Story ID: 003
People in Aviation—September 2025
By: Jessica Reed
Caption: Giovanni Tomassini is CEO of Baykar Piaggio Aerospace
Word Count: 1368
Giovanni Tomassini was named CEO of Baykar Piaggio Aerospace, which includes Piaggio Aero and Piaggio Aviation. Tomassini served as COO of the company since he joined in 2009.
Crew Chiefs co-founder Mark Thibault is now CEO of the company. Thibault’s business aviation experience spans four decades, including senior management roles for business aircraft operators.
Lars Wagner, the current CEO of MTU Aero Engines, will take over as CEO of commercial aircraft at Airbus at the start of 2026. Wagner previously served as COO and executive v-p of OEM operations at MTU and has also held management positions at Airbus. Christian Scherer will depart as CEO at the end of this year after more than four decades with Airbus.
Brandy Cadorath has been appointed as president of Cadorath after the passing of her father, Gerry Cadorath, the company’s former president and CEO. She has worked across multiple departments at the company for more than 14 years.
The Air Charter Safety Foundation appointed executive director Debi Carpenter as president, effective July 1, following the retirement of president and CEO Bryan Burns after more than a decade of leadership. Burns, who brought more than 35 years of aviation industry experience to ACSF, previously served as general manager at several FBOs, including Signature Aviation at Washington Dulles International Airport (KIAD) and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA). Carpenter joined ACSF in June 2023 with more than two decades of aviation safety experience.
NATA named Hector Huezo COO. Huezo’s more than three decades of experience include a term as assistant general counsel in the airport division at the Los Angeles city attorney’s office, as well as senior roles within the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Alexander Talarczyk was hired as v-p of operations at Dallas Executive Airport-based Jets MRO. Talarczyk’s 22-plus years of experience in aviation include serving as senior crew lead at RBR Maintenance, a Part 145 repair station. Jets MRO also appointed Troy Dale Brumley as maintenance manager. Brumley was previously director of maintenance and accountable manager at Cirrus Aircraft, and he also held leadership roles at StandardAero, NetJets, and Gulfstream Aerospace.
Travis Schleusner was named general manager of Cutter Aviation’s MRO facility at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. He earned his A&P certification in 2002, and his previous experience includes working on turboprops for a commuter airline.
Juan Muniz was hired as manager of regulatory services at World Fuel Services. He previously worked at Universal Weather and Aviation for nearly 23 years, most recently as a global regulatory specialist.
Vertical Aerospace announced several executive appointments, including Mark Higson, who was named COO. His 40-plus years of experience include a recent term as CEO of Modulaire Group. Steve Vellacott, who previously served as CTO and head of design at Lilium, has joined Vertical as v-p of airworthiness and head of design organization. Eric Samson was promoted to v-p of the company’s hybrid program after five years as senior v-p of engineering and head of the design organization.
Private aircraft management company FlyHouse named John Thomas Jr. as CFO. Previously group CFO of Elevate Aviation Group, Thomas has more than 25 years of global aviation finance experience, including senior leadership positions at British Airways, Etihad Airways, and Silverhawk Aviation.
Jeremi Austin and Ricky Gioconda are Jetcraft’s newly appointed sales directors for Canada and the U.S., respectively. Austin’s expertise is in aircraft transaction consulting, while Gioconda brings more than five years of experience in aircraft sales.
Hunt & Palmer USA promoted Paul McCluskey to senior v-p of commercial aviation. Wendi Matthews-Ortiz was promoted to senior v-p of executive aviation, and Karen Farquharson is the company’s new associate v-p of business development.
AirSprint announced the promotion of Chris Foley to v-p of operations. Foley joined the fractional aircraft provider more than 20 years ago as an AME and has headed the maintenance team for the past 10 years. AirSprint also promoted maintenance manager Brett Knox to director of maintenance. Knox started at the Canadian company as an AME in 2006 and has also held the roles of crew lead and production manager.
Corporate aviator and L-39 pilot Stephanie Goetz has been named spokesperson and ambassador for Corporate Angel Network (CAN), a nonprofit that arranges free flights for cancer patients on business aircraft. Known for co-piloting “The Pink Jet,” Goetz is recognized in the aviation community for her work promoting breast cancer awareness. Goetz, who also serves as president of The Pink Jet nonprofit, will speak at industry events, appear in promotional videos, and work with CAN leadership to strengthen collaboration.
Kathryn Inman, previously general counsel for the Florida Office of the Attorney General, was hired as a member of the public policy and regulation group at Holland & Knight's Tallahassee office. Inman has experience working as assistant general counsel for the NTSB and as special assistant to the chief counsel at the FAA.
Aircraft brokerage Blueberry Aviation hired Gwenola Robert as v-p of contracts. Robert’s 20-plus years of aviation experience include leading business transformation initiatives at regional aircraft manufacturer ATR and serving as chief commercial officer at Aura Aero.
Matt Fullerton joined Concorde Battery’s international sales team as technical sales manager for the Central U.S. Fullerton has experience as a commercial pilot and as a licensed A&P mechanic, and his sales experience includes OEM product lines and aircraft sales.
Victoria Baudemont has joined Freestream Aircraft as a representative and will cover Europe and the UAE from Monaco. Baudemont’s previous experience includes leading high-profile projects in the yachting industry.
Awards & Honors
The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) has named Joan Sullivan Garrett as the 2025 recipient of the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy, recognizing her contributions to aviation medical emergency response over four decades. Garrett established MedAire in 1985 following her experience as a critical care flight nurse responding to a remote Arizona vehicle accident where she was unable to save an eight-year-old victim. The company pioneered several industry firsts, including the inaugural “Manual for In-flight Medical Care” and upgraded medical kits. Garrett’s influence extended beyond corporate operations into regulatory policy. Her 2001 congressional testimony is credited with prompting the FAA to mandate automated external defibrillators and enhanced emergency medical kits aboard U.S. airliners.
Duncan Aviation aircraft sales and acquisitions representative Doug Roth received the FAA’s Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award, which recognizes exceptional individuals with at least 50 years of piloting and/or aircraft operations experience. Roth, who received his pilot’s license in 1975 and recorded upwards of 7,100 flight hours, has worked at Duncan since 1983.
Louis Seno Jr., executive director of the International Aircraft Dealers Association, celebrated his 70th consecutive year of attendance at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in July. EAA recognized Seno during “The Gathering,” its fundraising gala, for his contributions to business and general aviation over the decades.
 
Final Flight
Jim Hesseman, president of Air Care Alliance (ACA) and an advocate for volunteer aviation, died June 24 following an illness, ending a career spanning more than two decades of public-benefit flying. Hesseman led ACA, which represents a network of volunteer pilot groups across the U.S., and personally flew missions for multiple organizations, including Angel Flight West, PALS SkyHope, Pilots N Paws, Flights for Life, and White Feather Flights.
The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) recognized Hesseman’s contributions with its 2023 award for outstanding achievement in the advancement of public benefit flying, describing him as “a volunteer pilot with generosity and compassion that exceeds all expectations.” Upon receiving the NAA award, Hesseman articulated his philosophy: “Do as much as you can, for as long as you can, for as many as you can.” The organization characterized these words as “a testament to the way Jim lived.”
“Jim believed deeply in the power of aviation to change lives,” ACA said. “Whether flying medical patients, transporting precious cargo, or giving grieving families a moment of peace in the sky, he approached every mission with humility, compassion, and care.”