People in Aviation

The U.S. Senate confirmed C.B. “Sully” Sullenberger III as the U.S. ambassador and representative of the U.S. before the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization. Famed for his role in the successful “Miracle on the Hudson” emergency landing, Sullenberger has been serving as a safety advocate, author, and keynote speaker, and is a former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot and retired airline pilot who has amassed more than 20,000 flight hours.

House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee chairman Peter DeFazio (D-Oregon), who made a mark as a strong and outspoken aviation safety, consumer, and labor advocate over his 36-year congressional career, has decided to retire at the end of this congressional term.  First elected to Congress in 1986, DeFazio is the 65th longest-serving member of the House in U.S. history and has been actively involved in the T&I Committee throughout his tenure, having served not only as chair of the full committee but also chair or ranking member of four of its six subcommittees, including aviation.

The International Association of Aircraft Dealers (IADA) named David Monacell to a one-year term as chairman and Zipporah Marmor as vice-chair. Monacell succeeds outgoing chairman Joe Carfagna, Jr., president and CEO of Leading Edge. Carfagna becomes chairman emeritus. Monacell is a partner in business aircraft broker CFSJets and has more than 20 years of private aviation sales experience. Marmor is v-p of aircraft transactions for Montreal-headquartered ACASS.

Hatt & Associates added Tyler Bowron as a new partner. Bowron, who has spent 14 years as a sales professional, previously was director of aircraft sales and acquisitions of QS Partners (formerly Cerretani Aviation) in Boulder, Colorado.

Jan Toschka was appointed president of Shell Aviation. She takes the role from Anna Mascolo, who is taking a position of senior v-p of acquisitions, divestments, and new business development at Shell’s Downstream business. Toschka joined Shell in 1998 and has leadership experience in energy transition, global marine, mobility, as well as wholesale energy businesses. 

Terrell Siegfried was elected president of the Aeronautical Repair Station Association. Siegfried, who takes the volunteer leadership position after serving on the organization’s board for three years, is assistant general counsel and corporate secretary for the Nordam Group.

CPI Aerostructures named Andrew Davis CFO. Davis has more than 30 years of experience in finance and accounting, previously serving as CFO of Altice Technical Services and also holding several senior-level executive positions, including CFO, at Emerson Radio Corporation.

Women in Aviation International named Stephanie Kenyon chief growth officer. Kenyon brings a background in nonprofit, humanitarian aid, and women’s initiatives working with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and Air Serv International.

Ciara Ruane has joined Avolon as chief people officer. Ruane has more than 20 years of human resources experience, most recently as group director of people and culture at Primark.

Jet Aviation appointed Jeremie Caillet as senior v-p of regional operations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Caillet has 15 years of aerospace industry experience and has held a number of roles since joining Jet Aviation in 2008, including within engineering, account management, project management, operations, and most recently as v-p of VIP completions.

Vertis Aviation appointed Daniella Dawson to the newly created position of head of sales as well as opened offices in Paris, led by Margaux Laplaine, and in Ljubljana, Slovenia led by Karmen Bukvic. Dawson has served with Vertis for more than four years and previously has held roles with VistaJet, World Fuel Services, and Ocean Sky. Laplaine formerly was with iXAir Business Jets and also has served with Helipass and British Airways, among others. Bukvic, meanwhile, joined Vertis from Elit’Avia where she had worked since 2012.

F/List named Mélanie Prince as head of innovation. Prince has served with F/List for 12 years, working in advanced research, engineering, certification, and systems engineering.

Airbus Helicopters named Christian Venzal managing director in Australia and New Zealand. A 30-year aerospace industry veteran, Venzal moves to the region from the company's headquarters in Marignane, France, where he was v-p of transversal coordination and business development and has had experience in general management, strategy, sales, customer relations, and procurement.

Mente Group named Jay Bushouse managing director for the Midwest region. Bushouse, a flight instructor and airline transport-rated pilot with more than 4,500 flight hours, previously served as a sales director for Textron Aviation, selling new Beechcraft and Cessna Citations, and also has been involved in sales and marketing, revenue management, and planning in the commercial real estate sector.

Jet Linx promoted Jay Vidlak to the newly created position of senior v-p aircraft. Vidlak, who began his career with Mayo Aviation, joined Jet Linx in 2002 as a flight scheduling coordinator and has held positions of increasing responsibility since, most recently as senior v-p.

Go Rentals hired Craig Anderson to serve as v-p of car rental revenue. Anderson has more than 25 years of experience with a major national rental car company. In addition, Go Rentals promoted Trissy Pickett to v-p of aviation development. Pickett, who previously was director of aviation development, has 22 years of general aviation experience, including nearly eight with Go Rentals. Meanwhile, Go Rentals named Catherine Kaminski as director of film and studio. Kaminski joined Go Rentals after heading up a specialized film and studio business. Also, Colleen Jones was promoted to v-p of human resources. Jones, who previously was director of human resources, has served with the business aviation car rental specialist for eight years.

Jet East hired David Grup to serve as v-p of sales. Grup, a former member of the U.S. Navy search and rescue team, has held maintenance roles with companies including Stevens Aviation and Textron Aviation and most recently was regional sales director for Constant Aviation.

ACC Aviation appointed Andreas Pericleous as v-p of business development. Pericleous brings 10 years of international aviation experience to ACC Aviation, previously spending five years leading business development for international brokerage and charter firm Cyprus.

Lori Knudson has joined AAR as v-p of chief ethics and compliance officer. Knudson, who began her career as an attorney, previously was senior v-p of compliance, risk, and internal audit for Aegion Corp.

Jeffrey Miller was named executive director for Chicago Executive Airport. Miller has more than a decade of airport management experience, most recently as the airport director at Laredo International Airport in Laredo, Texas.

The International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) has selected Steven Abreu-Hill as its new International Standard for Business Aircraft Handling (IS-BAH) audit manager. He succeeds Lawrence Fletcher, who is retiring after serving as audit manager for IS-BAO for the past 10 years, in addition for IS-BAH. Abreu-Hill, who has 16 years of combined experience in emergency response, safety, security, environmental, and SMS program development, helped coordinate emergency management programs for Houston Hobby Airport (HOU) and George Bush International Airport (IAH) and serves as an emergency management point of contact for FBOs at both airports.

Par Avion has hired Matthew Gahrmann as executive sales director. Gahrmann has a background as a commercial real estate broker, project manager, and analyst handling complex, capital-intensive projects and with a history of closing multimillion-dollar transactions.

Sun Air Jets appointed Edward Fares as director of operations. An airline transport-rated pilot with more than 11,000 flight hours, Fares has 20 years of aviation industry experience holding roles as a captain in the airline industry to various chief pilot and director of operations positions within business aviation.

Juan Gutierrez has joined Stevens Aerospace and Defense Systems as director of government business development. Gutierrez, who previously was v-p of business development for Physical Optics Corp, brings a U.S. Navy background to his new role previously serving as a Sikorsky H-60 pilot, officer in charge, and maintenance department head, as well as government flight test director, program manager, project officer, and various other posts.

Philippe Minot has joined Blueberry Aviation as commercial director of the Middle East. Minot brings more than 32 years of aerospace industry experience to his new role, most recently spending 15 years as head of sales for the Middle East for Airbus Helicopters and also formerly serving with Dassault Electronique and Thales.

Stevens Aerospace and Defense Systems appointed Ricky Vongsiprasom as maintenance director of its AOG division. Vongsiprasom joined Stevens in early 2018 as a technician on the AOG team and was later promoted to AOG team coordinator.

Heli-One hired Brent Vlasman to serve as customer support manager. Vlasman, who is based in Stavanger, has previously held a number of roles at Rolls-Royce and GE Aviation, most recently in a customer-facing position supporting the CT7 product line as well as the commercial rotorcraft field service team leader.

TrueNoord appointed Stephen Spillane as a technical manager in Dublin, Ireland. Spillane previously served as an engineering services specialist for CAE Parc Aviation.

Christy Hutchison joined Axis Jet as a flight operations specialist. Hutchison has more than 30 years of aviation industry experience, including 12 with XOJet as an operations business manager.

Ann Pollard has joined Duncan Aviation’s aircraft sales and acquisitions team. Pollard has more than 30 years of experience, previously holding positions in sales and acquisitions, charter and managed aircraft accounts, airport management, and FBO operations management.

Jerry Coots has joined Stevens Aerospace and Defense Systems as regional sales manager responsible for the upper Midwest states. Coots brings a background in sales, FBO operations, and as a corporate pilot in a variety of jet aircraft.

Awards and Honors

NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen and former Gulfstream and Bombardier executive Bryan Moss are among the International Air & Space Hall of Fame Class of 2021 honorees. 

Joining them in this year’s slate are: the Commemorative Air Force; Eileen Collins, the first female commander of the space shuttle and the first person to fly the shuttle to two different space stations; Apollo 16 lunar module pilot Charlie Duke, who became the youngest to walk on the surface of the moon on April 16, 1972; FedEx; and Dee O’Hara, who was the first aerospace nurse assigned to NASA’s first seven astronauts, the Mercury Seven, in 1959 and then participated in every launch in the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs.

Celebrated at the San Diego Air & Space Museum, the International Air & Space Hall of Fame has honored notable aerospace dignitaries since 1963. “Achievements in aviation and space, as embodied by the honorees in the International Air & Space Hall of Fame, directly represent the human pioneering and exploring spirit,” said Jim Kidrick, the museum's president and CEO. “We’re especially pleased to honor this exemplary Class of 2021 because these men and women are amongst the most talented figures in the history of air and space,”

Bolen has led NBAA since 2004 and before that spent eight years as president and CEO of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. He also had served as legislative director for former Sen. Nancy Kassebaum (R-Kansas), playing a key role in the passage of the General Aviation Revitalization Act. He has been appointed to a number of leading industry/government commissions and boards, including as a member of the FAA Management Advisory Council and the Commission on the Future of the U.S. Aerospace Industry.

Moss formerly was president and executive v-p of the aerospace group of General Dynamics, with responsibility for Gulfstream Aerospace. He previously served as president of the Bombardier’s business aircraft division and also had held roles with Lockheed-Georgia Company, selling various aircraft, including the Lockheed JetStar. Moss further had served on the Aerion board of directors.

The Wichita Aero Club (WAC) selected Ryan International founder and long-time corporate pilot Ron Ryan as the 11th recipient of its annual honor, the Wichita Aero Club Trophy. The award goes to a person or organization that maintains a strong relationship with the Wichita area and has effected exemplary achievements in aviation either during the most recent calendar year or through contributions to the aviation community across an entire career.

Ryan, who will be honored during WAC’s annual Gala on January 29 in Wichita, is being recognized for serving the global and local aviation community with “creative leadership, vision, and generosity,” according to the citation accompanying his nomination.

“Ron’s entire career in aviation has been marked by outstanding accomplishments and exceptional leadership,” said WAC president Dave Franson. “He is the embodiment of a creative, resourceful, and undaunted entrepreneur whose vision and unwavering commitment made him not just a great pilot but a true force in the local aviation community and around the world.”

Ryan, who earned his private, commercial, and instrument pilot ratings while working as a mechanical engineer at Western Electric, initially flew as a pilot for a military charter company before obtaining a Learjet type rating in 1966 and becoming a pilot with Mid-West Lear Jet in Kansas City. Ryan subsequently became a chief pilot for real estate company DeBoer & Associates and helped turn that flight department into a jet charter service company.

He purchased the company in 1976, renamed it Ryan Aviation Corp., and began operating a fueling and maintenance center at Wichita Mid-Continent Airport (now Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport). In 1981, he launched Ryan International Airlines and upgraded its Part 135 certificate to Part 121. He eventually expanded the operation into an international charter and cargo service with more than 2,500 employees and $350 million in annual sales. He sold the company in 2004.

Ryan also engages in significant philanthropic activities and serves on boards and committees of a number of organizations in Wichita.

Bombardier named Nick Verdea, director of aviation and corporate travel for The Williams Company in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as the 2021 recipient of the Safety Standdown Award. A certified aviation manager and global leadership professional, Verdea is a long-time Safety Standdown supporter and “has demonstrated exceptional safety leadership throughout his 25-year aviation career,” Bombardier said.

Bombardier, which recognized Verdea during its 25th annual Bombardier Safety Standdown in November in Wichita, presents the Safety Standdown Award annually to an aviation professional who has demonstrated exemplary dedication to improving aviation safety through the Safety Standdown principles of Learn, Apply, Share.

At The Williams Company, Verdea oversees the daily operations and a team of 13 that operates corporate aircraft. He personally has accrued more than 13,000 accident-free flight hours.

“Nick embodies precisely what the Safety Standdown Award stands for: celebrating individuals who are role models in the field and have made a real difference day-to-day. He is the ideal ambassador for our Safety Standdown mission,” said longtime Bombardier executive, Andy Nureddin, who has stewarded the Safety Standdown program.

MedAire founder and chair Joan Sullivan Garrett was enshrined into the National Aviation Hall of Fame during NBAA-BACE. Part of the class of 2020 that was inducted this year, Garrett was recognized as a visionary who pioneered telemedicine and founded the aviation industry’s first global remote medical emergency response company, MedAire.

Born into a family of nurses, Garrett received an associate’s degree in Nursing from Mesa Community College in 1978. As a single mother of two, she took a position as a critical-care registered flight nurse and chief medical officer. She became inspired to create MedAire after she saw a need while working on a helicopter evacuation flight in the San Tan Mountains for improved ways to respond to remote emergencies.

After founding MedAire in 1985, she called for higher standards for first responder training and improved medical supplies onboard. She also founded MedLink to provide the flight crew with the ability to contact ground-based medical assistance.

Final Flights

Business aviation groups paid tribute to former Senator and Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole following his passing on December 5 at the age of 98. The lawmaker, who represented Kansas in the U.S. Senate for 28 years and served as the majority and minority leader in the upper chamber for a combined 11 years, was born in Russell, Kansas, in 1923 and played football and basketball for the University of Kansas. However, Dole’s athletic and original ambitions to become a doctor were dashed after he suffered serious combat injuries in Italy while serving in the U.S. Army during World War II that took years for recovery, according to the Washington Post.

He initially served as a local county attorney following World War II before being elected to the U.S. House in 1960 and then the Senate in 1968. Dole, who was married to former Transportation Secretary and Sen. Elizabeth Dole, ended his Senate service in 1996 as he ran for president for his third and final attempt.

Following this time, he became busy consulting, public speaking and held roles chairing or co-chairing the advisory committee for the Veterans Airlift Command, the World War II Memorial Campaign, and a commission to investigate allegations of neglect and other issues at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, among other activities.

"Bob Dole was one of the greats from the greatest generation," said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen. "He was a leader for our country and a champion for our industry. We will miss this extraordinary statesman."

NBAA noted that during his time in the Senate, he remained a steadfast advocate for the state’s aviation industry, including business aircraft manufacturers. This included playing a key role in shepherding the General Aviation Revitalization Act through the legislative process in 1994, added General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) president and CEO Pete Bunce. “Senator Bob Dole is a true American hero and will always be regarded as the veterans’ veteran,” Bunce said. “He selflessly served his country for decades—on the battlefield, in the halls of Congress, and at the National World War II Memorial.”

Dole, who in 2018 became only the eighth U.S. Senator to receive the Congressional Gold Medal, also advocated for persons with disabilities. NBAA noted that last year, Dole became the inaugural chair of the Honor Flight Network, which is dedicated to sending veterans to see the national memorials in Washington, D.C.

Dole further led the World War II veteran delegation attending the Arsenal of Democracy WWII Victory Flyover commemorating the 70th anniversary of V-E Day on May 8, 2015, and followed as honorary co-chairman for the Arsenal of Democracy WWII 75th Commemorative Flyover events.