For Matt Pagano, lead aircraft mechanic with the Riverside Police Department Air Support Unit, what he does is not just a matter of professionalism and work ethic — it’s personal.
“I am very close to my pilots,” he said. “We are invited into one another’s homes for birthdays and other celebrations. I am therefore very aware that we mechanics hold their lives in our hands. I am entrusted with the responsibility of keeping our team mission-ready, and that never leaves my mind.”
That understanding is no doubt why Pagano received the Airborne Public Safety Association’s (APSA) Aviation Technical Specialist Award in 2025, which recognizes those who perform maintenance duties for a law enforcement agency at a level above and beyond what is normally expected. Pagano also received the Riverside PD Chief’s Commendation in 2024.
But Pagano’s dedication and excellence are matched by his humility and appreciation for those who have supported him.
“I don’t want to be in the spotlight,” he said. “I could not succeed in this position without the assistance of others. There are so many people who have supported — and continue to support — me, first and foremost Wayne Young, who hired and mentored me. I can’t thank them enough. I want everyone to know how fortunate I feel.”
Growing up with machines
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pagano developed an early love for hot rods and motorcycles. He spent much of his youth working on them, including a ’69 Camaro he still owns today. He also did plenty of street racing.
“I got a job at a garage, and they were all into street racing, too, and I learned a lot,” he explained recently on the Vertical MRO Podcast.
Pagano later joined the U.S. Marine Corps and took a suggestion to pursue an aviation Military Occupational Specialty (MOS). He worked on the Boeing CH-46 Sea Knight, and the precision and attention to detail the job demanded suited him well.
After leaving the Marine Corps in 1996, Pagano joined Hamilton Standard, working in blade quality control. The company paid for his airframe and powerplant (A&P) certification, which he earned by attending classes every weeknight for a year.
When Hamilton Standard closed in 2003, Pagano began looking for his next opportunity and applied for a position with Riverside PD. He was more than a little surprised by the outcome.
“During my interview, I said to Wayne and the panel, ‘I’ve never worked on the MD 500, and I want to make sure I haven’t misrepresented myself,’” he recalled. “After all the interviews and considering all the applicants, Wayne offered me the job. He took a chance on me, and I’m so grateful that he did.”
Young mentored Pagano on the MD 500 — Riverside PD operated four at the time — and he also learned to maintain the department’s Cessna T206. Over the following years, under Young’s mentorship, Pagano continued to hone his skills, so when major changes arrived in 2021, he was ready.
A new machine, a new era
In 2021, Young was set to retire. That same year, Riverside PD decided to transition from the MD 500 to the Airbus H125. Pagano therefore had to not only step into Young’s role, but also manage the massive transition.
“I needed to build a shop, stock parts, and get everything else in place,” he said. “Chief [Larry] Gonzales allowed me to build the shop the way I wanted it to be, and that meant a lot to me.”
Pagano was also grateful he could lean on others.
“The Airbus vendors made it easy to establish great relationships,” he said. “And Southern California is a hotbed for law enforcement aviation. There are a lot of H125s in use here. Luis Morales, the supervising mechanic, and Jose Rodriguez, senior mechanic at Riverside County Sheriff — they were instrumental in helping me learn the Airbus.
Dave Marquez and Mike Broderick, ‘The Rotor Doc,’ have also been mentors. The list is long. So many people have been helpful and giving, and I’m so grateful. I can’t say it enough.”
But the H125s’ heavy utilization — flying 1,000 to 1,200 hours each year — meant Pagano needed additional help in the shop. After a careful search, he hired junior mechanic Cristian Marquez in 2023.
When Marquez briefly left to pursue a career in law enforcement, Pagano found himself once again searching for the right fit — conducting dozens of interviews without success. So when Marquez asked to return in March 2026, Pagano was thrilled.
“We are ecstatic,” he said. “I’m really pleased that I’m able to continue working with him and mentoring him.”
Even now, Pagano continues to express deep gratitude for the support around him.
“I don’t feel like I deserve this,” he said. “The level of support I have received is unreal. Riverside PD is so professional and supportive — it’s like a family here. I am a lucky man.”
