James Viola took the reins of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) on March 20, becoming the trade group’s sixth president and CEO since its founding in 1970. Viola most recently headed up Vertical Aviation International (VAI, née Helicopter Association International) and succeeds Pete Bunce, who has led GAMA since 2005. Viola had served as VAI’s president and CEO since 2020, representing and supporting the global helicopter industry and other vertical aviation stakeholders.
The White House selection of long-time Republic Airways president Bryan Bedford to become the next FAA Administrator is drawing industry praise as he is considered “exceptionally well-suited for the role.” President Trump announced the nomination on March 17, noting that Bedford “brings over three decades of experience in aviation and executive leadership to this critical position.” Bedford would step into the position vacated ahead of the presidential inauguration in January by former FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker. The position is currently being held on an acting basis by former NBAA COO Chris Rocheleau. Bedford has led Republic since July 1999 as president and CEO after serving in the same roles at Mesaba Holdings and Business Express Airlines.
Steven Bradbury assumed the office of U.S. deputy secretary of transportation after the White House nominated him for the role in January. He previously served as DOT general counsel under the first Trump administration and then briefly as acting deputy secretary and acting secretary of transportation.
Gulfstream Aerospace named Courtney Valentine as senior v-p and general counsel, taking effect May 5, following the retirement of Ira Berman. Valentine previously served as assistant general counsel and chief anti-corruption compliance officer at Gulfstream and more recently was assistant general counsel and director at parent company General Dynamics.
JSSI appointed Ben Hockenberg as chief investment officer. Hockenberg has worked for the company since 2020 as COO and as president of JSSI Parts & Leasing. Tim Elberfeld, who has served as JSSI’s CFO since 2022, has now taken on the COO title. JSSI also hired Andreas Mauritzson as executive v-p of JSSI Aviation Capital. Mauritzson previously served as president and COO at XOJet Aviation and as v-p of business strategy at Sun Air Jets.
JSSI’s Sean McGeough was chosen by the International Aircraft Dealers Association (IADA) board members as chair of the IADA Foundation Board. McGeough has held executive positions with companies such as Airbus Corporate Jets, Wheels Up, and Nextant Aerospace.
Vinnie Venditto was named executive v-p and general manager for Yingling Aviation. Venditto served in the U.S. Air Force before starting his career as an avionics technician and has since served as director of maintenance at Global Wings and as service center operations manager at Gulfstream. Yingling also hired Jason Cohen as executive v-p of sales. Cohen’s 30-plus years of experience in aviation includes playing a key role in launching West Star Aviation’s Bombardier program. Additionally, Tommi Krell joined Yingling as v-p of marketing and communications. Krell previously worked for Jet Aviation as head of global MRO marketing.
Mike Francis was tapped as the head of aircraft finance at Citi Private Bank. His 20-plus years of private aviation experience include working for SVB Private Wealth/First Citizens Wealth, First Republic Bank, 1st Source Bank, and CIT Bank.
FDH Aero named Ian Walsh CEO, taking over from Scott Tucker, who now serves as non-executive chairman. Walsh was recently CEO, chairman, and president of Kaman Aerospace.
Electra Aero appointed Donn Yates as v-p of government programs. Yates served in the military for 25 years before working in the private sector as COO of FlyExclusive and, more recently, as v-p of air dominance business development and strategy for Boeing’s defense, space, and security division.
Duncan Aviation tapped Marc Anderson as a completions and modifications sales representative based at its Provo, Utah MRO. Anderson has been with the company since 2011, working in material services and project management. Jeremy Rangel was named Duncan’s v-p of maintenance for its MRO facility in Lincoln, Nebraska. Rangel recently managed more than 250 technicians as the company’s airframe services manager. Duncan also hired Mike Lewis as its new regional manager for the south/central U.S., including Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Texas. Lewis’ experience in aviation spans more than three decades, including working for FlightSafety, StandardAero, Collins Aerospace, and Gogo Business Aviation. Additionally, Keith Pecko was promoted to FBO services manager at Duncan’s Provo, Utah facility. Pecko began working at Duncan Aviation in December 2018 as a line service representative.
Charles “Chuck” Wade has taken on the role of senior v-p of product, sales, and customer excellence at Enstrom Helicopter Corporation. Wade’s four decades of experience in aviation include 24 years at Collins Aerospace, most recently as avionics market manager/director.
Jennifer Trock joined the law firm Morgan Lewis as a partner in Washington, D.C. Trock recently served as chair of Baker McKenzie’s global aviation group and was the leader of its advanced air mobility team.
Innovative Advantage (IA) has appointed Nestor Fenoy as director of customer solutions and Katie Morris as customer solutions lead. Fenoy’s 15-plus years of experience in the aviation industry includes working at Collins Aerospace as senior engineer manager in the cabin systems department. Morris was promoted from her previous role as senior embedded software engineer at IA.
VAI elected five board members under the organization’s restructured governance framework. New board members will begin their three-year term on July 1. Representing small commercial/private vertical aircraft operators are Jan Becker of Swashplate in Queensland, Australia, and Chris Baur of Hughes Aerospace Corporation in Texas. David McColl of LiveWire Aviation in Florida and Brandi Rector of Semper Fly Helicopters in Oklahoma will represent medium commercial/private operators on VAI’s board of directors. NASA’s Stephen Lee is the fifth new board member, representing government service operators.
Robert Reguero has taken on the role of deputy head of the Latin America region at Rotortrade. He brings almost 26 years of helicopter industry experience, including working at American Eurocopter, Airbus Helicopters, Avinco, Era Group (now Bristow), and PhilJets.
Thornton Aviation hired Don Milum as its chief revenue officer. Previously, he led the global sales team for Textron Aviation’s network of 23 factory-owned service centers.
Titan Aviation Fuels tapped Kathy Moss as v-p of global business development. Moss has advocated for FBOs, handlers, and aviation professionals throughout her career, enhancing customer service training and executing strategic marketing plans.
Mathew Riley was selected as the regional lead for aviation in North America for Turner & Townsend, a professional services company. Riley’s three decades of leadership experience in aviation include serving as COO of Ramboll Group.
Boston JetSearch hired Juan Henao as market researcher. Henao previously worked at Air Bear Aviation as director of business operations and senior maintenance technician.
Redbird Flight has elected Pete Bunce to its board of directors. Bunce, president and CEO of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association for the past 20 years, retired in April.
Andrew Pearce joined DC Aviation as group maintenance sales consultant. Pearce has held multiple positions within airlines, as well as business jet operations, sales, acquisition, management, and maintenance providers.
Keir Brown is now general manager for Eye in the Sky, which provides cockpit video and flight data recording solutions. Brown’s prior experience includes working in aviation sales and business development.
Mary Carroll Cannon joined OneCall Flight Dispatch as its newest licensed dispatcher. Cannon has experience in flight dispatching for FAR Part 121, 135, and 91 flight operations.
Air Ambulances UK appointed Sarah Thewlis as chair of its board of trustees. Thewlis previously established an executive search and consultancy firm that specializes in regulatory organizations and the not-for-profit sector. She has also held leadership roles at the Royal College of Physicians, Royal College of General Practitioners, and Nursing and Midwifery Council.
Awards and Honors
NBAA honored two industry luminaries who retired from long-time positions in April: GAMA president and CEO Pete Bunce and Signature Aviation corporate v-p of industry and government affairs Mary Miller. During an event held at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen presented an award to Bunce recognizing his decades of industry advocacy and leadership, as well as a Silk Scarf Award to Miller for her years of service to the industry. Bunce has retired after 20 years of leading GAMA, where he steered the association through dramatic expansion, both in region and in scope, and advocated on a range of pressing industry issues. Miller, meanwhile, has had a career spanning more than 40 years, serving in her current position since 2010.
VAI presented Clemente Samson a letter of recognition on March 16 for his achievements in the industry, including training apprentices and maintenance technicians. Samson, currently with Heli-One in Richmond, Canada, has served as an aircraft maintenance technician for 49 years.