Published in Midwest Flyer – June/July 2019 issue
Few people nowadays can say they have been employed by the same employer for their entire professional career. Likewise, there are few employers who can say they have retained employees for 30-plus years. But such is the case with Doug Nehls, general manager of aircraft maintenance at Des Moines Flying Service in Des Moines Iowa.
Nehls was one of 12 children in his family growing up in Charles City, Iowa. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1971 to 1975 as an aircraft maintenance technician and as plane captain on a Grumman US2B antisubmarine aircraft.
From 1975 to 1977, Nehls attended the Hawkeye Institute of Technology in Waterloo, Iowa, and graduated with a degree in Applied Science – Aircraft Maintenance. While attending Hawkeye, he worked at Connell Aviation in Independence, Iowa, and received his Airframe and Powerplant Certificate in 1977.
Later in 1977, Nehls started working at Des Moines Flying Service as a maintenance technician and became chief inspector in 1986. He continued his career at Des Moines Flying Service as service manager, operations manager and general manager of aircraft maintenance. After 41 years, Doug Nehls retired on February 1, 2019, to devote more time to his family, his love of playing the guitar, and Ford Mustangs.
Josh Boyd, a 14-year veteran of Des Moines Flying Service, has assumed the role of general manager of aircraft maintenance.
Congratulations, Doug Nehls, for a lifetime of service to the aviation community!
