The “In Focus” series is a monthly feature that puts the spotlight on some of the 419th Fighter Wing’s best and brightest Reserve Citizen Airmen. Find it on Instagram @419fw
In Canton, Illinois, young Nicholas Pritchard helped his grandfather work on racecars. His parents worked on F-16 Fighting Falcons as crew chiefs. It wouldn’t take long for Pritchard to follow in all of their footsteps.
Senior Airman Pritchard, now 22, works in the 419th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron as an F-35 Lightning II crew chief.
“It’s cool that I get to do what my parents did at one of the bases they were stationed at,” he said.
Pritchard also continues to work on racecars when he’s not in uniform. He takes everything his grandfather taught him about building racecars with him on the drill weekend.
“Even though the mission of a crew chief and the mission of building a racecar are different, the maintenance practices of both are almost identical – everything must be on point.”
Pritchard said he hopes to continue his parents’ legacy and help train up other Airmen as he grows within the 419th.