Lindsey Gamell: Reimagining Recovery and Repair in Aviation
In the dynamic world of aviation, where timing is critical and precision is non-negotiable, few professionals exemplify operational excellence like Lindsey Gamell. As the Director of Operations for Major Repairs and Aircraft Recovery at FEAM Aero, Lindsey’s name has become synonymous with speed, safety, and problem-solving under pressure. From technical mastery to crisis leadership, her journey offers a compelling blueprint for building resilient aviation systems in an unpredictable world.
From Passion to Profession: The Making of a Leader
Lindsey’s aviation journey was never a coincidenceit was a calling. With an early fascination for the mechanics of flight and the behind-the-scenes operations that keep the aviation industry aloft, she pursued a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Security from the prestigious Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. That academic foundation laid the groundwork for a career deeply rooted in regulation, safety protocols, and the dynamic environment of airport operations.
Her transition from academia to hands-on operational leadership wasn’t linear. Lindsey started with smaller roles that gradually expanded to include oversight of compliance, maintenance protocols, and crisis logistics. Each chapter brought new challengesfrom coordinating emergency landings to optimizing operational workflows for international repairs.
The turning point in her career came when she joined FEAM Aero, one of the largest MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) companies in the United States. Here, she found a platform to implement her vision: an agile, responsive, and highly trained team capable of handling major repairs and aircraft recoveries across the globe.
Redefining Aircraft Recovery: Strategy in Motion
In an industry where any disruption can cost millions in downtime and logistics, Lindsey leads FEAM’s Major Repair and Recovery (MRR) division with military-level precision. One of the most notable instances under her command was the high-stakes recovery of an Airbus A320 at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. The aircraft had skidded off a taxiway amid icy conditionsa situation that could have ended in catastrophe. Instead, under Lindsey’s guidance, FEAM’s MRR crew executed a swift and damage-free recovery, while maintaining full regulatory compliance and client transparency.
It’s not an isolated success. In the last 24 months alone, Lindsey’s teams have executed over 30 successful recovery missions in locations ranging from Marrakesh to Madrid, Johannesburg to Guadalajara. Each assignment carries its own complexitiesgeopolitical barriers, time zone differences, limited access to recovery gearbut Lindsey thrives in those complexities. She believes that logistical excellence stems from cultural empathy, strategic foresight, and constant scenario training.
Under her leadership, FEAM Aero has made substantial investments in cutting-edge recovery equipment, including multi-sling systems, hydraulic lifting tools, de-bogging kits, and partnerships with crane services across the U.S. More importantly, she has championed a culture of readinessher teams undergo simulation-based training to ensure they can handle not only technical breakdowns but environmental and human challenges that accompany large-scale recovery operations.
Engineering Systems, Not Just Solutions
Lindsey doesn’t just react to crisesshe builds systems to preempt them. As an operations strategist, she has implemented company-wide protocols for incident escalation, reporting accuracy, and regulatory compliance that are now viewed as internal gold standards. Every repair project, no matter how routine or urgent, follows a framework of layered safety, process accountability, and stakeholder communication.
“Consistency doesn’t happen by accident,” she says. “It comes from building operational muscle through practice, policy, and people.”
That operational muscle has turned FEAM Aero into a preferred partner for aviation clients requiring critical recovery services. Airlines, airport authorities, and private aircraft owners rely on Lindsey’s leadership to return aircraft to service quickly, safely, and with minimal disruption to schedules and supply chains.
Her emphasis on data transparency has also been a game-changer. By integrating real-time analytics and post-repair diagnostics into recovery operations, she ensures that every project becomes a learning loopimproving accuracy, reducing risks, and setting new benchmarks for response time.
Empowering People and Championing Culture
For Lindsey, leadership isn’t just about managing outcomesit’s about empowering teams. She leads with empathy, integrity, and a commitment to inclusion. Her teams are cross-functional and geographically diverse, composed of technicians, logistics managers, engineers, and regulatory experts. What unites them, she says, is a shared mission and mutual respect.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Lindsey played a key role in adapting FEAM Aero’s emergency response operations. With limited staff availability, travel restrictions, and heightened safety protocols, the pressure was immense. Yet, under her guidance, the MRR division maintained business continuity, innovated remote coordination techniques, and even grew its client base during a period when most organizations were scaling down.
Mentorship is another cornerstone of her philosophy. Lindsey regularly mentors young professionals entering aviation, particularly women looking to break into leadership roles in a traditionally male-dominated sector. She’s spoken at industry panels, contributed to online aviation platforms, and appeared as a guest on aviation and leadership podcasts. Her own podcast, “JetFuel in the Morning,” is a creative outlet where she shares industry insights, operational anecdotes, and candid conversations with other aviation trailblazers.
Bridging Operations with Advocacy
Lindsey’s influence also extends into policy and community engagement. She collaborates with aviation safety boards, MRO associations, and training institutes to standardize recovery procedures and promote career development programs.
Through these partnerships, she advocates for:
- Expanded access to aviation operations training
- Updated regulatory frameworks for international aircraft recovery
- Enhanced inclusion policies in hiring and promotion practices
Her advocacy is grounded in her own journeynavigating the corridors of operational leadership while remaining deeply connected to the challenges faced by frontline teams.
Driving Innovation in MRO Strategy
Looking to the future, Lindsey is passionate about embedding technology deeper into aviation maintenance and recovery. She sees opportunities in predictive analytics, augmented reality repair training, and drone-assisted aircraft inspections. By leveraging these tools, her vision is to create faster, safer, and more transparent recovery workflows.
Additionally, Lindsey is currently leading FEAM’s initiative to digitize the full lifecycle of major repairsfrom incident capture and technician dispatch to equipment tracking and client reporting. This digital twin strategy allows for better documentation, remote oversight, and real-time compliance alerts.
“Technology will never replace human judgment,” she says, “but it can make it sharper, faster, and more collaborative.”
Recognition and Industry Impact
While she shies away from the spotlight, Lindsey’s work hasn’t gone unnoticed. She’s been profiled in multiple aviation and leadership publications for her trailblazing role in aircraft recovery. She’s also received internal recognition at FEAM Aero for her strategic innovation, mentorship, and crisis leadership.
Industry peers often cite her ability to turn setbacks into success stories. Her approach to recovery isn’t just about mechanical repairsit’s about rebuilding trust with passengers, partners, and regulators alike.
Words to Remember
To those aspiring to join or grow within the aviation industry, Lindsey offers this:
“Know your craft. Respect the process. And never lose sight of the people behind the procedures.”
She adds, “Your reputation is built not when things go right, but in how you respond when they go wrong.”
Final Thought
Lindsey Gamell is more than a Director of Operations. She’s a systems thinker, cultural leader, and crisis strategist shaping the future of aviation recovery. Her story reminds us that innovation isn’t just found in hangars and recovery sitesit’s in the people who lead with precision, resilience, and heart.
Through every project, every mission, and every challenge, Lindsey proves one thing again and again: in aviation, leadership at ground level can lift an entire industry.