In Memoriam: Stephen Christopher Ley

The ATEC community is deeply saddened by the passing of Stephen Christopher Ley. A respected leader, passionate educator, and generous colleague, Stephen made lasting contributions to aviation maintenance training and to the future of the profession.

Stephen served the council in many ways over the years, including as a member of ATEC's Regulatory Committee. He helped strengthen connections between ATEC and other aviation organizations, especially in advanced air mobility and emerging technology. He cared deeply about preparing the training community for what was coming next, and he brought that forward-thinking mindset into conference sessions and webinars. He had a gift for translating complex issues into clear, actionable ideas to help educators prepare their programs and students for success. 

He was also one of the initial contributors to the Choose Aerospace aviation maintenance curriculum. He played a key role in shaping and launching the program, which is now being used by instructors and students across the country. 

While we are devastated Stephen will no longer be here to see the changes he worked so hard to bring about, we are grateful for all he gave to this community. His legacy will live on in our programs, our partnerships, and the work we will continue to do in his memory. 

We send our heartfelt condolences to his wife Rhonda, sons Joshua and Christopher, and the entire Ley family.