Mr. Weckerly's career began with the U.S. Air Force, where he received training in metals technology and processing. During that time he worked extensively performing maintenance on general airframe, powerplant and related aircraft systems. Tours of duty in Arizona, Florida, Germany and California provided experience on a variety of multi-million dollar aircraft including the F-4 Phantom, C-130,-135 and-141 cargo planes as well as the F-16 Fighting Falcon and the A-10 Warthog. Also during this time Mr. Weckerly was involved in non-aeronautical research and development projects relating to rocket sleds and containers for nuclear weapons.
Also during his tours of duty, Mr. Weckerly attended various Air Force schools for supervision, leadership and total quality management leading to his award as master technician. His education allowed him to manage and train military and civilian technicians in welding, hardness testing, heat treatment methods and electroplating.
Three years in a machine shop setting up and maintaining shop equipment, and designing and determining job specifications and material requirements for making dies jigs, fixtures and special tooling rounded out his military career.
After retiring from the military in 1994, Mr. Weckerly worked as a welder in the private sector until deciding to devote all of his time to his own business, K&K Precision Welding, which he formed in 1990. K&K Precision welding has recently constructed a new hangar located at the East Troy Municipal Airport in East Troy, Wisconsin. In addition to acting as president of K&K Precision Welding, Mr. Weckerly is also a teacher of Welding Fundamentals through Advanced Welding for Gateway Technical College in Kenosha, Wisconsin and also teaches welding theory and application for SCJohnson Wax located in Sturtevant, Wisconsin.
