FlightSafety International promoted two seasoned aviation veterans to the post of executive vice president yesterday. Nineteen-year FlightSafety employee David Davenport is now executive vice president of the commercial segment, while Raymond Johns, a 36-year U.S. Air Force veteran who joined the company last year, was named executive vice president of the government segment.
“We are very pleased to promote [David] Davenport,” said FlightSafety president and CEO Bruce Whitman. “He has continuously made significant contributions to FlightSafety’s business and commercial aircraft training programs. “David’s experience, industry knowledge, proven business abilities and commitment to enhance safety will help to ensure our position as the world leader in aviation training.”
Davenport’s responsibilities include management of the sales, marketing and operations organizations for FlightSafety’s business and commercial aircraft training. He joined FlightSafety in 1996 as assistant manager of the West Palm Beach (Fla.) learning center, rising through the ranks to become senior vice president before his latest promotion. He is a USAF veteran, graduating from the USAF Academy with a degree in business management. Davenport serves on the board of governors of the Wings Club and the Air Charter Safety Foundation, and is also a director of NBAA’s associate member advisory council.
Meanwhile, Whitman said that Johns’s experience serving in the USAF and his contributions to FlightSafety’s government training and simulation activities “are highly valued and appreciated.” In his new role overseeing the company’s global government business, he will lead the activities of FlightSafety Services; the design, manufacture and support of flight simulation equipment and visual systems; and the training services FlightSafety offers to government and military agencies around the world.
Johns, who retired as a USAF general on Jan. 1, 2013, commanded the Air Mobility Command at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois. His decorated military career also includes a stint as a White House Fellow; serving at the headquarters of the U.S. European Command and U.S. Pacific Command; commanding a test squadron, operations group and airlift wing; directing mobility forces for operations in Bosnia; overseeing strategic airlift operations in Iraq and Afghanistan; and serving as deputy chief of staff for strategic plans and programs at the USAF headquarters in Washington, D.C. He has logged more than 5,000 hours in 83 aircraft types. In addition, Johns was the chief test pilot and test program manager for the VC-25 Air Force One replacement program.