North Kohala Detailer Selected for Third Time to Restore Historic Air Force One Aircraft
North Kohala Detailer Selected for Third Time to Restore Historic Air Force One Aircraft
KAPAAU, HI July 10, 2025 Robin Marquez, owner of Signature Auto Detail Hawaii, LLC, has once again been selected to join an elite group of professional detailers entrusted with the preservation of one of America’s most iconic aircraft — Air Force One. This marks Marquez’s third invitation to the prestigious Air Force One Detailing Project at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington, taking place this year from July 6-13.
Marquez is part of a carefully chosen team of 37 skilled detailers across the country who will spend a week restoring and maintaining the presidential jet known as SAM (Special Air Missions) 970 — the original Air Force One that transported Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon. The aircraft, retired and displayed at the museum’s open-air Aviation Pavilion, endures constant exposure to Seattle’s damp climate and requires regular preservation work to prevent deterioration.
“This project represents more than just detailing,” said Marquez. “It’s about honoring our country’s history and doing my part to protect something bigger than myself. I have many family members who have served in the military, including my father, Robert Marquez, who served in the Navy, and my brother Kyle Marquez, who retired from the Air Force — this is my way of serving in my own capacity. To be asked back a third time is incredibly humbling.”
Founded in 2012, Signature Auto Detail Hawaii is a mobile business serving the Big Island’s North Kohala, Waimea, Honoka‘a, Waikoloa, and Kohala Coast communities. Marquez trained under industry leader Renny Doyle of Detailing Success in 2018 and was first selected for the Air Force One project in 2019. The finishing team he joins this year is a smaller, specialized group within the project, reserved for returning veterans tasked with intricate aluminum restoration work on Air Force One and other historic aircraft.
Renny Doyle, master detailer and industry leader, who began the project in 2003 after being approached by the George W. Bush administration, continues to lead the initiative. When asked about the qualities he looks for in detailers during the selection process, he said: “The main quality is dedication to team and family. Our group is all about loyalty, dedication to family, dedication to one another, community, and to providing quality craftsmanship to the markets we service.”
“Robin is not just a team member, he is a leader and sets not just the standards for quality but also is a steward of solid performance while conducting himself at the highest levels morally and ethically,” added Doyle. “He is a true leader and an amazing friend to us all.”
The restoration effort also includes several additional aircraft of historical importance, such as the Concorde Alpha Golf,the first Boeing 727 and 747 jets, a WWII B-29 Superfortress, and the Lockheed Super Constellation Connie. Over the past two decades, the project has evolved through new techniques, technology, and collaboration with sponsors and the Museum of Flight. The project is currently underway, and according to Doyle, “This year’s project is going amazingly well. The quality we are seeing is over the top and far above expectations.”
“I’m proud to represent Hawai‘i at this level,” Marquez added. “It’s physically demanding work, but the sense of purpose and camaraderie keeps me coming back.”
