Joe Dela Cruz
Tell us a little about your background.
I have been working in the Aviation industry as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer – Mechanical for over 21 years now.
I started my apprenticeship with Interair at Essendon Airport, Melbourne in 2004 and continued with John Holland Aviation Services in Tullamarine Airport carrying out the heavy and line checks for the whole Virgin Australia fleet and other airlines such as Jetstar, Tigerair and a few others. I was employed there for five years.
I made a big move to leave all my friends and family from Melbourne and relocated permanently to Brisbane to work for QANTAS for the same role. I was employed for 4 years working in the heavy checks for the Airbus A330 and Boeing 737 NG & classic fleet.
In 2016, I decided to move next door to NGA maintaining KC-30A. Nine years later I have progressed from being an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer to becoming a Military Aircraft Maintenance License Engineer and now in my current role as a KC-30A Base Maintenance Mechanical Crew Leader for four years now.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
To be able to lead and mentor people, in order for them to reach their full potential, grow, evolve and make a difference which highly contributes to the success of the KC-30A program.
Tell us about your role?
As a KC-30A Base Maintenance Mechanical Crew Leader, I have and continue to successfully lead and mentor a team of technicians to accomplish any task at hand. Planning and prioritising checks to make sure milestones and deadlines are consistently achieved. Facing any challenges head on and actively adapting and overcoming these difficult circumstances.
What makes Northrop Grumman Australia special for you?
Northrop Grumman has had a massive impact in my growth and personal development beyond my expectation to the type of leader I have become and continue in doing so. Northrop Grumman has helped me turn my vision into a reality achieving my personal milestones and goals on a day-to-day basis. Northrop Grumman has helped me discover my purpose and passion in life.
What does Defining Possible mean to you?
Always going above and beyond with everything that you do in order to reach yours and your team’s full potential. Making a difference every day and making things happen.
What advice would you give someone considering joining Northrop Grumman Australia?
Northrop Grumman provides you with opportunities for your personal growth and self- development which goes above and beyond your expectations. I would highly recommend joining this great team to be part of an enterprise which have built their legacy purely based on their excellent work ethics, values, integrity & can-do attitude culture.
What do you do outside work?
I love going to the gym early in the morning before work to make sure I maintain good health. I love reading books at home which relaxes me and helps me deal with stress. I love to play with my acoustic guitar and sing at the same time. I love watching movies as well, but most of all I love spending some good quality time with my family.
What is your claim to fame?
Making it to one of the finalists in the Australian Defence Industry Awards – Technician of the year means the world to me. It is everything I have ever dreamt of being recognised nation-wide for all the sacrifices, hard work and dedication that I continue to do, which I am very passionate about.