Rate My Professor Thomas Laxson

Thomas Laxson is the Faculty Department Chair for Aviation Maintenance within the Technical and Career programs at Portland Community College, Rock Creek Campus. As a full-time instructor in Aviation Maintenance Technology, he leads a program established in 1969 that prepares students for Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) certification through intensive modules covering subjects such as engine maintenance, avionics, and sheet metal repair. Laxson's academic credentials include a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, an Associate of Applied Science in Aviation Maintenance Technology from Portland Community College, and certificates in Aviation Maintenance Technology: Airframe and Powerplant from PCC.

Laxson's career trajectory exemplifies practical expertise in aviation. He commenced his journey in 2000 as a student in PCC's Aviation Maintenance Technology program. Upon graduation, he served as a helicopter mechanic for a small aerial spraying company in Salem, Oregon. Subsequently, he joined Horizon Air in Portland as an aircraft technician, specializing in Bombardier CRJ aircraft, and later advanced to their Maintenance Training Department. In 2009, Laxson moved to Flightline Training Services in Brampton, Ontario, Canada, where he worked as a CRJ Subject Matter Expert, Technical Instructor, and courseware developer. In this role, he delivered technical training courses across North America, Europe, and Africa for a range of commercial aircraft, including Boeing, Airbus, Bombardier, Cessna, LearJet, and Dornier. Returning to PCC in April 2015 as an instructor, he assumed the Department Chair position in 2021. His industry connections, including partnerships with Horizon Air, bolster the program's alignment with employer needs, contributing to strong employment outcomes for graduates in aviation maintenance roles.