Story ID: 003
People in Aviation—August 2026
By: Jessica Reed
Caption: People in Aviation - August 2026
Word Count: 1888
Ontic tapped Jean-Christophe Gallagher as its CEO, succeeding Gareth Hall, who has served as chief executive for more than 10 years. In the coming months, Hall will transition to executive chairman and continue his work on the company’s long-term strategy. “Ontic is entering an exciting new phase of growth, and this is the right moment to add to our leadership structure to match that opportunity,” said Hall. “[Gallagher] brings deep aerospace expertise and a strong track record of leading high-performing global teams. His appointment further strengthens our senior leadership and positions Ontic to build on the momentum we have created.” Gallagher previously worked for two decades at Bombardier, most recently as executive v-p of aircraft sales and defense.
Russell Ford, CEO of StandardAero since 2013, will retire on October 1. Under his leadership, the company’s annual revenue increased from $1.6 billion in 2013 to more than $6 billion in 2025. Ford, who led StandardAero through its 2024 IPO, will continue to participate on its board of directors following his retirement. The board named lead independent director Paul McElhinney to take over as CEO later this year and become chairman at the start of 2027. McElhinney currently works for AE Industrial Partners as senior operating partner and co-head of its portfolio strategy and optimization group. His 35 years of experience in the industry include a term as president and CEO of GE Power Services and GE Aviation Services.
Bobby Jensen joined JetAviva as managing director, bringing 25-plus years of experience in aviation. He previously worked at Textron Aviation in customer-facing and sales support roles, including sales of new aircraft, gaining particular expertise with Cessna Citation M2s.
Engine Assurance Program (EAP) hired Chuck Oberfield as director of APUs. Oberfield, a licensed A&P mechanic and veteran of the U.S. Navy, worked at Honeywell Aerospace for three decades.
Atlantic Aviation subsidiary VertiPorts by Atlantic announced David Claisse as general manager of Manhattan’s East 34th Street Heliport. An experienced aviation operator, Claisse is a veteran of the U.S. Marines and was previously general manager for Atlantic Aviation’s facility at Bridgeport/Sikorsky Airport in Connecticut.
Craig R. Olson, v-p of aviation for Starbucks Coffee, was tapped to join NBAA’s board of directors. He served as a U.S. Navy fighter pilot for two decades and began a career in business aviation in 2014 as the safety officer for a Seattle-based aircraft operator. Olson joined Starbucks as chief pilot in 2017.
Richard Alexander has joined hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft developer Horizon Aircraft as chief engineer of certified programs. Alexander has 38 years of experience in aircraft development, having previously served as electric aircraft integrator at CAE and as head of flight physics at Vertical Aerospace.
Four Corners Aviation hired Truman Cuthbert as charter sales executive. Cuthbert has experience managing domestic and international charter operations as well as private aviation sales.
Sharon Williams was appointed executive director of aviation for the board of directors of the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) on July 1. David Ishihara has also been selected for the role of deputy executive director of aviation. Previously director of aviation facilities and passenger services at Boston Logan International Airport (KBOS), Williams had also held the title of director of Hanscom Field, a general aviation airport, for 12 years. Ishihara is director of aviation operations, safety, and security at KBOS, having previously served as deputy director of the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center at the U.S. Department of Transportation.
ATS Aviation in Singapore named Jan Alblas managing partner. Most recently, he held the role of v-p of marketing at Nordic Aviation Capital.
West Star Aviation promoted Josh Perkins to v-p of quality and Sharon Klose to general manager of satellite shops. Matthew Selinger was promoted to master sheetmetal technician at West Star’s location in East Alton, Illinois. Ed Riner was named v-p of programs execution, and Christi Tannahill was hired as ambassador. West Star hired Kyle Victor as satellite manager in Chicago and Bill Miner as director of HR. The company also announced four promotions at its facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee: Mike Davis, master paint technician; Christopher Landry, program manager; Roger Jordan, master aircraft maintenance technician; and Patricia Spann, customer experience coordinator. Other promotions at West Star included Chad Zbin, promoted to director of scheduling and optimization, and Ryan Wilson, promoted to v-p of technical training and technical support. West Star also promoted Connor Mottice to manager of technical sales. On the MRO side, the company promoted Steven Smith to director of maintenance; Tony Meyer to master paint technician; and Isaac Scott to master aircraft technician.
Lilly Paxton joined Bismarck Aero Center as customer service representative and marketing assistant. Paxton, a recent graduate of Lake Area Technical College in South Dakota with an associate’s degree in aviation maintenance, holds a private pilot certificate and an A&P license. Bismarck Aero Center also promoted DJ Polk to the role of office manager. Polk joined the company almost four years ago and is now taking on some HR responsibilities and IT liaison efforts.
The U.S. Senate recently approved a slate of four dozen administration appointments, including Daniel Edwards as Department of Transportation assistant secretary of aviation and international affairs and Michael Graham for another five-year term as a member of the NTSB. The reappointment of Graham comes after the White House named him NTSB vice chairman, filling a slot vacated last year after the White House ousted Alvin Brown from the safety agency. A former naval aviator, Graham joined the Safety Board in January 2020 after serving as director of flight operations safety, security, and standardization at Textron Aviation, and as chair of the Air Charter Safety Foundation. A former U.S. Air Force aviator, Edwards had been DOT principal deputy assistant secretary for aviation and international affairs and, before that, served as CEO of maintenance, repair, and overhaul businesses, along with supply chain and distribution.
Paul van der Blom joined Empire Aviation Group as head of aircraft management. He most recently worked within the fleet strategy division at a Dubai-based operator. His three-plus decades of experience in aviation include roles at Airbus, DC Aviation, ExecuJet, Hawker Pacific, Luxaviation Group, and TAG Aviation.
The Royal Aeronautical Society announced Malcolm Macdonald as its next president. Macdonald serves as director of the University of Strathclyde’s Applied Space Technology Laboratory and is a visiting professor at the Centre for Space Research at University College Dublin. He also serves as chair of the UK Space Agency’s Space Technology Advisory Committee.
SkyWorld Aviation promoted Kelli Gatewood from director of operations to president. Her father, Vietnam veteran Ron Gatewood, founded SkyWorld Aviation, a general and business aviation aircraft maintenance and avionics repair/install shop, in 1991.
Duncan Aviation promoted Matt Lentell from fleet program manager to customer service manager at the company’s MRO facility in Lincoln, Nebraska. Lentell has worked at Duncan Aviation since 1997 and has held roles in engineering and certification services, as well as project management. Tony Rossi was hired as turbine engine service sales rep for Duncan. Rossi’s more than 30 years of experience in aviation include serving in the U.S. Air Force and, most recently, working for 13 years as a product line specialist at JSSI.
Amanda Welk was hired as director of medical operations for Bismarck Air Medical. Her previous experience includes working as an ICU nurse, a paramedic, and an ambulance service manager.
Mente Group promoted Jay Bushouse to senior managing director. Before he joined Mente Group in 2021, he worked at Textron Aviation as sales director, and his aviation and sales experience spans 25 years.
Anthony Banome joined FlyHouse as president after serving at Unique II Worldwide as chief revenue officer. Banome’s 20-plus years of private aviation experience include terms at Meridian Teterboro and Fontainebleau Aviation.
Aircraft brokerage and advisory firm The Jet Agent announced two appointments. Anders Garbe, a private pilot who has been with the company since day one, was promoted to sales director and market research manager. Hannah Mills, named director of operations, brings experience in aviation brokerage operations, accounting, and legal administration.
Jeff Berlin joined Arcadia Jets’ team, bringing real-world flying experience and market perspective to the aircraft brokerage. Berlin has consulted for aviation companies such as Garmin, Cirrus, Daher, and Avidyne, and was previously editor-in-chief of PilotMag.
Fargo Jet Center hired Patrick McClellan as controller. McClellan’s 10-plus years of related experience include financial management, auditing, and analysis.
Circor International named Mike Daricilar v-p of operations for the company’s facility in Warren, Massachusetts. Daricilar recently held senior operations leadership positions, directing multi-site manufacturing teams, and has more than two decades of experience in manufacturing and operations leadership.
Dennis Klose was chosen for the role of director of MRO at Atlas Air Service’s location in Bremen, Germany. Earlier this year, Florian Kohlmann—managing director of Augsburg Air Service—joined the executive board and was named head of aircraft maintenance.
Two team members recently joined Spectrum Aeromed to support its engineering and project management capabilities. Grant Ramage, who previously worked for Northrop Grumman, joined Spectrum Aeromed as project manager. Paul Sayler was hired as an engineer after working as a contract engineer at the company for more than a year.
Awards and Honors
NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen was named the first inductee into the Kansas Aviation Hall of Fame class of 2026. Bolen will be recognized during the Kansas Aviation Honor Awards on November 10. Bolen, a native of Salina, Kansas, earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Kansas and, early in his career, served as a legislative director for the former U.S. Sen. Nancy Kassebaum (R-Kansas). Bolen worked integrally with Kassebaum on the passage of the General Aviation Revitalization Act of 1994, which is widely credited with breathing new life into a sector that was dying. He joined GAMA in 1995 and was promoted to president and CEO a year later. He ultimately stepped into his current role at NBAA in 2004. Bolen has made a mark on aviation, serving as chair of the Management Advisory Council and as a member of the Commission on the Future of the U.S. Aerospace Industry.
At Vaughn College’s annual gala, five leaders in aviation were recognized for their dedication to the industry and for developing opportunities for the next generation: Evita Garces, v-p of line operations at American Airlines and alumna of Vaughn College; Debbie Coffey, Atlas Air Worldwide chief communications officer; Icema D. Gibbs, v-p of corporate social responsibility and impact at JetBlue Airways; Patricia Ornst, Delta Air Lines managing director of New York state and local government affairs; and Monica Slater Stokes, United Airlines managing director of corporate and government affairs.
Final Flight
Hal Shevers, 90, founder and longtime chairman of Sporty's Pilot Shop, died on May 12. Shevers started one of the first three-day ground school courses in the early 1960s and later founded Sporty’s Academy, a Part 141 flight school offering in-person instruction and online courses. In 2007, he was inducted into the National Association of Flight Instructors Hall of Fame.