Every aircraft part Devin Reyes paints carries more than primer and precision. He’s also listening to the enduring voice of a beloved former instructor who saw potential in him before he recognized it himself.

Reyes, 22, of Yukon, is balancing a demanding career as an aircraft painter at Tinker Air Force Base, service in the Air National Guard and college coursework in mechanical engineering. His journey is more than a story of ambition. It is a tribute to the lasting power of mentorship, trades education and the voice of an instructor whose lessons continue to shape his future.

Reyes enrolled in Canadian Valley Technology Center’s Auto Collision program with a clear path in mind. What he did not expect was for beloved instructor David Venard to recognize untapped potential that would alter the course of his life. His decision to take on a second concurrent program (Precision Machining) was at the urging of his former instructor.

“He saw I had a talent in welding and thought my background in metal fabrication could be even better if I took the machining course. It’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I had a huge boom in growth both professionally and personally.”

That advice became transformational. Venard, who spent nearly 13 years inspiring students in the school’s Auto Collision program before his death earlier this year at age 50, left behind more than technical instruction. He left a legacy measured in students like Reyes, who carry his wisdom into industries where precision can define success or failure.

By completing both Auto Collision and Precision Machining, Reyes gained a rare dual perspective that now gives him an edge at Tinker. His understanding extends far beyond applying paint. He knows how to interpret blueprints, understand a part’s purpose and appreciate the craftsmanship behind every component before it ever reaches his spray gun.

“Everything I’ve learned at CV Tech has really helped me at my current job,” Reyes said. “It put me steps ahead on my training for being an aircraft painter and my background in machining has allowed me to not only see the parts I paint from a painter’s perspective but allows me to read the blueprints and see what the machinists are using the part for. This improves my ability to properly prep, mask and paint the parts.”

Hired in May 2024 as an aircraft painter at Tinker, Reyes applies a broad skill set that combines structural repair, refinishing and shop management with machining expertise in manual and Computer Numerical Control (CNC) operations. CNC machines are advanced manufacturing systems that use programmed software to produce highly precise parts essential to aerospace and defense industries, among others.

Yet for Reyes, the most valuable lesson was not found in a machine shop or paint booth. It was simple guidance from his former instructor, which now echoes through every task Reyes performs.

“The most useful thing I’ve taken away from CV Tech is something Mr. Venard told me: ‘A paint job is only as good as the painter, even if you are the best painter in the world, but don’t prepare properly your paint job will always tell on you.’”

For Reyes, those words became more than advice about paint. They became a philosophy about life, including principles such as preparation matters, discipline matters and excellence is built long before the final product is seen.

“This saying really put into perspective that it didn’t matter if I could paint really well if I didn’t have proper painting etiquette, such as properly cleaning parts before you paint, painting in a clean environment, properly mixing, straining and taking good care of your paint. It’s important to have a good game plan of how your gonna paint a part and which direction you are gonna move.”

Today, Reyes’ goals continue to climb. After earning his mechanical engineering degree, he hopes to work on military radar systems. No matter how far he advances, his foundation remains rooted in the lessons of a teacher who recognized promise, demanded excellence and changed a young man’s future.

In the end, Reyes’ story is not only about career success. It is about the extraordinary impact educators can have when they challenge students to do more, become more and see beyond what feels possible. Long after the classroom lights dimmed, Venard’s influence still shines and lives on in Reyes.