Laughlin MXD manager celebrates 40 years of service Published Jan. 13, 2026 By Airman 1st Class Harrison Sullivan 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Behind every safe aircraft launch and successful training sortie is a network of environmental and safety professionals working to protect Airmen, equipment and the mission. At Laughlin Air Force Base, that responsibility is critical to sustaining the Air Force’s largest pilot training mission. For David N. Weber, ensuring safe and environmentally sound maintenance operations has been the cornerstone of more than four decades of federal service. Weber serves as the Quality Assurance Environmental and Safety Programs Manager for the 47th Maintenance Directorate (MXD), where he oversees more than 40 combined environmental and safety programs, supporting over 500 maintenance personnel across the installation. “Safety is paramount in all activities on and off duty, especially off duty, as this is where the majority of mishaps occur,” Weber said. “I know from firsthand experience how pressure and urgency can cause individuals to bypass normal safety practices in an effort to meet time constraints.” A native of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Weber entered the Air Force in 1985 as a tactical aircraft maintenance specialist. During his active-duty service, he supported aircraft operations at RAF Woodbridge, United Kingdom, before arriving at Laughlin, where he played a key role in the 1989 transition of the aircraft maintenance complex from an active-duty to civilian workforce. Weber helped train newly hired civil service maintainers, contributing to a lasting foundation for the base’s maintenance operations. After four years on active duty, Weber continued his service as a Department of Defense civilian while also serving as a C-5A flight engineer with the 68th Airlift Squadron, 433rd Airlift Wing at Kelly Air Force Base, Texas. Throughout his civilian career, he has held positions spanning flightline maintenance, hangar operations, aircraft overhaul and quality assurance inspection, ultimately culminating in his current role guiding environmental and safety policy for the 47th MXD. “It’s often easy to go with the flow and not ‘rock the boat,’” Weber said. “But I have always voiced my concerns when something is not right, especially when guidance and directives clearly state how a task should be completed.” Weber’s career includes accreditations from the Community College of the Air Force, Air Force Civil Engineer Center, Air Force Institute of Technology, Defense Acquisition University and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. His technical expertise and program leadership directly contribute to safe aircraft maintenance operations and the continued success of the 47th Flying Training Wing’s pilot training mission. With more than 40 years of combined military and civilian federal service, Weber continues to support Laughlin’s mission by ensuring maintenance personnel operate in a safe, compliant and environmentally responsible environment.