Story ID: 003
People in Aviation, July 2025
By: Jessica Reed
Caption:  Sheryl Barden to receive NBAA’s  Doswell Award , former GAMA CEO Pete Bunce  multiple awards
Word Count: 1746
Patrick Peng was appointed as Embraer China’s managing director and senior v-p of sales and marketing for commercial aviation. Peng’s 20-plus years of experience in the aviation industry include working at Airbus, GE Aviation/CFM, Thales, and Safran.
The Blackhawk Group tapped Charlie Love as president of the company’s Performance Center Network. Love’s 25-plus years of experience includes serving as director of business operations at ACHI and as general manager at an Embraer MRO facility.
A new executive leadership team has been established at Cirrus Aviation Services. Eric Grilly, appointed as the company’s president, brings experience as president of resident shows for Cirque du Soleil and as CEO of VStar Entertainment Group. Gary Reinert takes on the position of CFO, having recently served as CFO of May Manufacturing and Morito Scovill Americas. Brian Kip, now chief marketing officer at Cirrus, was a co-founder of marketing agency SKC Group. Travis Turner was hired as Cirrus’ v-p of guest experiences. Turner founded both The Emergent Group and Luxe Lifestyle Managers and brings experience in hospitality and luxury lifestyle management.
Jennifer Jewett, controller at Jetcraft, was promoted to senior v-p of finance. She played a significant role in the company’s previous integration of Corporate Fleet Services (CFS Jets), and her prior experience focused on the finance sector. Philip Baer was also named Jetcraft’s sales director for the U.S. South Central, including Arkansas, Arizona, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. Baer brings two decades of experience working for NetJets and NetJets Europe. Jetcraft Commercial brought Anton Õnnik onboard as v-p of sales for Europe following Jim Sorokan’s retirement. Õnnik’s 20-plus years of industry experience include senior leadership roles at Xfly and Estonian Air.
Electra Aero hired Max Ochoa as CFO. Ochoa’s 20-plus years of experience includes working at Satelles as CFO and general counsel and holding leadership roles at companies such as Alation, Turn, Adify, and TiVo.
Stephen West was named president of Premier Private Jets’ charter division. West was formerly president and CEO of Ultimate Jets and has also worked for Sentient Jet and Raytheon Travelair.
Jets MRO tapped Ron Jennings as v-p of sales. Jennings brings more than three decades of aviation experience, including senior leadership roles at Elliott Aviation, C&L Aviation Group, and Premier Aviation Services.
The International Aircraft Dealers Association named Brendan Lodge regional director of the UK/EU and international markets; he is the association’s first Europe-based staff member. Lodge’s 25-plus years of experience include aircraft sales, acquisitions, financing, and valuation appraisal.
Juan Hernandez was promoted to v-p of field support at Gulfstream Aerospace. He has been with the company since 1998 and joined the technical operations team in 2008.
Southern Sky Aviation appointed Ralph Crosby as v-p of business development. Crosby’s 20-plus years of experience include fractional and jet card sales, as well as business jet sales.
Justin Merkling, manager of the engine shop at Duncan Aviation’s facility in Battle Creek, Michigan, was promoted to manager of customer service effective July 1. Luke Swager takes on the position of engine shop manager. Swager has been a part of the customer service team for two decades.
Jessica Litz-Rowden, previously manager of chapter relations for Women in Aviation International, is now serving as director for the New Mexico State Aviation Division. Litz-Rowden previously worked at Cutter Aviation for 17 years.
USAIG v-p and claims manager Robert Kehoe was promoted to senior v-p and will manage the aviation insurance company’s hull loss claims division. John Watson, USAIG’s senior v-p for hull loss claims, also received a promotion to field claims office manager.
Vertical Aerospace has appointed three new executives to its board: James Keith Brown, Kris Haber, and Carsten Stendevad. Brown, a senior advisor at Thrive Capital, was formerly a founding partner at Och-Ziff Capital Management, and was senior managing partner and head of the operating committee at Coatue Management. Haber is CEO and founder of investment firm Vega Partners and brings more than three decades of experience in corporate finance and business development. Stendevad, partner and co-chief investment officer for sustainable investing at Bridgewater Associates, previously served as CEO of ATP, Denmark’s national pension plan.
Pete Carroll was tapped as director of operations at Jet Access. Carroll previously held leadership roles at Pacific Coast Jet and MidAmerica Jet and is a pilot with more than 6,700 hours of flight time.
Martin Hofacker was named managing director of Invicta Finance, a business jet and super yacht finance specialist. Hofacker previously managed his own consultancy specializing in debt arrangements and also held several leadership roles at Credit Suisse.
NBAA U.S. Southeast region director Greg Voos retired after 11 years of service at the association. Voos previously worked for Delta Air Lines for 17 years, supervising crew tracking, and later served as Home Depot’s aviation office manager.
The NBAA announced that Cook Flight Operations aircraft captain Doug Rock has become the 1,000th aviation professional to receive the Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) designation. Rock, who has two decades of experience as a corporate pilot, pursued the certification to expand his knowledge base and enhance his decision-making capabilities.
 
Awards and Honors
The board of governors of the Aero Club of Washington is honoring two aviation industry leaders with the 2025 Donald D. Engen Aero Club Trophy for Aviation Excellence. Mary Miller, former v-p of industry and government affairs at Signature Aviation, began her aviation career in 1981 as a customer service representative at Butler Aviation, an FBO at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA). After the events of 9/11, Miller helped to develop the TSA’s Access Standard Safety Protocol program and played a central role in reopening KDCA for business and general aviation in 2005. Also recognized with the Engen Trophy this year is Pete Bunce. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1979 until 2005, at which time he was appointed president and CEO of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. He established the association’s Electric Propulsion and Innovation Committee, and his legislative affairs efforts led to the implementation of the Small Airplane Revitalization Act.
In addition, Pete Bunce and the entire GAMA team have received the National Aviation Hall of Fame’s 2025 Milton Caniff Spirit of Flight Award. During Bunce's tenure as the former GAMA president and CEO, the association promoted the societal benefits of general aviation while advocating for safety, workforce development, and innovation.
Sheryl Barden, CEO of Aviation Personnel International, will receive NBAA’s 2025 John P. “Jack” Doswell Award at the NBAA-BACE convention in Las Vegas in October. Barden is a certified aviation manager and has served on NBAA’s board of directors, as well as chaired the association’s advisory council.
Louis Pepper, formerly CEO of Atlantic Aviation and currently a member of its board, received the Living Legends of Aviation Kenn Ricci Lifetime Aviation Entrepreneur Award. Pepper previously served as president of Million Air and has been part of Atlantic Aviation for nearly 25 years.
The Air Traffic Control Association will present Michael Huerta with the Glen A. Gilbert Memorial Award, its highest honor, during a ceremony in October. Huerta was the longest-serving administrator of the FAA, taking on the role of deputy administrator in 2010 and serving a five-year term as administrator from 2013 to 2018, during which time he supported implementation of the safety management system framework. He was a leader on the FAA’s Safety Review Team in 2023, and he is currently a board member of Delta Air Lines, Verra Mobility, and Joby Aviation.
Retired U.S. Air Force test pilot Charlie Precourt received the Flight Safety Foundation’s 2025 Business Aviation Meritorious Service Award. Precourt, a four-time space shuttle astronaut, is also an aviation safety champion, an NBAA board member, and chair of the Citation Jet Pilots safety committee.
Final Flight
James Edward “Jim” Schuster, who led the turnaround of Raytheon Aircraft and its transition to Hawker Beechcraft in the 2000s, passed away on Thursday, May 8, in Wichita. He was 72.
Under Schuster’s leadership from 2001 to 2008, the Wichita-based OEM implemented sweeping changes that revitalized the struggling aircraft manufacturer. When appointed chairman and CEO in 2001, Schuster inherited a company facing severe financial challenges, with operating cash flow consuming nearly $1 billion in the three years prior to his arrival.
Schuster quickly took decisive action, implementing cost reductions while simultaneously reorganizing the senior leadership team. He restructured the executive ranks in 2001 and implemented the Six Sigma manufacturing quality improvement process throughout the organization. Soon after taking the helm, Schuster moved from the company’s plush headquarters to “Mahogany Row” in Plant One, where hourly employees could see him through his open office door.
During his nearly eight-year tenure, Schuster led the rebranding effort that reinvigorated the Hawker and Beechcraft names, a move that facilitated the company’s transition from Raytheon Aircraft to Hawker Beechcraft when Raytheon sold the company to Goldman Sachs and Onex in 2007.
His leadership resulted in record order backlogs in his final years at the helm, expanded global operations, certification of 19 new aircraft, and increased government and special-mission aircraft sales. Upon announcing his retirement in November 2008, Hawker Beechcraft chairman Sanjeev Mehra described Schuster as “a true leader who has positioned Hawker Beechcraft atop general aviation.”
 
Phil Michel, who served as v-p of marketing at Cessna Aircraft from 1975 to 2007, passed away on Sunday at the age of 85.
Born on July 11, 1939, in Bronxville, New York, Michel earned a bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University in 1964. His early career included roles in advertising and public relations, with positions at The Evening Star, Lewis & Dobrow Advertising, American Motors, and Hilti U.S.A.
Michel joined Cessna in 1975 as v-p of marketing, a position he held for nearly 32 years. During his tenure, he played a significant role in promoting Cessna’s aircraft lineup, contributing to the company’s growth and global market presence.
In addition to his professional achievements, Michel was active in various organizations, including the American Marketing Association, Advertising Club of Wichita, NBAA, and GAMA. He also served on the board of directors for the Music Theatre of Wichita.