, aircraft status tracking, cross-functional coordination, and operational decision-making translates directly to maintenance control management, production planning, operations coordination, and program management roles at airlines, MROs, defense contractors, and aerospace manufacturers. Realistic first-year salaries range from $75,000-$95,000 in planning or coordination roles, with experienced maintenance control managers and operations directors earning $105,000-$145,000+ at major airlines and aerospace companies. Your unique combination of technical knowledge, operational planning expertise, and high-pressure decision-making skills makes you highly competitive for senior operational leadership positions.
Let's address the elephant in the room
When 6073s research civilian careers, they sometimes worry: "Material Control is too military-specific." "Civilians don't have this exact role." "My planning experience won't translate."
That's missing the bigger picture. Here's what they don't understand:
You didn't just "schedule maintenance." You:
- Served as the operational nerve center coordinating all maintenance activities
- Managed aircraft status and availability for squadrons with 12-24 aircraft
- Planned and scheduled phase inspections, modifications, and unscheduled maintenance
- Coordinated between maintenance, operations, supply, and quality assurance
- Made real-time decisions on maintenance priorities and aircraft availability
- Tracked Work-In-Process (WIP) and ensured on-time completion
- Briefed senior leadership daily on maintenance status and operational readiness
- Responded to urgent operational requirements and AOG situations
- Managed maintenance data systems and generated operational reports
- Forecasted maintenance requirements and resource needs
- Mentored junior SNCOs in maintenance planning and coordination
That's production control, operations management, project coordination, resource planning, and strategic decision-making—skills that translate directly to Maintenance Control Manager, Production Planning Manager, Operations Coordinator, and Program Manager roles across aviation and manufacturing industries.
Best civilian career paths for 6073
Let's break down specific career opportunities with current salary data.
Maintenance Control Manager (airlines and major operators)
Civilian job titles:
- Maintenance Control Manager
- Maintenance Operations Control Specialist
- MOC (Maintenance Operations Center) Manager
- Aircraft Routing and Scheduling Manager
- Technical Operations Coordinator
Salary ranges:
- Maintenance control coordinator: $70,000-$88,000
- Senior maintenance controller: $85,000-$105,000
- Maintenance control manager: $100,000-$130,000
- Director of Maintenance Control: $120,000-$155,000+
What translates directly:
- Aircraft status tracking and availability management
- Maintenance scheduling and coordination
- Real-time operational decision-making
- Cross-functional coordination (maintenance, operations, supply, engineering)
- High-pressure problem-solving (AOG situations)
- Regulatory compliance and documentation
- Briefing senior leadership on operational status
- 24/7 operations center management
Certifications needed:
- FAA A&P license - Often preferred but not always required for control/planning roles
- Bachelor's degree in aviation, operations management, or business - Increasingly required
- Aircraft systems knowledge - Your military experience covers this
- Maintenance planning software - Quantum, TRAX, SAP (employer trains)
Reality check: Maintenance Control is the 24/7 nerve center at airlines and major operators. Controllers coordinate all maintenance activities, make real-time decisions on aircraft serviceability, and ensure operational schedules are met while maintaining safety.
Major airlines (Delta, United, American, Southwest, FedEx, UPS) have large Maintenance Operations Centers. Your military maintenance control background translates DIRECTLY to these civilian positions.
MOC roles involve shift work (days, nights, weekends) but pay well and offer excellent benefits. High-stress environment similar to military operations centers.
Best for: 6073s who thrive in high-pressure operations centers, want to stay in aviation coordination/planning, and value airline benefits.
Production Planning and Control Manager (MRO and aerospace manufacturing)
Civilian job titles:
- Production Planning Manager
- Production Control Manager
- Manufacturing Scheduler
- Work Planning Manager
- Shop Operations Coordinator
Salary ranges:
- Production planner: $65,000-$82,000
- Senior production scheduler: $80,000-$100,000
- Production control manager: $95,000-$120,000
- Director of Production Planning: $115,000-$150,000+
What translates directly:
- Work scheduling and capacity planning
- Work-in-process tracking and management
- Resource allocation (labor, equipment, materials)
- Cross-functional coordination
- Meeting deadlines and throughput targets
- Performance metrics and KPI reporting
- Process improvement and efficiency
Certifications needed:
- APICS CPIM (Certified in Production and Inventory Management) - Industry standard for production planning
- Six Sigma Green Belt - Process improvement methodologies
- Project Management Professional (PMP) - For senior planning roles
- Bachelor's degree - Required for management positions
Reality check: MRO facilities (AAR, StandardAero, Lufthansa Technik, Delta TechOps, ST Engineering) perform heavy maintenance and overhauls. They need production planners who understand aircraft maintenance AND manufacturing efficiency.
Aerospace manufacturers (Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Textron, Bell) need production control professionals for aircraft assembly and sub-assembly operations.
Your military maintenance planning experience translates well, but you'll need to learn civilian production control methodologies (lean manufacturing, just-in-time, Theory of Constraints).
Best for: 6073s who want planning/scheduling roles in aviation but prefer more predictable schedules than 24/7 maintenance control centers.
Defense contractor program management (maintenance planning)
Civilian job titles:
- Program Manager (maintenance support contracts)
- Maintenance Planning Manager (contractor)
- Operations Manager (depot maintenance)
- Site Manager (contractor logistics support)
- Fleet Management Lead
Salary ranges:
- Planning and scheduling manager: $85,000-$105,000
- Operations manager: $100,000-$130,000
- Program manager (medium contract): $110,000-$140,000
- Senior program manager: $130,000-$170,000+
What translates directly:
- Deep knowledge of military aviation maintenance operations
- Understanding Marine/Navy maintenance planning and scheduling
- Government contracting environment
- Performance-based metrics and reporting
- Customer interface with active-duty squadrons
- Security clearance (major advantage)
- Platform-specific expertise (F-35, V-22, H-1, CH-53, F/A-18)
Certifications needed:
- Active Secret or Top Secret clearance - Significant competitive advantage
- Project Management Professional (PMP) - Standard for program managers
- DAWIA certifications (PM or LOG track, Level I-III) - For government programs
- Bachelor's degree - Required for program manager positions
Reality check: Defense contractors (Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon, General Dynamics, DynCorp, Vertex Aerospace, MAG Aerospace) support military aviation maintenance operations worldwide.
Your understanding of military maintenance planning, platform-specific requirements, and the customer (active duty units) makes you immediately valuable for program execution.
Cleared positions supporting Marine/Navy aviation often pay $100K-$140K+ with significantly better work-life balance than military.
Best for: 6073s with active clearances who want to support military aviation in civilian capacity with higher pay and no deployments.
Aviation operations management (corporate aviation, charter, helicopter)
Civilian job titles:
- Director of Operations (business aviation)
- Operations Manager (charter company)
- Fleet Manager (corporate aviation)
- Maintenance and Operations Coordinator
- Technical Operations Manager
Salary ranges:
- Operations coordinator: $70,000-$88,000
- Operations manager: $85,000-$110,000
- Director of Operations: $105,000-$140,000
- VP Operations (large corporate flight department): $130,000-$180,000+
What translates directly:
- Coordinating maintenance with flight operations
- Aircraft availability and scheduling
- Regulatory compliance (FAA Part 91/135)
- Resource management
- Cross-functional leadership
- High-pressure decision-making
Certifications needed:
- Bachelor's degree in aviation or management - Usually required
- FAA A&P license - Valuable for technical credibility
- Commercial pilot certificate - Advantageous for Director of Ops roles
- SMS (Safety Management Systems) training - For Part 135 operators
Reality check: Corporate aviation (Fortune 500 companies, business jet operators like NetJets, Flexjet, VistaJet) and helicopter operators (EMS, offshore, tours) need operations managers who understand both maintenance and flight operations.
Your maintenance planning background positions you well for hybrid operations/maintenance roles, especially in smaller organizations where you wear multiple hats.
Best for: 6073s interested in business/corporate aviation sector, prefer smaller operations than airlines, willing to pursue additional aviation qualifications if needed.
Project management and operations consulting
Civilian job titles:
- Operations Consultant (aviation)
- Project Manager (aviation projects)
- Process Improvement Manager
- Lean/Six Sigma Consultant
- Aviation Business Analyst
Salary ranges:
- Project manager: $80,000-$105,000
- Operations consultant: $95,000-$125,000
- Senior consultant: $115,000-$150,000
- Principal / Partner: $150,000-$250,000+
What translates directly:
- Deep understanding of maintenance operations and planning
- Process analysis and improvement
- Project coordination and execution
- Stakeholder management
- Problem-solving and optimization
- Data analysis and reporting
Certifications needed:
- Project Management Professional (PMP) - Essential for project management
- Six Sigma Black Belt - Process improvement consulting
- Lean certification - Operations efficiency
- Master's degree (MBA preferred) - Positions you for consulting
- Active clearance - For defense consulting
Reality check: Aviation consulting firms (Booz Allen Hamilton, Deloitte, Oliver Wyman, ICF, specialized aviation consultancies) need people who've actually managed aviation maintenance operations.
Consulting requires excellent communication, strategic thinking, and willingness to travel extensively (50-80%). But compensation potential is high for those with the right skills.
Best for: 6073s with strong analytical and communication skills, MBA or working toward one, willing to travel extensively, and interested in variety of projects vs. single company.
Do you need an A&P license as a 6073?
Unlike hands-on maintainers, 6073s aren't always required to have A&P licenses. Here's the breakdown:
Roles requiring A&P:
- Director of Maintenance positions (FAA requirement)
- Some maintenance control manager positions at airlines (company policy)
- Hands-on technical roles
Roles NOT requiring A&P:
- Maintenance control coordinator/manager (many positions)
- Production planning and scheduling
- Program management at defense contractors
- Operations consulting
- Some operations management positions
Recommendation:
- If targeting airlines or traditional maintenance leadership: Get your A&P. It opens more doors and increases earning potential. Many airlines prefer or require it even for control/planning roles.
- If targeting defense contractors, production planning, or consulting: Focus on PMP, APICS, Six Sigma instead. Your time is better spent on project management and business certifications.
As a 6073 with years of maintenance coordination, you may qualify to challenge FAA A&P exams based on documented experience. Check with your local FSDO.
Skills translation table (for your resume)
Stop writing "Maintenance Material Control Chief" without context:
| Military Experience | Civilian Translation |
|---|---|
| Maintenance Material Control Chief | Maintenance Operations Manager / Production Control Manager |
| Managed maintenance control for 18-aircraft squadron | Coordinated all maintenance planning and scheduling for fleet of 18 aircraft valued at $150M+ |
| Tracked aircraft status and WIP daily | Managed work-in-process tracking and real-time status reporting for operational decision-making |
| Coordinated maintenance schedules | Developed and executed maintenance plans optimizing aircraft availability and resource utilization |
| Briefed CO/XO on maintenance status | Delivered daily operational briefings to senior leadership on readiness, constraints, and mitigation strategies |
| Responded to AOG situations | Led rapid response coordination for aircraft-on-ground situations minimizing operational impact |
| Planned phase inspections and mods | Strategic planning for scheduled maintenance events including resource forecasting and execution |
| Interfaced with ops, supply, QA | Cross-functional coordination across operations, logistics, engineering, and quality assurance |
| Managed NALCOMIS maintenance data | Administered maintenance management system tracking 500+ maintenance actions monthly |
| Mentored junior maintenance controllers | Trained and developed operations coordinators in planning, scheduling, and decision-making |
Key terms to include on your resume:
- Maintenance planning and scheduling
- Operations coordination and management
- Production control
- Aircraft availability optimization
- Cross-functional leadership
- Work-in-process (WIP) management
- Resource planning and allocation
- Performance metrics and KPI reporting
- Real-time decision-making
- Strategic planning
- Maintenance management systems
- Process improvement
Certifications that actually matter
Here's what's worth your time and GI Bill:
High priority (get these first):
Project Management Professional (PMP) - This is critical for program management and operations management roles. Cost: $1,500-3,000 for training + exam. Study time: 3-6 months. Value: Opens doors to $95K-$140K+ program management and operations leadership positions. Required for many senior roles.
Bachelor's degree in Aviation Management, Operations Management, or Business Administration - Required for most management positions. Use GI Bill for online programs (Embry-Riddle, University of North Dakota, Penn State World Campus). Cost: $0 with GI Bill. Time: 2-4 years part-time. Value: Baseline requirement for senior positions.
APICS CPIM (Certified in Production and Inventory Management) - Valuable for production planning and scheduling roles. Cost: $1,200-2,000. Study time: 3-6 months. Value: Industry standard for production control, especially in MRO and manufacturing.
Six Sigma Green Belt - Process improvement and operational excellence. Cost: $800-1,500. Time: 4-6 weeks. Value: Demonstrates data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement skills valued by all employers.
Medium priority (career-specific):
FAA Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) license - IF targeting airline maintenance control or traditional aviation leadership. Cost: $500-$2,000 if testing based on experience (check FSDO), or $15,000-40,000 for school (GI Bill covers). Time: 2 months to 2 years depending on path. Value: Opens senior maintenance leadership positions at airlines.
DAWIA certifications (PM or LOG track, Level I-III) - For defense contractor program management. Cost: Free through DAU. Time: 6-18 months. Value: Required for DoD contractor program manager positions paying $110K-$160K+.
Master's degree (MBA or MS in Operations Management) - Positions you for director/executive roles. Cost: GI Bill covers significant portion. Time: 18-36 months part-time. Value: Required for VP/director positions, valuable for consulting careers.
Six Sigma Black Belt - Advanced process improvement. Cost: $2,000-4,000. Time: 6-12 months. Value: Positions you for operations excellence and consulting roles.
Low priority (nice to have):
Lean certification - Waste reduction and efficiency. Cost: $500-1,500. Value: Useful for manufacturing environments but Green Belt covers similar concepts.
APICS CSCP - Supply chain certification. Cost: $1,500-2,500. Value: Good if transitioning to broader supply chain roles, but CPIM more relevant for production control.
The skills gap (what you need to learn)
Let's address civilian skills you'll need to develop:
Civilian production planning methodologies: Learn MRP (Material Requirements Planning), lean manufacturing, Theory of Constraints, just-in-time concepts. Free courses available online or through APICS.
Business analytics and data visualization: Maintenance control uses data constantly. Learn advanced Excel (pivot tables, macros, Power Query), Tableau, or Power BI for data analysis and dashboard creation.
Project management frameworks: Learn formal PM methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, Critical Path Method). PMP study materials cover this extensively.
Financial metrics: Understand cost per flight hour, maintenance cost drivers, budget variance analysis, and ROI calculations. Take business finance basics course.
Civilian maintenance systems: You know NALCOMIS. Civilians use Quantum Control, TRAX, SAP PM, AMOS, etc. Emphasize your ability to learn complex systems quickly—the concepts transfer.
Business communication: Practice explaining operational issues and recommendations to non-technical executives. Your military briefing skills translate well, but adjust terminology.
Change management: Civilian organizations change slowly. Learn change management principles for implementing process improvements.
Real 6073 success stories
Master Sergeant Davis, 40, 6073 → Maintenance Control Manager at United Airlines
After 20 years managing maintenance control for F/A-18 and V-22 squadrons, MSgt Davis retired as E-8. He got his A&P through experience-based testing and joined United as maintenance control coordinator. Promoted to manager after 3 years. Now makes $115,000 managing 24/7 MOC operations with excellent airline benefits and flight privileges.
Gunnery Sergeant Kim, 34, 6073 → Program Manager at Lockheed Martin
After 14 years including deployments supporting H-1 and CH-53 maintenance control, GySgt Kim separated with active Secret clearance. Earned PMP certification during terminal leave and landed program manager position supporting Marine aviation contracts. Started at $105,000, now makes $135,000 after 5 years. Working toward DAWIA PM Level III.
Master Sergeant Lopez, 38, 6073 → Production Control Manager at StandardAero
MSgt Lopez retired after 19 years managing maintenance planning and control. Earned APICS CPIM certification and hired by StandardAero MRO facility as production scheduler. Promoted to production control manager after 2 years. Makes $108,000 managing maintenance planning for helicopter overhaul operations.
Action plan: your first 90 days out
Here's your specific roadmap:
Month 1: Foundation and assessment
- Update resume emphasizing operations management, planning, coordination, and quantifiable results
- Create LinkedIn profile targeting maintenance control, production planning, and operations management
- Get 10 certified copies of DD-214
- Research PMP certification and purchase study materials
- If targeting airlines: Contact FAA FSDO to evaluate A&P eligibility based on your experience
- Identify target companies (airlines, defense contractors, MROs, aerospace manufacturers)
- Network with other former 6073s on LinkedIn
- Join professional associations (PAMA, APICS, PMI local chapter)
Month 2: Certifications and applications
- Begin PMP study program (instructor-led or self-paced)
- Enroll in APICS CPIM program if targeting production planning roles
- If no bachelor's degree: Research online programs and apply for GI Bill
- Take advanced Excel and data analytics course
- Submit applications to 15+ positions per week (maintenance control, production planning, program management, operations)
- Attend veteran job fairs and aviation industry events
- Consider SkillBridge programs with airlines or major contractors
Month 3: Execution and networking
- Continue PMP/CPIM studies (aim to test within 3-6 months)
- If pursuing A&P: Study for FAA written exams
- Practice interview answers focusing on: planning/scheduling success, problem-solving under pressure, cross-functional coordination, process improvement, operational results
- Tailor resume for each application
- Network aggressively (LinkedIn, PMI/APICS chapter meetings, veteran organizations)
- Follow up professionally on applications
- Consider temporary/contract planning roles if immediate income needed
- Leverage network of former Marines in aviation operations careers
Bottom line for 6073s
Your 12-20 years as Maintenance Material Control Chief makes you highly valuable for civilian aviation operations, production planning, and program management.
You've coordinated complex maintenance operations, made real-time decisions affecting mission success, planned strategic maintenance activities, and led cross-functional coordination under pressure. Those skills translate directly to Maintenance Control Manager, Production Planning Manager, Program Manager, and Operations Manager positions.
Maintenance Control at airlines is almost identical to your military role—same concepts, same stress, better pay. Major airlines actively recruit former military maintenance controllers.
Production planning at MROs and aerospace manufacturers leverages your scheduling and coordination expertise applied to manufacturing environments.
Defense contractors need program managers who understand military maintenance operations and can interface effectively with active-duty customers.
First-year income of $75K-$95K is realistic for planning/coordination roles. Within 5-7 years, $105K-$140K+ is very achievable with PMP certification and strategic career moves.
Your unique combination of technical aviation knowledge and operational planning expertise is difficult to replicate with civilian training alone.
PMP certification is your ticket to six-figure program management and operations leadership positions—make it your #1 priority.
Thousands of former military maintenance controllers and planners succeed in civilian aviation and aerospace careers. You have a proven path forward.
Ready to build your transition plan? Use the career planning tools at Military Transition Toolkit to translate your 6073 planning expertise, research maintenance control salaries, and map your PMP certification path.