Industry stalwart Richard "Dick" Van Gemert, whose business aviation career spanned five decades and who was renowned for his operational and safety management leadership passed away on June 16.
“In a word, Dick Van Gemert was magnanimous, giving freely of his time and expertise in lifting the industry to ever-higher standards of safety and success,” said National Air Transportation Association president and CEO Curt Castagna. “Many strive to make real change and a lasting impression within their communities, but few ever achieve the profound effect that Dick Van Gemert had on the business aviation industry.”
NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen expressed similar sentiments: “Throughout his decades-long career, Dick advanced the state of operational excellence in business aviation, and brought that dedication to all aspects of his profession. His passion for the industry will long be remembered, and he will be greatly missed.”
Van Gemert, who had received a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the University of Michigan and later graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton Business School’s senior executive program, began his flying career in 1960 with the U.S. Navy, where he spent five years and rose to the rank of lieutenant.
In 1966, he earned the Convair Naval Aviation Award for Excellence and transitioned into business aviation with Xerox, where he would remain for the next 23 years. He joined the flight department as a first officer, became chief pilot two years later, and subsequently became manager of flight operations, manager of Xerox travel services, and director of the company’s General Services division. During his tenure with Xerox, he received the Ziff-Davis Corporate Pilot of the Year Award for his leadership in integrating modern management practices into corporate aviation.
He later moved over to Kimberly-Clark, leading K-C Transportation Services, which was an integrated supplier of transportation services for the corporate market. After the aviation services company was sold in 1996, Van Gemert helped found—and served as president of—New World Jet, which provides Part 135 certificate management services for business jet operators. In 2006, he joined Jet Aviation Holdings U.S. as senior v-p.
Van Gemert was actively involved in numerous associations, including as chair of the International Flight Safety Foundation Corporate Advisory Board, member of the NBAA board of directors, member of the NATA business management committee, chairman of the noise abatement committee of the Westchester Pilots Association and the Westchester Airport Advisory Committee, and a governor of the International Flight Safety Foundation, among others.
Castagna underscored Van Gemert’s impact on the industry: “NATA and its membership have benefited tremendously from the strategy and foundation set by Dick. He was a visionary, always thinking ahead to where the industry needed to be in an ever-changing environment and aligning its immense value with its potential for growth. Our hearts and thoughts are with his family and countless industry friends and colleagues as we all pay tribute to his memory by carrying on his legacy of dedication to elevated aviation service, standards, and safety.”
In 2009, both NATA and NBAA honored Van Gemert—the former with the Ong Memorial Award and the latter with the John P. “Jack” Doswell Award—in recognition of his commitment to excellence in business aviation. Both awards were among the associations’ highest honors.
“In 1969, Jack Doswell and I shared offices in White Plains [at Westchester County Airport]. We had many late-night discussions on the future of business aviation and how it would have to be ever-changing to continue to succeed,” Van Gemert told AIN upon receiving the NBAA recognition. “After 50 years in the industry, this one has been very rewarding—I received the NATA Ong Memorial Award and now the NBAA Doswell Award. I just hope that I, too, have been able to help raise the standards of this industry in the same manner that Jack did. If I have been successful, it will be measured in the accomplishments of those that I have had the privilege to work with over the years.”