Photo By Senior Master Sgt. Jeremy Farson | U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Tyrone Smiley (left), NCOIC Heating Ventilation and Air...... read more read more
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This month’s Unit Spotlight is Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning (HVAC) Shop within the 117th Civil Engineer Squadron!
The HVAC shop is comprised of airmen who are a jack of all trades. Not an exhaustive list, but they know about electrical, mechanical, plumbing and thermodynamics. Their job duties have them work on AC window units, chillers, boilers, air handling units different types of pumps and measuring equipment and software programming.
All of this, and a bit more, goes into keeping our offices comfortable. The temperatures don’t go below the low 70’s in the cold winter or above the mid 70’s in the well known hot and humid Alabama summers.
“We work hard,” said Master Sgt. Tyrone Smiley, NCOIC of the HVAC shop. “People don’t know much work we do but when drill comes around we are always out of the office.”
Smiley has spent his entire 16-year military career in the unit. He was promoted to NCOIC approximately four months ago.
The temperature of most all the buildings on base is controlled in the HVAC office by way of a computer program, the “Building Automation System.” This is a computer system which displays information of air handling units with sensors within the HVAC systems. The information is used to help troubleshoot and efficiently repair a malfunction when it occurs.
“There is a significant technological aspect to this career,” said Tech. Sgt. Brandon Bingham, HVAC craftsman. “It makes it even more difficult due to each brand of AC units having their own proprietary software.”
This is one of the longer technical schools the Air Force has. It is approximately six months long and airmen learn how to charge air handlings units to manufacturer specifications, movement of refrigerant throughout the system, how to properly use a scale to weigh refrigerant, read electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, troubleshoot faults and they also receive a universal Environmental Protection Agency license. This license authorizes the airmen to buy and handle refrigerant which also assists with civilian job prospects.
“I started off here doing AC work and then I transitioned to a HVAC service technician,” said Smiley. “Because of my knowledge that I gained from the Air Force I was able to find a career with the same position on the outside and it’s even easier now with trades really needing people.”
Upon graduation and returning to our HVAC shop Smiley says that they “are put to work right away” and will gain the necessary experience because they are able to shadow and assist with a civilian HVAC worker during the week. On drill weekends they can expect to be out in the field quite often. With the amount of buildings and air handling units in addition to the age of the systems, there are plenty of opportunities for airmen to get hands-on experience.
| Date Taken: | 06.04.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 06.08.2025 11:50 |
| Story ID: | 499528 |
| Location: | BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, US |
| Web Views: | 55 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Unit Spotlight - Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning (HVAC) Shop, by SMSgt Jeremy Farson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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