From Vietnam to the FAA, Tokarz has dedicated his life to aviation and aviation safety
HOLDEN — Peter Tokarz has been flying for years, and his recent retirement at 75 was preceded by recognition of his long career in aviation.
The Holden native received the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award, given for “Fifty Years of Dedicated Service in Aviation Safety,” in October. Awarded by the Federal Aviation Administration, it was followed Massachusetts certificate as well.
Tokarz said he had led “a very blessed life,” one that allowed him to keep his feet not on the ground, but in the air, even as he focused on safety in aviation.
“He is so highly committed to Holden,” where he was born and raised, said his sister, Theresa Timura. She noted his career was “a beautiful story. He has done so much for our community and is the most modest person I ever met.”
“I’m his biggest cheerleader,” she admitted, adding the award was “quite an accomplishment.”
His love of flying started early, Tokarz said.
“Growing up in Holden, I had many people who helped to influence my future life. My love of flying was first inspired by Father O’Leary, our priest at Saint Mary’s Church. He had a pilot’s license and invited me to go flying with him in a J-3 Piper Cub out of Worcester Airport. From that day on, I knew I wanted to be a pilot,” Tokarz said.
As a student at Wachusett Regional High School, “I developed a great deal of admiration for Scott Ljungberg, a history teacher. He had served in the Marine Corps during the Korean War. He was seriously wounded during that war, and ended up being wheelchair-bound. He had a great personality and a positive attitude. My conversations with him inspired me to join the Marine Corps right out of high school.”
Tokarz enlisted in the Marines in August of 1967, graduated from training, and served in Vietnam from February 1968 to March 1969. Assigned to the 3rd Marine Division, 9th Marines, Mike Company, 2nd Platoon, he arrived at the start of the Tet Offensive and was involved in a total of 17 major combat operations, “during which time most of my fellow Marines were either killed or wounded.
“I felt lucky to have survived, and credited the many pilots, both fixed-wing and helicopter, who flew into danger to assist and save the soldiers on the ground. I vowed then and there that I was going to become a pilot,” Tokarz said.
When he returned from the service, he began working for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts during the day, taking courses toward his bachelor’s degree at night and taking flight lessons on the weekends.
“To gain additional flight training, I joined the Reserves and the National Guard, where I flew helicopters. I eventually became a civil engineer with the state, supervising various construction projects in the Boston area.”
One of his favorite projects was working as the assistant resident engineer during the construction of the Dr. Paul Dudley White Bike path along the Charles River.
“I took early retirement from the state in 1982 in order to focus on aviation. What had begun mainly as a hobby became my career,” Tokarz said.
“My experiences in aviation have been very diverse. I have been a flight instructor, an airport owner (partner at Sterling Airport), an airline pilot for Pilgrim Airlines, owner of Worcester Airport’s Fixed Base Operations, director and chief pilot for Parker Manufacturing Flight Department, owner of Corporate Flight Department (Worcester Airport), director of operations for a 135 Corporate Operation in Florida, and most recently an aviation safety inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration.
During that time, he earned many Aviation Flight ratings and type ratings in both fixed-wing and helicopter aircraft.
Tokarz worked as an FAA aviation safety inspector for 27 years, retiring in October 2022.
“Working out of offices in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Arizona and (Washington) D.C., my responsibilities have been both foreign and domestic.”
His work took him to places around the world.
“I have had the opportunity to work in the U.S., Europe, Central and South America, the British Isles, South Asia and the Middle East. Committee work took me to Tanzania. I have spent extensive time in Dubai, managing the CAE Flight training Center and in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where I was responsible for pilot training and credential review. It eventually became too dangerous to perform those duties onsite,” Tokarz said.
“Throughout my career, whether in the private sector or as an FAA Inspector, I have always emphasized the importance of following the FAA and ICAO (International) Standards and Regulations. I have tried not to just enforce the rules but to assist individuals, companies, and countries to improve their aviation practices.”
His time in the service came back to him years later with a chance encounter.
“One of the most meaningful moments of my life happened unexpectedly when I was working in the Bedford, Massachusetts, FAA Office in 2001. A colleague mentioned that a fellow inspector, Ken Cook, had been a Marine Corps fighter pilot in Vietnam. I approached Ken and told him how grateful I was for the bravery of Army and Marine Corps pilots who served in Vietnam.
“I specifically mentioned April of 1968, during Operation Kentucky, when we were being ambushed and had to call in fighter aircraft to drop napalm. I remembered one aircraft had made numerous runs, was then hit, and the pilot had to parachute out of the aircraft, landing in the sea.
“The following Monday, Ken came over to show me his logbook, which proved that he had been that pilot. I gave him a hug and told him, ‘Thanks for saving my life!’ We have remained friends ever since,” Tokarz said.
About his recent honor, the Wright Brothers award, he is deservedly proud.
“In October 2022, just prior to my retirement, I had the honor of being awarded the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award. This award ‘is to recognize individuals who have exhibited exemplary aviation expertise, distinguished professionalism, and steadfast commitment for at least 50 years of piloting experience or 50 or more years combined experience in both piloting and aircraft operations.’
“I received the award during a virtual ceremony attended by friends, family and FAA personnel. I was also honored to have Lt. Gov. Karen Polito participate in the ceremony. I was very pleased to have all of their support,” Tokarz said.
“Also in October, I was awarded two Governor’s Citations, one in recognition of the Wright Brothers Award and the other to recognize my service to the FAA and to the country, particularly my service in Vietnam,” he said.
“Although we don’t do the job expecting to get praise, these awards have been very much appreciated after years of service and sacrifice.”
