Event Archive

Joe Bertapelle joined JetBlue Airways as Director of System Operations in April 2007. Since April 2010, Mr. Bertapelle has served as JetBlue's Director of Strategic Airspace Programs, leading New York's Hometown Airline's efforts to develop and improve upon airspace management strategies. In particular, Mr. Bertapelle works across departmental lines to answer the question, "what does NextGen airspace technology mean to JetBlue."

In his role as JetBlue's Director of System Operations at JetBlue, Mr. Bertapelle re-engineered the airline's System Operation Center's process and procedures. He also re-structured the department's organization, allowing it and JetBlue to continue their growth plans.

Beginning his aviation career in 1976, Mr. Bertapelle served at American Airlines for 28 years in a series of roles of increasing responsibility. His operational positions at American included Flight Dispatcher for the Boeing 727 and Systems Operations Center Manager on Duty. In addition, Mr. Bertapelle held several industry work group leadership positions, decreasing delays in airport ground delay programs by 30 percent. Before joining JetBlue, Mr. Bertapelle worked for the MITRE Center for Advanced Aviation System Development from 1994 to 1997.

Mr. Bertapelle holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Meteorology from St. Louis University.

Tom Bock is the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey’s General Manager of Airspace, and Operational Enhancements.  Tom has the key responsibility for all of the Aviation Department’s efforts to meet the growing demand for air traffic services and improving system performance, including interfacing with the FAA on many regional and national efforts including NextGen. Tom is on the FAA’s RTCA NextGen Advisory Committee’s Sub-committee.  Tom is also responsible for Operations oversight and manages the Aviation Technical Services dept which assist all 5 Port Authority Aviation facilities: Newark Liberty, JFK International, LaGuardia, Stewart International, and Teterboro airports including the movement of over 1.5 million aircraft operations, and over 107 million passengers each year. 

Tom has over 29 years experience in aviation including air traffic management and airspace redesign, having served as FAA's first manager for the NY/NJ/Philadelphia airspace redesign program.  Prior to coming to the Port Authority he was also the manager of the airspace branch for the FAA’s Eastern region, which included a 7 state area from New York down through West Virginia.  He has also been an air traffic controller in some of the Nation’s busiest facilities including New York and Los Angeles. 

Captain Mark Bradley currently serves as Chief Technical Pilot for Delta Air Lines.  As Chief Technical Pilot, his duties entail developing and executing equipage projects within Delta.  Future airspace initiatives are an important factor in all aspects of his responsibilities, and include implementation of specific RNAV procedures for flight crews.  He works with other Technical Pilots and Engineers, and coordinates procedure implementation with other divisions of Delta as well as the FAA and aircraft manufacturers. Captain Bradley also provides strategic recommendations to senior leaders for aircraft system development and aircraft equipage.

He has previously served as a Senior Flight Instructor for the 757, 767, and 777 aircraft.  During that time, he was an FAA Aircrew Program Designee.  Captain Bradley also holds FAA ratings on the B757, B767, B777, DC-9 (MD-88), and L-188.  Prior to working for Delta, Captain Bradley served 12 years as a Naval Aviator, flying the Lockheed P-3C Orion, T-44 Pegasus, and T-34C Turbo Mentor.  He is a 1981 Graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, with a BS in Resources Management and Technology.

Chris Brinton is the President of Mosaic ATM. He has conducted research and development of advanced ATM decision support tools, including the Center/TRACON Automation System, Traffic Flow Management, Collaborative Decision Making, Dynamic Resectorization, and the Surface Decision Support System. He has also participated in numerous studies and federal advisory committees to advance the infrastructure and architecture of the NAS to support such decision support tools. Mr. Brinton received his undergraduate degree in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Princeton University, and a Master’s in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University. Mr. Brinton also holds a commercial pilot’s license with an instrument rating.

Captain Joseph D. Burns is the Managing Director of Technology and Flight Test at United Airlines. At United, he previously held positions as Managing Director – Flight Standards, FAA Certificate Director of Operations, Director – Flight Standards, Director – Technology, Chief Pilot – FFDO Program, Manager – Automation Systems, Pilot Instructor on both the A320/319 and B-727 fleets, served as ALPA LEC Safety Chairman, and has flown A-320/319, B-737, and B-727 in line operations for UA.  He is currently flying Captain on the A319/320.  He is type-rated in A320, A319, B-727, DHC-8, BE-1900 and BE300 aircraft.

Previous to United, Joe was the Director of Operations and Chief Pilot for USAir Express/Stateswest Airlines, a BAE-146 Pilot for USAir, B-727 Instructor and Pilot for Braniff Airlines, and Metroliner Pilot for Air Midwest.

He is currently on the Executive Advisory Board for Position, Navigation, and Time (GPS); an Advisory Board Member for the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR/UCAR); Board Member for EMS Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: ELMG), Board Member for Optical Detection Systems, Inc., Board Member and is the Chairman of the Board of ATN Systems, Inc., Chairman of the Board for Agile Defense, LLC.,  and Board Member for Sensurion, LLC. Additionally he is Chairman for the ATA Air Traffic Control Council, Chairman Emeritus of the ATA Airline Operations Committee, former Vice-Chairman of the Airborne Internet Consortium, and former Board Member of the FAA’s Free Flight Steering Committee.  Captain Burns was also a Board Member for AirDat, LLC. - a Loeb and Holmes Capital Partners joint venture.

His engineering experience includes President of Inertia Technology, developing AWOS and Flight Sensor Systems, Chief Pilot and systems engineer for Coffeen, Fricke, and Associates (Lenexa, KS), Chief Systems Engineer for Ericsson, Inc.’s Fiber Optic Network Communications Division (Overland Park, KS), and Engineering Manager for Sprint’s Telenet/UniNet Division.

He holds an M.B.A. in Management from the Miami University School of Business and a B.S. in Aeronautics/Aeronautical Engineering from Miami University.  Joe also holds multiple patents in Communications, Security, and Sensor Technology.

An industry veteran, Tom provides industry specialization to client teams and spearheads initiatives to support Deloitte’s position in the marketplace. He continues to be actively involved in major client assignments within the industry, providing consulting services to A&D clients. Since joining Deloitte LLP in 1981, Tom has specialized in operational restructuring, industry strategy, investor due diligence, cost reduction, product development, engineering operations, manufacturing productivity improvement, information systems and program management across multiple functions. Tom’s A&D industry experience spans commercial passenger, regional and freighter aircraft, military fighter/attack, and cargo aircraft, defense electronics, avionics, launch vehicles, satellites, net-centric warfare, destroyer, aircraft carrier, missiles, munitions and land armament programs. He has been involved in major industry consolidations, mergers and transformation initiatives in the United States, Europe and the Asia Pacific regions over the last 3 decades.

Tom has been quoted extensively in the media, including in Aviation Week & Space Technology regarding the performance of the industry and has written several opinion-editorial articles. In addition, he serves as a regular contributor to its annual “Top Performing Companies” report. He has been recently interviewed or quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Defense News, Jane’s Defense Week, Business Week, Reuters, LA Times, Seattle Times, Washington Post, Defense Daily, Handelsblatt, Gulf News, Beijing Times, China News, and Hindustan Times on a wide variety of industry trends, challenges and opportunities as well as breaking news stories. Tom is also a regular speaker at client management off-sites, industry symposiums and conferences, including Aviation Week’s annual Program Excellence and MRO Military conferences and participates in their annual Executive Summit of industry leaders. 

Tom received a master of business administration degree from Seattle University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Washington. He also completed the executive education program at the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Business. Tom is a member of the Seattle University Business School Dean’s Executive Advisory Board and the Aerospace Industries Association Board of Governors. He contributed to the Puget Sound Regional Council’s Prosperity Partnership Aerospace Competitiveness Initiative and is a member of the Patrons of Northwest Civic & Charitable Organizations Board of Directors, a former trustee of the Museum of History and Industry’s Board and a past president of the Institute of Management Consultants, Pacific Northwest Chapter.

To learn more about Tom Captain visit www.deloitte.com/us/tomcaptain. For more information about Deloitte’s support of the Aerospace & Defense industry, please visit www.deloitte.com/us/aerospacedefense.

Dr. John Cavolowsky is the director of the Airspace Systems Program Office at NASA Headquarters, which develops concepts, capabilities and technologies for high-capacity, efficient and safe airspace and airportal systems. Previously he was deputy program director, providing strategic management of technical product across multiple projects within the program, and supporting the Joint Planning and Development Office in the ongoing development of the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen).

Cavolowsky has also been associate program manager for the Airspace Systems Program, and the project manager for the Human Measures and Performance Project. He began his career at NASA Ames in 1989 as a research and development project manager in hypersonic propulsion and thermal protection systems for spacecraft reentry. Cavolowsky also served as a technical manager for aerospace programs in the Office of the Center Director at Ames.

He received the Gene Zara Award for outstanding contributions as a national team member to the National Aerospace Plane program, as well as a number of agency achievement awards. He has published more than 25 technical papers. Cavolowsky has a bachelor's of science degree in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and master's and doctoral degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of California at Berkeley.

Mr. Chew is a General Partner with the NextGen Equipage Fund.  The NextGen Fund usesprivate sector capital primarily to equip aircraft with hardware and software systems needed to make use of emerging NextGen air traffic control infrastructure.  The NextGen Fund intends to remove barriers to equipage that could impede or threaten the long term success of NextGen program, and to otherwise accelerate airline equipage through a carefully designed financial incentive package.

With the ground-based NextGen infrastructure build-out proceeding on schedule, stakeholders now recognize that properly equipping the nation’s aircraft fleet stands on the critical path to realizing the benefits of a fully functioning NextGen system. This has a strong public policy dimension when considering the efficiency benefits NextGen could deliver to the airlines, the flying public, taxpayers, and the U.S. economy in general. 

Mr. Chew is also a Managing Partner of NEXA Capital Partners.  Prior to NEXA, Mr. Chew previously served JetBlue Airways as President and Chief Operating Officer in leading the airline through a successful turnaround following its highly publicizedoperating debacle in February 2007.  He was responsible for the planning and execution of the airline’s business strategy, the safe and efficient operation of 650 daily flights utilizing 150 jet aircraft to 55 cities in nine countries, and the complete renewal of its core information systems and technology.

During his tenure, JetBlue Airways successfully completed a comprehensive reformation, returning the company to sustained profitability, restoring integrity to its operation, reshaping its core business strategy, and stabilizing its information systems; thus creating a solid financial, operational, technical, and strategic business foundation for future growth.

Prior to joining JetBlue, Mr. Chew served as Chief Operating Officer for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) from June 2003 until 2007.  As the head of the FAA’s Air Traffic Organization, Mr. Chew was responsible for the operational and financial performance of the U.S. air traffic control system, as well as the FAA's research and acquisition programs.

Mr. Chew joined the FAA after 18 years with American Airlines, Inc. During his career with American he headed System Operations Control where he was responsible for performance of the airline’s day-to-day operation for 2,300 flights daily to more than 220 domestic and international cities in Europe, Latin America, and Asia.  As head of Strategic Operations Planning, he was responsible for the airline’s evaluation, acquisition, and implementation of new aircraft and ground technologies for airline fleet and operations planning. His management experience included technical and regulatory management in flight operations, systems development, and engineering. He maintained line qualification as Captain at American Airlines in B767, B757, and MD80 aircraft.

Mr. Chew has served on corporate executive boards as director for ERA Inc., ARINC Inc., the Civil Air Navigation Services Organization, and ATN Systems Inc. His service to the aviation community included serving as chair of the Air Traffic Management Advisory Committee, the Air Traffic Control Steering Committee for the Air Transport Association and the Flight Operations Committee for the International Air Transport Association. These industry activities focused on airline operations, new technologies, new Federal air traffic control system requirements, and global air traffic control modernization programs.

A native of Los Angeles, Mr. Chew attended Stanford University for his undergraduate studies and earned his doctoral degree at the University of Southern California.

Mr Chew is a U.S. Citizen and currently resides in Virginia with his wife Jilan and two children.

Gary Church is the President of Aviation Management Associates, Inc. which was founded in 1984. He is an active licensed instrument rated pilot, former air traffic controller with the Federal Aviation Administration, and past Manager of Air Traffic Control for the Air Transport Association. Among his many aviation activities, Mr. Church is an active professional member of the Air Traffic Control Association and has Chaired ATCA’s Annual Symposium four times in the last 25 years. He is also a member of EAA, AIAA, AOPA and the Aero Club of Washington where he was Membership Chair and Trustee. Further, Mr. Church has served as the Chairperson of Airway Science Research Advisory Council of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Gary majored in physics and minored in economics at the University of California, Berkeley and Indiana University, Bloomington.

As the Head of the FAA NextGen Office,Victoria Cox provides increased focus on the modernization of the nation's air traffic control system by providing systems engineering, research and technology development, and test and evaluation expertise.  She is also responsible for NextGen integration and implementation along with the NextGen portfolio.

Within the FAA, Cox has served as the Senior Vice President of NextGen and Operations Planning,  the Director of the ATO’s Operations Planning International Office, the Director of Flight Services Finance and Planning and the Program Director of the Aviation Research Division. She came to the FAA from the Department of Defense, where she was Director of International Technology Programs in the office of the Director of Defense Research and Engineering.

A physicist, Cox also served as Chief of Physics and Scientific Director of the European Office of Aerospace Research and Development, London. She has an extensive research and development and program management background, having supported the Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Science and Technology as the DOD Laboratory Liaison to the Office of the Secretary of Defense. She also worked as a program manager for a number of ballistic missile defense technology programs for the U.S. Air Force and as a scientist responsible for thermal vacuum conditioning and testing of the Hubble Telescope for NASA.

Cox graduated from Converse College and received a master’s degree from East Carolina University. She has a certificate in U.S. national security policy from Georgetown University. She is a DOD Level III Certified Acquisition Professional in systems planning, research, development and engineering and holds a private pilot’s license.

James M. Crites serves as Executive Vice President for the Operations Division of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.  He oversees the activities of Operations, Energy and Transportation Management, Asset Management, Airport Development and Engineering, Department of Public Safety, Planning and Environmental Affairs.  

Mr. Crites joined the staff at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport on October 30, 1995 to serve as the Director of Planning and Marketing Research.  He has provided key leadership in planning for development of facilities, and new business opportunities throughout all aspects of the Airport.

Prior to this, Mr. Crites worked in several key management positions at American Airlines, Inc. including Managing Director, Airport Services and Managing Director, Financial Planning.

Mr. Crites graduated from the University of Illinois after earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and subsequently earned a Masters Degree in Operations Research while attending the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California.

He is currently serving as a member of:  the Transportation Research Board Executive Committee; the University of Texas at Arlington College of Engineering Advisory Board; the U.S. Travel Association Board of Directors; the Airports Council International – North America Technical and Operations Committee; and the Subcommittee of the RTCA NexGen Advisory Committee.

Mr. Crites is married and has two children.

Mr. Bruce DeCleene is the Manager for the Avionics Systems Branch of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aircraft Certification Service, and is responsible for the aircraft equipment standards and implementation guidance for NextGen avionics (including RNP, ADS-B, and data communications).  Mr. DeCleene has extensive experience as the designated federal official developing avionics standards, and as the US representative to ICAO for navigation.  He is currently serving on the Performance-Based Aviation Rulemaking Committee (PARC) and the RTCA NextGen Advisory Committee working subcommittee.  Mr. DeCleene is also the U.S. lead on several US/EU activities, including coordination on avionics for NextGen and SESAR and coordination of GPS and Galileo future civil applications.

Captain Steve Dickson is Senior Vice President-Flight Operations for Delta Air Lines. His responsibilities include overseeing Delta’s day-to-day flight operations, as well as pilot training, pilot standards, technical support, pilot staffing and scheduling, and quality assurance/compliance functions. He also provides leadership and direction to Delta’s 12,400 strong pilot group. Dickson, a 19-year Delta veteran, has served as a Special Assignment Supervisor, Manager-Pilot Crew Scheduling, Manager-Strategic Planning and Communications, Assistant Chief Pilot-Atlanta, and General Manager-Flight Operations. In 2005 Dickson was promoted to Director-Flight Operations, and assumed his current responsibilities in September 2006. He is also currently qualified as a 757/767 captain and has also flown the 727 and 737 during his career at Delta.

Captain Dickson is a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Operations Committee and Air Transport Association (ATA) Operations Council, and serves as Chairman of the Air Traffic Management Advisory Committee (ATMAC). He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Metro Atlanta Recovery Residences (MARR) and advises industry and civic groups throughout the year.

A former Air Force Officer and F-15 fighter pilot, Captain Dickson is also a Distinguished Graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and a Magna Cum Laude graduate of the Georgia State University College of Law. He resides in Atlanta, Georgia.

Mr. Dyment is the Founder and Managing Partner of NEXA Capital Partners.  NEXA Capital is an investment banking firm helping clients develop and implement effective corporate finance, capital investment and M&A strategies leading to growth in enterprise value strategies.  NEXA has served small, mid-market and large aerospace companies since 2007.  Recent NEXA clients include ITT Corporation (NYSE: ITT), Avantair Inc. (OTC: AAIR) and other public and private companies.  With all NEXA projects, Mr. Dyment assumes overall responsibility, working with senior client executives and NEXA teams to design programs having measurable and sustained impact upon clients’ business objectives.  Mr. Dyment is also a director and General Partner with the NextGen Equipage Fund.

Mr. Dyment has been a senior managing director, partner or principal with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, with Arthur Andersen LLP, and with Booz Allen & Hamilton Inc.  He was also an officer and vice president of the Transportation Practice of A.T. Kearney, Inc.  When at PwC, he was principal advisor to ITT on its 2007 $1.85 billion ADS-B award from the U.S. FAA.  At A.T. Kearney, Inc. he led the acquisition and financial advisory team that ultimately secured the $1 billion purchase of Jet Aviation for Permira Beteiligungsberatung GmbH.  He has over the years advised many airlines on restructuring, and financing and leasing aircraft and engines worth hundreds of millions of dollars in value.  His career in aerospace began inside the supply chain, where in the early 1980s he was an engineer and eventually Product Manager for GPS avionics programs at Canadian Marconi Company in Montreal.

Mr. Dyment’s past clients include the world's leading aerospace companies such as the Boeing Company, Embraer Empress Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A., Lockheed Martin Corporation, ITT Corporation, Inmarsat and Rolls-Royce to name several.  In business aviation and related sectors, he has advised NetJets Inc., Jet Aviation, Inc., American Express, Intel Corporation, the National Business Aviation Association, and many others.  Airline and aviation industry clients include brand names such as Delta Airlines, Lufthansa, Swiss, easyJet, Grupo TACA and Orbitz.  In the financial sector, Mr. Dyment has been a trusted advisor to investment funds and asset investment companies for years, including Permira Fund, Pembroke Capital, and others.  He also has been an advisor to top policy makers and agencies such as the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, the Transportation Security Administration, and the National Academy of Sciences.

He speaks widely on aerospace matters, and his opinion is regularly sought by the media.  He has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, the International Herald Tribune, the Financial Times and the Los Angeles Times, for example. He has contributed to stories in Forbes, Wired Magazine and Business Week, and has been a guest on CNN, MSNBC, CBS and ABC offering insights on aviation industry matters.  He is a current member of the Aviation Week Magazine Board of Advisors on Top Performing Aerospace Companies and Top Performing Airlines. 

He holds a Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a BSc.Eng. in Geodesy and Geomatics from the University of New Brunswick. 

Mr. Dyment, a U.S. Citizen, lives in McLean, Virginia with his wife Eleanor and four children.

Rob Eagles is the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Director Infrastructure Implementation, headquartered in Montreal.  He is responsible for the global implementation of Air Traffic Management initiatives to enhance safety and efficiency whilst reducing CO2 emissions.  In this role he works extremely closely with other International organizations such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and Civil Air Navigation Services Organization (CANSO) to develop global policy for Air Traffic Management.

Prior to this role Mr. Eagles served as the IATA Regional Director ASIA Pacific. In this role he oversaw the safe and efficient development of aviation operations in 15 countries across this very dynamic region. 

Before joining IATA in 2005, Mr. Eagles served as Technical Project Lead at the National Air Traffic Services (NATS) United Kingdom. In this role he managed the research and development of a new air traffic controller toolset for London’s major airports, Heathrow and Gatwick. The project delivered a significant advancement in London’s operations. Among the accolades: “Best Team”, The Institute of Engineering and Technology in the UK and “Best Service Provision Award” by Jane’s Airport Review (ATC Maastricht 07) recognising excellence within air traffic management.

Mr. Eagles’ 20 years of civil and military air traffic management experience also includes operational and leadership positions in operations and training for the London Air Traffic Centre, the Eurocontrol Area Control Centre, in Maastricht, the Netherlands, and as an Officer in the British Royal Air Force.
Mr. Eagles holds a Masters Degree in Air Transport Management from City University in London, England.  He is a graduate of the Royal Air Force College Cranwell, England.

Daniel K. Elwell joined AIA as the Vice President of Civil Aviation in July of 2008.  Dan is responsible for AIA’s activities on civil aviation issues and policy, including the areas of environment, research and development, aviation infrastructure, safety and security.

Mr. Elwell came to AIA after working for the FAA Administrator as the Assistant Administrator for Aviation Policy, Planning and Environment.  At the FAA he was responsible for the agency's strategic policy, planning efforts and overall environmental research, development and policy activity. 

Prior to joining the FAA, Elwell was Managing Director of International and Government Affairs at American Airlines. He represented American on international aviation negotiations, and worked directly with key House and Senate staffers on historic legislation such as the Homeland Security Bill, Iraq War Supplemental, and AIR-21.  During his career with American, he was also a Captain with aeronautical ratings in DC-10, MD-80 and B-767 aircraft.
Elwell also worked Alaskan aviation issues and defense appropriations accounts during a one year legislative fellowship in the office of Sen. Ted Stevens.

A graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, Elwell flew active duty for the Air Force for eight years and retired from the Air Force Reserve in 2004. He is a graduate of the Georgetown Government Affairs Institute Congressional Fellowship Program and lives in northern Virginia.

Paul Fontaine is the Acting Director of the Research and Technology Development (R&TD) Directorate within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Traffic Organization's NextGen and Operations Planning Service Unit (ATO-P).  As Director, Mr. Fontaine is responsible for formulating, managing, and coordinating the agency’s research and advanced technology development program in airport and aircraft safety, human factors, communications, navigation, surveillance and air traffic management. The R&TD Directorate also produces the National Aviation Research Plan on behalf of the FAA administrator for submission to Congress.

Mr. Fontaine leads a large technical workforce of scientists, engineers, engineering research psychologists, computer specialists and technicians located at both the FAA Headquarters, Washington D.C., and the William J. Hughes Technical Center, Atlantic City, N.J.

He is the former manager of the Advanced Technology Development and Prototyping Group, responsible for a portfolio of developmental/demonstration NextGen programs spanning all areas of operations within the FAA. He also managed the NextGen Integrated Test Bed environment, together with government/industry partnerships, enabling joint testing of emerging technologies.

Dean Fulmer was selected as the Acting Manager of the FAA’s Air Traffic Organization (ATO) Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Group, AJV-13, effective 13 March, 2011.  Just prior to this selection he was the Project Manager for the National Special Activity Airspace Project .  Mr. Fulmer has 29 years of Air Traffic Control experience at Minneapolis Air Route Traffic Control Center where he last held the position of Traffic Management Officer.   Mr. Fulmer is an FAA representative to Civil Air Navigation Service Organization (CANSO) and co-lead of its Optimization of Airspace work stream which deals with civil/military coordination as well as one of CANSO’s representatives to ICAO.   He has worked extensively within the FAA’s Collaborative Decision Making (CDM) including two years as the FAA lead on the Weather Evaluation Team.  Although not current he holds various pilot certificates and has extensive experience with flight instruction, part 135 charter operations and airport management. Mr. Fulmer has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN.

Steve Fulton, a Naverus co-founder, and a pioneer in the design of modern Required Navigation Performance procedures, is a Technical Fellow at GE Aviation. Prior to founding Naverus, in his former capacity as technical pilot at Alaska Airlines, Mr. Fulton was instrumental in the development of the world's first commercial RNP AR procedure at Juneau, AK. Mr. Fulton also was a principal author of RNP RNAV criteria contained in Appendix 5 of the FAA's Advisory Circular 120-29A. Prior to his time at Alaska Airlines, Mr. Fulton was an avionics engineer and development pilot at Honeywell. He is an FAA certified Airline Transport Pilot and an FAA Designated Engineering Representative Flight Test Pilot. He holds a BS in Aerospace Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and is a co-author of three US patents.

Mr. Hampton is the Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Aviation Audits and Special Programs.   He is responsible for managing reviews of a wide range of FAA programs, including the Next Generation Air Transportation System.    Mr. Hampton has over 20 years experience in evaluating FAA safety, capacity, and air traffic control modernization programs.  He received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from American University. 

Gene C. Hayman- Jr., joined The Boeing Company in 2004 and currently leads Business Development and Program Execution activities in the Air Traffic Management (ATM) group. He is responsible for developing and executing the company’s strategic plans to transform air traffic management systems globally, which include the United States’ Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) and Europe’s Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) programs. Based in Washington D.C., Hayman works with other global Air Navigation Service Providers on their ATM transformational efforts to help increase air traffic capacity, safety, efficiency, and security.

Prior to joining Boeing, Hayman was chief operating officer and chief technology officer at KENROB Engineering and IT Solutions. Hayman had day-to-day executive responsibility for the company’s operations including executing its corporate strategy and broadening its core technical capabilities. While at KENROB he successfully expanded the company’s Aerospace division.

Hayman also served as vice president of operations at Advanced Management, Inc. (AMI) where he led the daily operations including oversight of all corporate programs and pursuits. Before joining AMI, Hayman was director of operations at U.S. Technologies, a major telecommunications provider. He led the company’s technical operations division, which was responsible for developing technology strategies for major U.S. corporations.

At Coleman Research Corporation (CRC), Hayman was the program director and chief of staff for the environmental division. His team worked directly with Department of Energy (DOE) senior executives to define critical environmental research and develop public outreach programs.
A native of Herndon, Virginia, Hayman began his career in the private sector working with several different companies, gaining experience in a variety of domains, which include aerospace, defense, telecommunications, information technology, financial, and environmental. He holds an MBA with focus in Program Management and Organizational Leadership from Trinity University.

Dr. Haraldsdottir holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan, and has 30 years of experience in industry and academia in the areas of air traffic management operational concepts and systems analysis, dynamic systems modeling, simulation and control theory.  She has authored over 80 technical publications, chaired technical sessions, and is frequently a speaker at air traffic management conferences and workshops. In 2009 she received the Society of Women Engineers Achievement Award, and in 2010 she became an Honorary Member of the Icelandic Engineering Association. Her current interest is in air traffic management system operational concepts, technical performance modeling, and system architectures for high-density airspace.  She is part of the Boeing Commercial Airplanes Air Traffic Management team, which currently has a primary focus on near- and mid-term improvements in air traffic operations, through air-ground automation integration and applications of high-performance communication, navigation and surveillance.

Janouschek was appointed Chief Financial Officer of Airbus ProSky SAS on 1 January 2011 after having held several Finance positions in the EADS group since 2003.  Prior to joining Airbus, Janouschek trained in blue-chip companies of the investment banking and consulting industry and also bears the title of certified public accountant.  Janouschek earned his undergraduate degree at Harvard and the University of Passau (Germany) and holds an MBA from INSEAD.

Currently the Director of the Planning & Performance Office in the Air Traffic Organization’s System Operations Services and serves as the Air Traffic Procedures Advisory Committee (ATPAC) Executive Director.  Mr. Jehlen holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Excelsior College and has over 30 years Air Traffic Management experience.  His operational experience, both FAA and Department of Defense, includes positions in the Tower, Approach Control and Air Route Traffic Control Center.

During his career, his responsibilities have included: Automation, Airspace & Procedures, Traffic Flow Management, Future Concepts, Validation and Integration, Operational Planning and Requirements.  Mr. Jehlen has also served as the United States’ representative to ICAO (Panel/Study Group) and currently is the U.S. Panel Member to the ICAO Air Traffic Management Requirements and Performance Panel (ATMRPP).

David Jensen is the Product Manager for the Honeywell SmartPath(R) CAT-I GBAS ground system, the world's first and only FAA-approved CAT-I Ground-Based Augmentation System.  He served as the Senior Technical Manager for the Precision Landing Systems group within Honeywell Aerospace and was instrumental in achieving this milestone.  Dave has over 20 years of aerospace engineering and program management experience, and is currently responsible for the full life-cycle cost of all GNSS and GNSS augmentation products for Honeywell.  He is currently serving as a Co-Chair to the International GBAS Working Group on the Ionosphere and Sitting subgroup.  Dave has worked with the air navigation service providers and regulators in the United States, Australia, Germany, Spain, China, France, and Brazil, to demonstrate, install, and validate the use of GBAS.

Dave is a registered Professional Engineer and is licensed in the state of Minnesota.

Captain Bob Johnson brings both aviation and administrative experience to American Airlines. He took flying lessons while attending San Jose State University. After obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting, he went to work for Hewlett Packard, flying Sabreliners and Falcon 50s from their San Jose, CA office. He joined AA in 1988 and has flown as Flight Engineer in the 727, a First Officer in the 737 and S80, and Captain and CKA in the F100 and now the 757/767. Bob was born in upstate New York, but grew up in Northern California.

In September 2010, Bob Johnson was named the Managing Director of Flight Operations after serving as the Managing Director Flight – DFW since July 2007. He worked as the Director Flight Communications & Employee Relations for three years and prior to that, Bob was a Chief Pilot in the DFW Flight Office.

-1977 Graduate of US Naval Academy- BS Mech Eng
-Flew 8 different aircraft types in the U.S. Navy
-1986-1990 Boeing engineer & 737 Flight Crew Instructor
-1990-present UPS- B727 Check Airman & FAA Designee;  B727 & B747 Training Manager;  B757/767 Captain  &  most recently the UPS Advanced Flight Manager responsible for certification and Ops Approval of new equipment and modifications on the UPS Fleet of 239 aircraft including B747-400, B757, B767, A300 & MD11 aircraft.

Mr. Kefaliotis leads ITT’s business development activities in the air traffic control arena. His duties include strategic planning for this important ITT business area, identifying and bringing to the Defense Headquarters level those initiatives requiring a companywide focus, coordinating division level ATC business development activities, and leading company level pursuit initiatives. His most recent activity was the leading of ITT’s successful ADS-B proposal effort. He is currently serving as ITT’s ADS-B Program Director with overall responsibility for this vital NextGen initiative.

Mr. Kefaliotis has 39 years of experience in the air traffic control arena. From 1970 to 1983 Mr. Kefaliotis was an FAA employee serving as an air traffic controller, an air traffic control facility staff specialist, a supervisor and manager in air traffic control facilities, and as an air traffic control research and development program project manager. Mr. Kefaliotis has both terminal and en route experience serving in the Oakland and Chicago Air Route Traffic Control Centers and in the Cleveland Air Traffic Control Tower. From 1983 until the present Mr. Kefaliotis has served as an engineer and executive level employee with Stanford Telecommunications, Inc. and subsequently, after purchase by ITT of Stanford Telecom, with ITT Corporation focusing on ATC system engineering and development activities.

Mr. Kefaliotis served 7 years in the US Navy. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics and Masters’ Degrees in Transportation Engineering and Computer Science.

Ed Lohr, Director of Fleet Strategy & Analysis, has been at Delta for 10-years including roles in Network Planning, Finance, Corporate Forecasting, and Strategic Planning.  Prior experience includes customer support at Rolls-Royce and GE Aircraft Engines, and finance positions at Northwest Airlines and DHL Airways.

Ed's educational background includes an MBA from Oakland University, MS from Chapman University, and a BS from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.  A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Ed is a licensed private pilot and A&P mechanic.

Richard is the Chief of the Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance (CNS) and Aeronautical Information Management (AIM) Sections for the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) based in Montreal, Canada.  Among other things, he is responsible for the harmonisation of NextGen and SESAR within the international standards framework and, for setting the strategic direction of global infrastructure for the foreseeable future. He was Australia’s nominee to the Air Navigation Commission and came from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority of Australia.  He is a pilot and navigator by trade and has a special interest in system performance.

John L. Mica was first elected to the United States Congress on November 3, 1992, to represent the 7th Congressional District of Florida, which stretches across six counties from the suburban areas north of Orlando to the Jacksonville city limits.  Major cities in the district include Winter Park, Altamonte Springs, Lake Mary, Sanford, Deltona, DeBary, DeLand, Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach, Palm Coast, Palatka and St. Augustine. He is currently serving his tenth term in the 112 th Congress, which began January 5, 2011.

In the 112th Congress, Mica was elected by his peers in the House of Representatives to serve as the Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, one of the largest Congressional panels in Congress. As the House Transportation Chairman, Mica serves on all six Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittees. These subcommittees include Aviation; Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation; Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management; Highways and Transit; Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials; and Water Resources and Environment. He has been recognized as a national leader on a variety of transportation issues.

As a recognized national transportation leader, Rep. Mica was named Chairman of the Subcommittee on Aviation in 2001 and served through 2006. After the September 11 th terrorist attacks, Rep. Mica led the effort in Congress to restore stability to the aviation industry and co-authored the Aviation and Transportation Security Law.

As the Chairman of the Committee, Mica’s top priorities are creating jobs and improving our nation’s infrastructure and economy.  With the budgetary challenges facing the nation, he is committed to doing more with less by better managing our federal assets, finding innovative ways to finance projects, cutting red tape to complete projects more efficiently and moving stalled projects.  He is also a strong advocate of rebuilding and improving our highways, airports, rail systems, waterways and maritime transportation systems and other infrastructure in a cost effective manner that responsibly expands employment opportunities.  To achieve these goals, Chairman Mica is strongly committed to enacting a long-term reauthorization of federal surface transportation programs.
 
Mica is also a senior Member on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, and former Chairman of two of its Subcommittees. As Chairman of the House Civil Service Subcommittee from 1995-1999, Mica authored landmark legislation dealing with veterans preferences, expanding healthcare access for military dependents and establishing one of the federal government’s largest employee stock ownership programs. 

From 1999-2001, Mica served as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources. As Chairman he became a national principal leader in the development of our nation’s counter-narcotics policy. Appointed by then-House Speaker Dennis Hastert as a Co-Chairman of the Speaker’s Drug Free Task Force from 1999-2006, he has been a respected national voice in advocating drug education, prevention, enforcement, eradication and interdiction programs.  Mica has been recognized for his work in the War on Drugs by the U.S Customs Service and Scotland Yard and has received the Legislator of the Year Award from the Florida/National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors.

In Mica's first term in Congress, his freshman Republican colleagues honored him with their Outstanding Legislative Leadership Award for new Members of Congress. Each year since 1993, he has consistently received the Golden Bulldog Award from the Watchdogs of the Treasury, the Thomas Jefferson Award for Distinguished Service (Food Distributors International) and the Spirit of Enterprise Award (the U. S. Chamber of Commerce). In 1995, he was honored as one of 100 Americans to receive the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
As a strong advocate for our country’s veterans and seniors, the Congressman has received nearly every national military service association award. They include national recognition from the Blinded American Veterans Foundation, the National Military Family Association, the Vietnam Veterans of America, the Reserve Officers Association, the Retired Enlisted Association, the Non Commissioned Officers Association, The Seniors Coalition, the United Seniors Association and 60 Plus Association.

Prior to his election to Congress, Mica established several successful business ventures including realestate, communications, international trade consulting and governmental affairs firms. In 1973, the Florida Jaycees recognized Mica's work in reorganizing local government by awarding him the Florida State Good Government Award. As a member of the Florida House of Representatives (1976-1980), Mica served on the Appropriations, the Select Energy, the Ethics and Elections and the Community Affairs Committees. He was recognized for his service by being named one of Florida's Five Outstanding Young Men in 1978. From 1981 to 1985, Mica served as Chief of Staff and Administrative Assistant to Florida Republican United States Senator Paula Hawkins.

The Congressman worked his way through and graduated from the University of Florida (1967) and Miami-Dade College (1965). Mica has also been awarded honorary doctorate degrees from Bethune-Cookman University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Flagler College and Stetson University and an honorary degree from Daytona Beach Community College. He is active in national and community affairs, and is listed in Who's Who in American Politics. In addition, Mica is a member of the Delta Chi Fraternity and Florida Blue Key.  Mica also is a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Board of Visitors the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees. Rep. Mica served six years as the Speaker’s Representative to the U.S. Capitol Preservation Commission and was formerly a Member of the House Administration Committee.

Mica’s wife, Patricia, is a former public schoolteacher who served on the Associate Board of the Florida Symphony, the Board of the Citrus Council of Girl Scouts and the Central Florida Leukemia Lymphoma Society. Currently, Mrs. Mica is a member of the Board of Directors of Florida House, the Capitol Historical Society Board and the Congressional Families for Cancer Awareness Committee. She Co-Chaired the 90 th National Girl Scouts Annual Dinner and is a past President of the Republican Congressional Spouses Organization. Mrs. Mica also led the Flight 93 Capitol Heroes Campaign after the September 11th attack

The Congressman’s brother, Dan Mica, served for ten years as a United States Representative from South Florida. Another brother, David, is a former aide to the late U.S. Senator and Governor Lawton Chiles.

Rep. John Mica and his wife were married in 1972 and have resided in Central Florida since they were married. They have two adult children, D'Anne and Clark.

Peter M. Morton’s extensive 50-year career has been predominantly in aviation, including pilot training, flight deck design, marketing, program management and executive management. As a consultant Peter has worked in the areas of aviation training, flight operations, emergent air traffic management technologies and flight data monitoring. He has also participated in, organized and led large-scale symposia and workshops, and been a member and leader of numerous industry advisory boards. Prior to consulting, Peter held several executive positions at the Boeing Company including Vice President Human Resources and Leadership Development, Vice President Marketing, Director of Customer Training and Program Management and Chief Engineer 757 flight deck. Peter was past president of and now serves on the Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI). Peter earned a Bachelor degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Captain David Newton, Senior Manager NextGen/Airspace for Southwest Airlines, has lead the Automation Revolution to Required Navigation Performance (RNP) at Southwest Airlines by combining Aircraft equipage; Flight Crew Procedures; Training of Pilots, Mechanics, and Dispatchers; and seeking all necessary Regulatory Approvals. He was hired in 1988 and has served as Captain, Check Airman, RNP Program Lead, and Manager.

Educated at Purdue University, he graduated in 1981 with a B.S. degree in Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering. Thereafter he worked as a Flight Control Engineer on the B-2 program and was primarily involved with inner loop control law design, synthesis, and analysis with an emphais on aeroservoelastics and virbroacoustics.

Captain Newton is a recipient of the Southwest Airlines Presidents Award and Southwest Airlines Pilots Association Meritorious Service Award. He resides in Conroe, TX.

Jim Oberstar was born on September 10th, 1934 in the town of Chisholm on Minnesota’s Iron Range.  His father, Louis Oberstar, was raised on the Range, where he met and married Jim’s mother, Mary Grillo.  Louis was an iron miner, first in the Godfrey Underground Iron Mine and then later in the open pits.  Mary worked in the Arrow Shirt Factory in Chisholm to supplement the family income while she raised Jim and his two brothers.

His family and the community instilled strong values in Jim that have guided him through his life.  His father was instrumental in organizing workers to form a union at the Godfrey Mine, fighting for fair wages and a safe workplace.  Jim recalls one day when his father came home early.  “He was dirtier than usual and as white as a sheet,” said Jim.  “There had been a cave-in at the mine and he was buried right up to his chin, with his union card in his top pocket.”

Jim’s first job was delivering the Chisholm Free Press newspaper as a young boy.  In high school and college he worked in the open pit mines himself to pay for his education.  Jim went on to graduate Summa Cum Laude from the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1956, with a double major in French and Political Science.  He continued his education by winning a scholarship to the College of Europe in Belgium.   After college he moved to Haiti, where he used his gift for languages to teach French and Creole to U.S. military personnel and English to Haitian officials.

In 1963 Jim began working for Representative John Blatnik, who represented Jim’s home town of Chisholm in Congress.   Blatnik assigned Jim as a clerk for the Subcommittee on Rivers and Harbors.  In 1970, Blatnik rose to become chairman of the Committee on Public Works and Jim became administrator of the committee.  Today that committee is known as the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. 

Not long after he went to work for Blatnik, Jim courted and eventually married a co-worker, Jo Garlick.  Jim and Jo spent 28 happy years together and raised four children, before Jo died in 1991, a victim of breast cancer.

Jim began a new chapter in his life in November of 1993 when he married Jean Kurth, a widow with two children, who also lost her first spouse to cancer.

In 1974, when Blatnik announced his retirement, Jim sought and won his first term in Congress, becoming the second native of Chisholm to represent Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District.  The people of Northeast Minnesota returned Jim to Washington for 17 more terms, and he ended his career as the longest-serving Member of Congress in Minnesota history.

In the 36 years he served in Congress, Jim became the body’s leading expert on transportation policy.  From 1989 through 1995, he chaired the Subcommittee on Aviation, passing important legislation that led to better maintenance and safer aircraft.  Later, as the Ranking Democrat of the full Transportation Committee, he worked in a bipartisan manner to take the Highway Trust Fund off budget to ensure that gas taxes are used to fix roads and bridges and not to make the budget deficit look smaller.

In January 2007, after voters returned control of Congress to the Democratic Party, Jim was elected chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.  Under Jim, the Committee conducted more than 300 hearings, lasting a total of more than 1,000 hours, and interviewed more than 2,200 witnesses.  Nearly 300 bills and resolutions under the Committee’s jurisdiction were passed by the full House of Representatives, and nearly 200 were approved by both the House and Senate. Those bills included a number of important pieces of legislation that had not been considered by previous Congresses, even though they enjoyed broad bipartisan support.

The Water Resources Development Act had been stalled for six years.  This $23 billion dollar bill authorizes the maintenance and construction on the nation’s harbors, locks and navigation channels.  It also includes funding for critical wildlife habitat projects across the nation and restoration of the Florida Everglades and the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast. The bill passed overwhelmingly in both the House and Senate despite a veto by President George W. Bush.

Jim played a vital role in passing H.R. 1, The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which created or sustained hundreds of thousands of jobs maintaining and improving our nation’s transportation infrastructure.

Because Jim’s committee oversees public buildings, he helped bring new green technologies to federal facilities across the nation, cutting down on the $5.8 billion dollar electricity bill the U.S. government pays each year.

On August 1, 2007, the I-35W bridge collapsed in Minneapolis.  Within hours Jim had authored a bill to rebuild the bridge. Forty-eight hours later, the legislation had cleared both the House and Senate and had been signed into law.

Even though his time in Congress has ended, Jim is still looking to the future.   He has vowed to continue his involvement in transportation, and will share his expertise with new generations as a visiting scholar at the University of Minnesota.

He is a current member of both the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and of the Committee on Education and the Workforce (formerly Education and Labor). Petri is the Chairman of the Aviation Subcommittee of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. He is also a member of the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, where he served as Chairman for 12 years, 1995 through 2006. As a senior member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, he is a member of the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education, and the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training. For more information on Congressman Petri's committee assignments, see his committee page.

EXPERIENCE

• 45 years with Airservices Australia (and predecessors)
• Experience on many radar systems and air traffic control centre projects, and ATC system developments
• Project manager for TAAATS, Australia’s current ATC automation system
• Senior Advisor to the team developing Australia’s future / next generation ATM system
• Participated in external reviews of the USA’s Next Generation Air Transport System (NextGen) plans in 2006 and again in 2007, at the invitation of the JPDO
• For many years, Australian member of the ICAO Panel that developed standards for SSR Mode S and TCAS
• Vice chairman of Panel and chair of SSR Mode S working group

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor of Engineering, University of Adelaide
• Advanced Management Program, Australian Administrative Staff College

AWARDS

• Fellow of Royal Aeronautical Society
• Wakefield Gold medal from Royal Aeronautical Society for work in implementing an advanced air traffic management system (TAAATS)
• Grand Master’s Australian Medal from Guild of Air Pilots and Navigators
• Laurels Award from US magazine Aviation Week and Space Technology
• Chairman’s Safety Award from Aviation safety Foundation of Australasia

Sharon Pinkerton was named senior vice president, legislative and regulatory policy for the Air Transport Association (ATA) in February 2011, and leads policy development on legislative and regulatory matters, working with Capitol Hill and the administration. Ms. Pinkerton joined ATA as vice president, government affairs in April 2006, where she was responsible for overseeing all aviation-related issues before federal, state and local governments. Before joining ATA, she served as assistant administrator for aviation policy, planning and environment at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Prior to her appointment at FAA, Pinkerton was transportation counsel to House Aviation Subcommittee Chairman John L. Mica (R-Fla.) and served on Capitol Hill for nearly 10 years. She began her professional career at Price Waterhouse. A native of Vero Beach, Fla., Pinkerton received a Bachelor of Science degree from Cedarville College in Ohio, and earned a law degree from the University of Florida. Pinkerton is also a Certified Public Accountant.

Richard J. Prosek was selected as the manager of the FAA’s Unmanned Aircraft Program Office (UA PO), AFS-407, in January 2010.  The UA PO is aligned under the FAA’s Aviation Safety Organization.  His other FAA experience includes a tour as the acting Deputy Division Manager for the Flight Technologies and Procedures Division, service as the Chairman of the ICAO Operations Panel and duty as the Designated Federal Official for the All Weather Operations Harmonization Working Group.  Mr. Prosek has 42 years of aviation experience including 33 years of commissioned service in the U.S. Air Force/Air National Guard, where he flew fighter and DV Airlift missions.  Additionally, he is a retired airline captain with 20+ years experience at Part 121 Air Carriers.  Mr. Prosek has a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an MBA from the University of Nevada at Las Vegas.

Ms. Ryals is MITRE’s Corporate Executive Director for the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). She is responsible for MITRE’s NextGen strategy and alignment across all our Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Defense, and Department of Homeland Security sponsors’ missions. Ms. Ryals is also the Executive Director for System Operations, Safety and Security in MITRE’s Center for Advanced Aviation System Development (CAASD), a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) sponsored by the FAA. She is responsible for MITRE/CAASD’s work in airspace design, performance-based navigation, traffic-flow management operations and procedures, aviation system safety, and aviation security.

Throughout her 30-year career, Ryals has actively supported national and international standards bodies, including the In­ternational Civil Aviation Organization and RTCA. She has also served on a number of aviation industry committees, including the FAA Research, Engineering, and Development Advisory Committee (REDAC) Air Traffic Systems Subcommittee, the American Institute of Aerospace and Aeronautics Digital Avion­ics Systems Committee, and the NextGen Advisory Committee (NAC) Subcommittee. Ryals serves on the board of directors of Women in Aerospace and was elected to serve as vice chair beginning January 1, 2011.

Raul Segredo is co-founder and president of Avionica, Inc.  A lifelong aviation advocate, who swept floors starting at 14 years of age and developed navigation software for early Boeing passenger aircraft at 16.  He holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Systems Engineering from the University of Miami and lives (and flies) by the credo that simpler is better.

Raul ascribes to the simple principle of “take care of the customer and they can take care of you” and has marshaled Avionica through nearly two decades of measured and methodical growth.   During his tenure, Raul has focused on positioning Avionica as a respected avionics supplier, incrementally augmenting capabilities and capacity while mitigating risk and increasing shareholder value

A devote entrepreneur, Raul has founded other enduring ventures such as Management Technologies (the market leading hospitality SAAS solution), Red-Fone (an up and coming VOIP equipment and technology supplier), and most recently helped re-establish Eclipse Aviation after a spectacular $2B bankruptcy.

Raul is an avid pilot, type rated to operate various multi-engine jet aircraft, who prefers to fly himself to meetings and vacations alike.  Raul is a devoted father of two and enjoys spending his free time entertaining family and friends.

Dan Smiley is currently on secondment from the FAA to the Civil Air Navigation Services Organization (CANSO).  He is the ATM Operations Program Manager responsible for developing the CANSO work program focused on harmonizing and transforming ATM service delivery.  Dan brings over 31 years of U.S. Federal Government experience to the task, 27 of those years as an FAA air traffic controller and manager.

Prior to this assignment he assisted the FAA International Office in writing and briefing guidance materials describing NextGen programs, for use by FAA Senior Representatives stationed across the globe.  Dan was the Manager of the FAA's air traffic flow control facility, the Command Center, in Herndon Va, the FAA's Customer Advocate after 9/11 and has managed several headquarters branch offices.

He has provided staff work in requirements, budget, and procedures at both headquarters and regional offices.  Dan started his FAA career at Oakland Center as a controller and supervisor for 14 years.  He worked radar and in the oceanic environment which abuts 12 foreign Flight Information Regions, an area that has been a test bed for data link, RNP, and RVSM.

Dan resides in Manassas VA with his wife and two children.

An air traffic controller at Miami Center for the last 20 years, Ruth Stilwell is the current IFATCA representative to the ICAO Air Navigation Commission. The commission serves as the technical body within the ICAO structure and plays a critical role in the development of aviation standards world wide.  Prior to her service to IFATCA, she she served as NATCA's Executive Vice President for six years, chaired the Air Traffic Services Committee for the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), served on President Obama's Transportation Policy Committee during his 2008 Presidential Campaign, served as NATCA's liaison to the Air Traffic Requirements service, served on the RTCA Surveillance Committee and chaired NATCA's National Legislative Committee.  She holds a Doctorate in Public Administration with an emphasis on transportation policy and in addition to numerous articles, is the author of three publications, Understanding ATC Financing, FAA Reform: A Historical Perspective, and The Advantages of Distributed Capacity in Service Continuity Planning for Critical Public Safety Infrastructures. 

Cyro A. Stone is Director of SafeRoute ADS-B Products for ACSS, an L-3 Communications and Thales Company. He is responsible for ACSS’s automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) product line in the areas of development and overall performance. The SafeRoute product line addresses the industry need for airborne and ground ADS-B applications that improve airline operational efficiency and reduce runway incursions.

As a product strategist for ACSS, Stone works with external customers, alliance partners and aerospace industry groups to validate the company’s product development direction. He also serves as a senior member of the ACSS Patent Review and Approval Committee. A recognized aviation authority in the area of safety surveillance technologies, Stone’s contributions include serving as a Technical Advisor to the US Delegation at ICAO for Secondary Radar Surveillance Improvements and Collision Avoidance System Panel (SICASP). He was nominated to serve as Chairman of RTCA/SC-186, Working Group 3, for the Revision of the 1090 MHz MOPS (RTCA/DO-260A).

He joined ACSS in 2001, following more than 20 years in a variety of staff engineering positions at Honeywell Aerospace, AlliedSignal Aerospace, Baker Electronics, and Corus Technologies.

Phoenix-based Aviation Communication & Surveillance Systems (ACSS), 70% owned by L-3 Communications and 30% owned by Thales, is a leader in avionics systems that increase safety, situational awareness and efficiency for aircraft operators. The company specializes in the areas of TCAS, TAWS, Mode S and ADS-B. To learn more about ACSS, please visit the company's web site at www.acss.com.

• Over 20 years of experience on Capitol Hill.
• For the past ten years has worked for the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee’s Aviation Subcommittee under Chairman Rockefeller (D-WV).  Gael is currently the Senior Democratic Professional Staff Member.
  
• Worked as Legislative Director for Congressman Bob Wise (D-WV) prior to his election as Governor of West Virginia.  Handled Member’s obligations to House Transportation Committee and Aviation Subcommittee during this period.
  
• Worked as Legislative Director to Congressman Bob Filner (D-CA) and was responsible for House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee activities prior to working for Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.
  
• Lives in Silver Spring, MD with wife, Elizabeth, and two sons, Gael and Cole.

Dr. Karlin Toner is the Director of the Joint Planning and Development Office (JPDO).  As Director of the JPDO, Dr. Toner manages an interagency initiative charged with facilitating and coordinating the development of the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen).  Dr. Toner also serves as the Senior Staff Advisor to the Secretary of Transportation for NextGen—a role she has held since January 2009.

Dr. Toner has 20 years of experience with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).  From August 2006 to December 2008, she served as Director of the Airspace Systems Program at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C.  Prior to this, Dr. Toner held several key positions in aerospace and aeronautical planning and research while working at the NASA Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California.  From July 2005 to August 2006, Dr. Toner was the Associate Director for Aeronautics, charged with developing long-range technical and resource plans for aeronautical projects.  Prior to that assignment, she established and managed the Aerospace Operations Modeling Branch.  This organization provided a focal point for the modeling and simulation of air traffic operations within NASA.

Dr. Toner was a lecturer in the Aerospace Engineering Department at San Jose State University from 1991 to 1994.  Her technical publications include papers on aircraft aerodynamics and design, computational physics, and the analysis of air traffic systems.  Dr. Toner earned a NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal and is an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Dr. Toner holds doctoral and master’s degrees in aerospace engineering from the University of Florida and a bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Captain Brian Townsend, US Airways, leads the airline’s NextGen initiatives and regional airspace activities. Through his efforts, the airline has become a recognized leader in the development and successful implementation of performance-based operations resulting in optimized and integrated procedures in many areas of the NAS.  Most recently, he was instrumental in partnering the airline with the FAA’s SBS Office for early adoption of ADS-B applications and operations in Philadelphia and is supporting the recently formed ADS-B In Aviation Rulemaking Committee.

Captain Townsend has worked closely with the FAA’s Air Traffic, Safety and Flight Standards operations and has collaborated with other carriers, general and business aviation, and the military in his efforts to move NextGen from concept to implementation.  He recently served on the Leadership Committee and Co-Chair of the Streamlining Operations Workgroup as part of RTCA’s Task Force 5. As a former air safety representative for the Air Line Pilots Association for ten years, Brian served as the Chairman of the National Airspace System Modernization Team and Vice Chairman of the Air Traffic Services Group. His committee work encompassed Performance-Based Operations, RNAV-RNP Procedures and Charting, Data Communications, Unmanned Aircraft Systems, ADS-B, Environmental Issues and a host of other areas and modernization activities.  He more recently helped pioneer the Optimization of Airspace and Procedures for Metroplex (OAPM) as a Industry Representative on the Prototype DC Metroplex Study Team and is currently engaged as an Industry Representative on the Charlotte OAPM Study Team.  The OAPM process is changing the way airspace and procedures will be developed throughout the NAS.  Captain Townsend also serves as a member of the FAA/ATA CNS Task Force, and various RTCA working groups.

Brian has been a professional pilot for over thirty years, flying a variety of transport and general aviation aircraft.  He devoted seven years to general aviation as a professional flight instructor and fixed-base/airport operations manager. He also flew business aviation operations as a member of the Flight Department of a Fortune 50 company prior to joining the ranks of a major airline.

Employed with US Airways (formerly America West) since 1990, he has flown the De Havilland Dash 8, B-737, and is currently a captain on the Airbus A319/320/321.

John has over 45 years of aviation experience in a career rich in air traffic control, airspace management, flight navigation and airport development skills.  John’s aviation career includes 34 years with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as well as four years served in the United States Air Force.  His last assignment with the FAA was served as the Program Director of Airspace Management.  In this position John was responsible for the management of all civil airspace within the United States.  He also provided leadership for initiating the FAA’s National Airspace Redesign program, intended to transform both access and design of America’s airspace for space based operations.  Prior to his assignment in Washington, DC, John was the FAA’s Air Traffic Division Manager in New York City, responsible for all air traffic operations in the northeast corridor. John believes that our global airspace is one of the last untapped resources remaining in the world today and is dedicated to further his vision and passion for modernizing global airspace use.  John is the co-chairperson of RTCA Special Committee 203, developing industry recommended performance standards for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS).  He also serves on the Board of Directors for UVS International located in Paris, France.  He resides in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA with his wife Darlene and two children, Elisabeth and Andrew.

Captain Brian Will is the Director of Airspace Modernization and Advanced Technologies for American Airlines. In this capacity he is responsible for addressing strategic and tactical challenges presented by the transition from the current National Airspace System to NextGen.  He has primary responsibility for issues pertaining to avionics equipage, connected aircraft, and NextGen- related initiatives, to include RNAV/RNP airspace and procedures. His responsibilities involve the selection and acquisition of aircraft equipment required to operate in the safest and most efficient manner throughout the various ATC environments and route structures.

Captain Will also serves as American's 777 and 737 Program Manager.

Following a ten year career in the US Air Force flying the F-15, Captain Will joined American Airlines in 1989. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics and a Master's Degree in Aeronautical Science.

Captain Don Wykoff, a pilot for Delta airlines, serves his home association, the Air Line Pilots Association, International as Chairman of the Flight Time/ Duty Time and Strategic Planning Committees.

As the chairman of ALPA's Flight Time/Duty Time Committee he is responsible for the development of scheduling guidelines and best practices for the mitigation of fatigue among pilots. He recently served as co-chair of the FAA’s Aviation Rulemaking Committee charged with a complete overhaul of the FAA’s Flight and Duty regulations. Captain Wykoff has held numerous ALPA leadership positions, including Executive Administrator for ALPA, International and negotiating committee chairman for the Delta MEC.

In addition to his ALPA duties, Captain Wykoff is also the President of the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA). IFALPA represents over 100,000 airline pilots represented by over 100 Member Associations from around the world. The mission of IFALPA is to be the global voice of professional pilots, to promote the highest level of aviation safety worldwide and to provide representation, services and support to its Member Associations.

Hired by Delta in June 1988, Wykoff flies the B-767.  He is a retired U.S. Air Force fighter pilot and graduated in 1979 from the University of Cincinnati with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree majoring in finance.

Captain Wykoff resides in Cincinnati, Ohio, with his wife Susan, and their two children.