He has over thirty years of experience in Flight Operations Management in both military and civilian applications. Included among his accomplishments is the preparation of a new entrant airline Flight Operations Department for certification including recruitment, manual and training curriculum creation, establishment of Dispatch and Operations Control, including training and configuration planning and flight acceptance of acquired used and overhauled aircraft. He has served as Operations Officer in several Navy squadrons from 1971-1986.
He has been responsible for proactive safety management programs at a major domestic and international airline and participated in Air Transport Association and International Air Transport Association Flight Safety committees as a company representative. He participated in the creation of safety data using BA’s Safety Information System to record, track, analyze and resolve safety issues, and worked with the pilot labor group on all flight safety issues. He has conducted safety audits for code share partners in the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and South America.
In addition, he also developed a company-wide accident/incident procedures manual to address all events from a major fatal accident to small station unique occurrences. He served as the Flight Operations contact point for the Department of Defense Air Carrier Survey and Analysis audit, and prepared all briefing materials and lists. He developed the Flight Operations Internal Self-audit Program in accordance with FAA Advisory Circular and DOD guidelines, directed ISA implementation and reporting for Flight Operations, and interfaced with other company departments. He directed the company team investigating a major wide-body accident including operations, maintenance and government liaison with all participants; and was selected as company liaison with federal agencies, including NTSB, FAA, FBI and state and local groups for the investigation. He also investigated all accidents/incidents for over five years, and during his tenure in the safety position, the company was NTSB accident-free for over four years.
Academic Background
• University of Newport (Salve Regina), Newport, Rhode Island, Master of Arts, International Relations and Management. 1987
• University of LaVerne, LaVerne, California, Bachelor of Arts, Industrial Psychology. 1976
Professional Experience
• RTI Group, LLC, Annapolis, MD, Aircraft Traffic Control, 2010 – present.
• Safety Services International (SSI), Sammamish, WA, Aviation Operations Expert, 2003-2010
• Aerospace Industries Association, Washington, DC, Assistant Vice President, Civil Aviation. AIA representative for Commercial Aviation Safety Team (CAST), Aviation Safety Information Analysis System (ASIAS), FAA Safety Management System Aviation Rulemaking Committee (SMS ARC), Joint Planning and Development Office (JPDO), NextGen Institute Management Council (IMC) and Aircraft Noise Control Committee (ANCC) for AIA members. 2009-2010
• BAE Systems, Washington, DC, Contract Program Analyst. Team member of FAA Air Traffic Organization involved in Safety Management Systems. Facilitated training courses, Safety Culture Surveys, and enhancements to safety in the ATO organization. Served as course instructor and facilitator for ATO Safety Programs. 2007-2009
• North American Airlines, JFK International Airport, Jamaica, New York. Director of Safety – served as Chief Safety Officer for a 757/767 domestic and international airline responsible for all safety activities including flight safety, risk assessment, internal evaluation, accident/incident investigation, and ground safety. 2006-2007The wicks Group, Washington, DC. As the Aviation Safety and Regulatory Compliance Consultant worked with FAA and ICAO regulations to prepare non-US airlines and foreign Civil Aviation Authorities for FAA International Aviation Safety Assessments (IASA. Revised and wrote FAA and ICAO compliant manuals for flight and ground operations, training, operations control and safety. As Aviation Safety Consultant, was consultant on safety audits and evaluations of FAR part 121 and 135 operators. 2002-2006
• American Airlines, St. Louis; Captain and Check Airman – International and domestic flying including Europe, Hawaii and the Caribbean. Check Airman DC9 aircraft. 2001-2002
• Trans World Airlines, Inc., St. Louis, Missouri, Director, Flight Operations Safety – responsible for all flight safety operations, including accident/incident investigation of all aircrew related events. Interface with Corporate Safety Department on all aspects of ground safety, hazardous materials/dangerous goods, and foreign object and aircraft ground damage. Responsible for safety debrief program which responds to all aircrew inputs concerning safety, air traffic control, dispatch and operational issues. Attend Flight Operations Systems Standards Committee to validate training and policies and procedures. Coordinated with pilot labor group to facilitate introduction of new technology safety initiatives, such as Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) and a pilot penalty-free self-disclosure program. Served as Chief Accident Investigator and government liaison for a major wide-body accident. Additional duties included interface with legal counsel and litigation processes. 1995-2001.
• Trans World Airlines, Inc., St. Louis, Missouri, Captain and First Officer on L-1011, MD80 and DC9 Aircraft – member of the ALPA Accident Investigation Committee specializing in hazardous materials/dangerous goods safety issues. Served as an adjunct Professor for Air Transportation Management at National University, San Diego, California. 1987-1995
• Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, Student – selected as the only Naval Resource Captain to attend the year-long senior Naval War College curriculum. Subjects included Strategic Planning, Programming and Budgeting. Policy Making and Implementation, Operations Research, and Risk Analysis. Received Master of Arts in International Relations with a minor in Management from the University of Newport (Salve Regina). 1986-1987
• JetAmerica Airlines, Long Beach, California, Captain on MD80 Aircraft – Served as an MD80 Captain for a domestic new entrant airline. Worked with training to develop and implement pilot curriculum. Participated in pilot recruiting and simulator and ground training. During this period, served as Commanding Officer of a reserve Navy C9 squadron from 1984 to 1986. (JetAmerica was bought by Alaska Airlines in 1987.) 1981-1985
• McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Company, Long Beach, Product Test Captain – Served as Production Test Captain for new and used aircraft, including acceptance and certification. Participated in production test flying and training on MD-80 and DC9 aircraft. 1981
• Trans World Airlines, Inc., St. Louis, Missouri, Flight Engineer on 727 Aircraft – Responsible for aircraft systems, maintenance discrepancies and servicing. Furloughed due to airline restructuring. 1978-1980
• Whidbey Island WA, San Diego, CA, Naval Aviator – Served as active duty Naval Officer in administration and personnel, training, safety, standardization and pilot evaluation, operations and maintenance functional check pilot in C9 and multi-engine piston aircraft. 1970-1978
Ratings and Certifications
• Airline Transport Pilot - Multi-Engine Land, 767/757, L1011, and DC9 Aircraft
• Commercial - Single-Engine Land
• Flight Engineer - Turbojet