Aviation Management Associates has extensive aviation domain experience. The staff is comprised of many former executives from both government and industry that have strong operational and organizational skills and experience supporting a broad agenda of operational research and management.
Aviation Management Associates is widely recognized for its expertise, innovation and insight in developing aviation visions supported by concepts of operations and use. Aviation Management has demonstrated credentials in developing, documenting and validating system architecture and functional requirements that serve to baseline all types and natures of aviation systems.
Additionally, Aviation Management Associates expertise includes experience in developing and analyzing business cases as well as successfully developing transition strategies and executing transition plans for the insertion or migration to new organizations, policies, technologies, systems, procedures or processes.
A strong organization bias toward operational research and management enables Aviation Management Associates to successfully provide a broad range of performance analyses and validation with supporting analytical modeling and simulation capabilities and tools.
Aviation Management Associates primary staff is backed up with a cadre of technical experts from fields including meteorology, engineering, physics, mathematics, statistics, avionics, and human factors among others.
In many cases Aviation Management Associates has applied these skill sets to assist many individuals and organizations in crafting successful business marketing and development efforts within the aviation domain.
Dave Barstow: Business Development and Technical Support
Mr. Barstow’s thirty year career and experience includes national and international aviation environments from both civil and military perspectives. He identified, bid and won new business, led the corporation as an executive level manager, and performed technically across information technology, operational and strategic planning domains.
Dave was the SE2020 Program Manager working closely with the FAA and was responsible for 14 teammates, with a staff of over 200 with $3M of monthly revenue across 60 task orders ranging technically from budget, acquisition, operations and strategic planning. At the start of the contract in 2010, he booked $140M under contract in 6 weeks. Additionally he provided direct oversight of eight additional contracts valued at $34.6 Million.
Mr. Barstow has served as a capture manager on a number of key programs. He won a UAS support task through Navy SPAWAR to support both the FAA and the DOD Services move toward integration of unmanned vehicles in the national Airspace System (NAS). He has introduced, developed and executed the Federal Enterprise Architecture product offerings along with other federal program initiatives.
In the technical arena Dave has provided high-end engineering and operational services at Patuxent River Naval Air Station to support the Joint Precision Landing System (JPALS), Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) and next generation air carrier (CVN-21) requirements and CONOPS management and has performed on Navy Unmanned Air System contracts working with the joint services and the FAA. He supported the FAA Unmanned Arial Systems (UAS) Program Office (AVS) and the DoD Joint Integrated Product Team to integrate UAS into the National Airspace System (NAS). Other technical focus areas are for data management for aeronautical information transition for AIXM and for NAS level and system level requirements related to new acquisitions and support to OMB directives.
Dave has directly supporting the RTCA Free Flight Steering and Select Committees and was a member of the core staff of the Flight 2000 program. He was a participant to ATC User Teams for Free Flight Phase 1 tools and provided direct support to the Integration Manager for tool risk management and budgetary support. He has done cost benefit, operational analysis and risk assessment for traffic flow management, airport equipage, radar consolidation and mission area analysis of the airport surface movement programs. He has led the initial joint industry/government NAS operational concept development. Mr. Barstow was also a task force member for development of the FAA Acquisition Management System and the system engineering operational analysis action team for FY 99 budget planning and a core team member for development of the NAS Architecture.
Mr. Barstow has a Masters Degree in Aviation Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, attended the Air War College, USAF, Senior Officer Management and received his Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from Southern New Hampshire University in 1969.
Steve Carver: Information Security
Mr. Carver’s career while in the Federal Aviation Administration included various positions in EnRoute, Terminal and Flight Service NAS facilities as well as in FAA regions, and headquarters. Mr. Carver, as the former Information Security Manager for the Federal Aviation Administration, was responsible for all of the information security programs within the FAA critical National Airspace System (NAS) infrastructure. This included the security accreditation and certification of all new and ongoing NAS systems - operational, support and research. His responsibilities in this position also included review of NAS architecture for enterprise mitigation, assuring that the NAS met its FISMA goals through certification and authorization processes, reviewing Intelligence information and reporting possible implication to the Air Traffic Organization, Chief Information Security Officer, NAS Operational VP, NAS COO and the DOT Secretary. Prior to assuming this responsibility Steve managed real-time risk of all FAA air traffic control operational systems.
Mr. Carver attended Old Dominion University as a Business Major before receiving training in the Department of Defense Electronic Apprenticeship Program and the FAA Certification Program. He has completed training in the Information Systems Audit and Control Association’s Information Assurance Program as well as completed Master Degree Courses from the Information Resource Management College of the National Defense University. Steve also possess numerous FAA certifications, including Chief Information Security Officer and Information Security Auditor.
Mike Cheston: Airport and Security Support
Mike Cheston has over 35 years of leadership experience in aviation and airport management and operations, homeland security, antiterrorism, crisis planning & response, logistics planning, military intelligence and command. Expert at problem analysis to solution and maintaining proactive and professional relationships with the customer.
Mr. Cheston is a nationally recognized airport subject matter expert (SME) providing a range of consultancy support on technical areas of interest to airports. His expertise ranges from airport security, business development, and operational and security programmatic development. He has led technical processes in support surface surveillance, surface management guidance systems (SMGS), and security technology deployments. He has worked as an aviation security SME, and a safety management systems facilitator/instructor.
Mike worked as a Senior SME, National Aviation System Security Plan (NASSP), TSA, to provide expert support to development of the current NASSP and identification of threats to the NAS. In addition Mr. Cheston supported the JPDO Aviation Security Working Group and Airport Working Group. He provided technical support to working group tasked with development and design of the NextGen Aviation Security Concept of Operations (CONOPS) in addition to providing expert analysis and technical assistance to the Airports Working Group and Global Harmonization Working Group on operational and safety issues associated with NextGen.
Mr. Cheston has authored and presented papers on aviation-related topics, including: The Electromagnetic Pulse Threat, The Counter Terrorist Magazine (9/2009), Regional Airport Operations Center Concept, IATS Proceedings, (9/2007,) Landing Fee Issues for GA Airports, Airport Business Online (9/2007), GA Airport Disaster Preparation; ICS, Airport Business Online (4/2006), NextGen GA Airport Issues, Airport Business Online (9/2006), Planning a Red Team Strategy, Airport Magazine (6/2006), Threat of Biological Weapons Attack Against Civil Aviation, Joint Military Intelligence College (DIA), (9/2001), Most recently he was appointed to the Advisory Board to the Board of Directors of the National Domestic Preparedness Coalition (NDPC).
Previously Mike delivered airport project support to national consultancies on several aviation/airport operations & national security programs. Projects include contracts for technical and operational deliverables on security programs requiring interagency collaboration, Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE), Atlanta Hartsfield (ATL), Dallas-Ft. Worth (DFW) and others. Program Manager responsible for planning, development, production and delivery of a new training program designed to meet and exceed the standards required under the new FAA Part 139 Airport Certification Requirements regulation for over 100 staff members of DCA. Project Manager for two FAA Airports Safety Management Systems (SMS) Pilot programs. Developed security operations & process analysis models for C3 facilities at numerous international airports (ATL, CLE, MSP, and AUH). Co-authored security concept of operations (ConOps) for NextGen airport program. Produced threat and vulnerability assessment (TVA) for potential IED at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and served as SME to HSPD-16 Air Domain Risk Assessment. Taught Threat & Vulnerability Assessment process (TVA) under contract with non-profit National Disaster Preparedness Coalition, Inc. and provided hostage survival and crisis management training to non-profit Crisis Consulting International.
Mke served the Rhode Island Airport Corporation, Providence, Rhode Island as CEO,State Aviation Director, and Senior State Aviation Law Enforcement Official. His responsibilities included providing all strategic and operational leadership to the Rhode Island Airport Corporation, including Providence T. F. Green Airport (PVD) and five outlying general aviation reliever airfields. He managed 200 employees and $45 million operating budget and served as the Senior Aviation Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) for State as well as serving in armed LEO capacity during tenure in support of various RIAC law enforcement activities. He directed operations, maintenance and planning efforts for airports to successfully withstand and rebound from the 9/11 attacks downturn in the industry and authored antiterrorism plan and rules of engagement (ROE) for National Guard contingent and State Police support.
In the 1990s Mike served as General Manager, Operations and Maintenance for the Portland International Airport, Portland, Oregon where he: provided strategic direction and senior level management for all operations, maintenance, logistics, fire, security, law enforcement, customer service, and operational planning at PDX; managed 220 employees and $32 million operating budget; directed antiterrorism and security efforts at airport; provided oversight, process direction and implementation direction for new Surface Movement Guidance System (SMGS) program testing and evaluation on airport. Mike also served as Business Analyst/Project Manager/Manager Airport Operations/Operations Officer for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, Alexandria, Virginia.
Mr. Cheston received his BA Degree in English from St. Mary's College of Maryland, St. Mary's City, MD prior to earning his M.B.A. in Urban Planning & Real Estate Development from George Washington University, Washington, DC. Mike also received his M.S.,Strategic Intelligence Joint Military Intelligence College, DIA, Washington, DC.
Gary Church: Principal
Mr. Church has extensive experience and current involvement in all facets of Air Traffic Control Operations, Airspace Management and Security, Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance aviation-related activities. Extensive relationship and work with federal agencies including the Federal Aviation Administration, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Transportation Security Administration and Research and Special Projects Administration.
Mr. Church has guided Aviation Management Associates through a broad range of aviation issues related to the FAA, NASA and TSA including: airports; security; airspace; air traffic control; flight standards; research, engineering, development and logistics; budget; and legislative affairs.
Gary’s major activities have included membership on the FAA Aviation System Capacity Task Force, FAA Air Traffic Control Procedures Advisory Committee, participation in the Airport Operators Council International's Airport Capacity and Delay Reduction Task Force, participation in National and Regional FAA sponsored Think Tank Forums, and FAA National Airspace Review and membership on selected RTCA Special Committees, including SC155, Future Communication, Navigation and Surveillance Requirements and Task Force 2: Digital Data Link.
Prior too establishing Aviation management Associates, Inc. in 1984 he was Manager of Air Traffic Control with industry trade association representing all major airline interests in air traffic control and related matters with the FAA. Additionally, served as airline spokesperson and representative in government, private and public forums concerning air traffic control and related technical, procedural and policy issues. Major activities included coordination and implementation of the air traffic controller's strike contingency plans between the FAA and the airline industry, participation in the Air Traffic Control Association's Terminal Control Area Requirements Review, participation in thirty-two of forty-four public National Airspace Review Task Groups and participation in FAA's Human Factors Workshops. In addition, Mr. Church worked extensively with air traffic control procedures in both domestic and international environment. Responsible for developing, coordinating, and implementing a wide range of air traffic control procedure initiatives on behalf of the airline industry in terminal, en-route, and oceanic areas affecting the safety, capacity, and efficiency of national and international air transportation.
Before joining ATA Gary was employed as an air traffic control specialist at the Indianapolis Air Route Traffic Control Center and involved in a wide range of air traffic control responsibilities including: development and coordination of procedures, equipment and airspace matters; incident analysis; facility management techniques to insure proper facility performance; development of training programs; and computer system supervision of facility automation configuration and performance. He was detailed as a radar instructor in 1977 to develop a dynamic simulation training capability, program and procedures for instructing air traffic control students in a simulated air traffic control environment. In addition he was selected to serve as Facility Area Office Specialist in 1978 to develop and coordinate air traffic control procedures and airspace matter between FAA en-route and terminal facilities, as well as coordinate these issues with affected military organizations and personnel. Further, responsibilities included developing equipment initialization, transition, and implementation planning and procedures for equipment (i.e., Direct Access Radar Channel). Also accomplished first new and extensive rewrite of Indianapolis Air Route Traffic Control Center Facility Operations Procedures Manual. Participated FAA systems integration working group supporting of Electronic Tabular Display Subsystem (ETABS) planned as electronic flight strips. Developed a communications course in 1979 to instruct developmental controllers in the use, capabilities, and limitations of FAA communication equipment.
Mr. Church’s education experience includes: FAA Instrument Flight Rating, Washington DC (1981); Indiana University, Bloomington, Ind. (1971-1977) Major fields of study included physics and economics; University of Evansville, Evansville Ind. (1967-1970) Major fields of study included physics and industrial engineering with related concentration in personnel supervision matters; FAA Private Pilot, Anchorage, Alaska (1969); University of California, Davis/Berkeley, Calif. (1965-1966) Major fields of study included physics and economics.
Mr. Church’s organizational membership includes: Air Traffic Control Association; Alexandria, Virginia where he served as Chairman 1995 ATCA Convention, Technical Chairman 1992 ATCA Convention, Technical Co-chairman 1987 ATCA Convention, Technical Co-chairman 1988 ATCA Convention and Member of Awards and Scholarship Committees; Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics (now RTCA), Washington, D.C.; Aero Club of Washington, Washington, D.C, Trustee in 1992; Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Florida, Member of University Research Advisory Council and Chairman Airway Sciences Research Advisory Committee; National Aeronautics Association; Washington, D.C.; Experimental Aircraft Association; Federal Aviation Administration Aviation System Capacity Task Force; Center for Applied Human Factors in Aviation; Orlando, Florida Member of Advisory Board Group; University Aviation Association; Opelika, Alabama; Human Factors Society; Santa Monica, California; National Aviation Club; Washington, D.C.; Indianapolis Council of Federal Agencies; Indianapolis,
Publications and Awards include the following: Flight Safety Foundation Bulletin; Article: "Air Traffic Control Communication Concerns"; Air Traffic Control Association; Letter of Commendation; Flight Safety Foundation Bulletin; Article: "The FAA NOTAM System"; Air Traffic Control Association; Letter of Commendation; Article: "The Changing Challenge for Air Traffic Control"; Air Traffic Control Association; Article: "A Look at Runway Occupancy"; Air Traffic Control Association; Technical Writer of the Year Award; Encyclopedia Britannica; Contributing Editor on Aviation; Air Traffic Control Association; Article: "ATC: The Human Element"; Federal Aviation Administration; Letter of Commendation; Letter of Appreciation; Indianapolis Area United Way Combined Federal Campaign; Outstanding Achievement Award; Federal Aviation Administration; Letter of Commendation; United States Jaycees; Outstanding Achievement Award; Indiana State Jaycees; Outstanding Achievement Award; Brownsburg Jaycees; Jaycee of the Year; and Federal Aviation Administration; Letter of Commendation; Letter of Appreciation
William Cotton: Air Traffic Control System Development and Flight Operations
Mr. Cotton worked with Flight Safety Technologies, Inc. (AMEX FLT) to create and manage the company’s strategy for developing its air safety technologies. This included creation of the concepts of operation, the operational design of its safety systems including the patented Unicorn ground proximity and collision alerting system, and the Aircraft Wake Safety Management system for increased airport capacity.
As the Manager of Air Traffic and Flight Systems, United Airlines Mr. Cotton was responsible for all of United’s input and interaction with air traffic service providers, worldwide, from local facility to top management level. He was also responsible for the specification of cockpit equipment for new aircraft purchases and upgrade retrofits of cockpit equipment for safety improvements and navigation and communication efficiencies. This involved running a large department with responsibility for program development, program management, personnel issues, hiring and termination. Specific accomplishments under Mr. Cotton’s leadership included: (1) the creation of the ICAO Future Air Navigation Systems concept and getting it approved by the Air Navigation Commission; (2) the creation of the Free Flight concept for air traffic management and getting it accepted by FAA and developed through RTCA; (3) the establishment of the National Route Program at FAA; (4) the approval and implementation of Reduced Vertical Separation Minima in the North Atlantic and Pacific Regions of ICAO; and (5) the creation, FAA and ICAO approval, and implementation of FANS-1 for data communications and GPS-based RNP navigation in the Asia Pacific Region.
During Mr. Cotton’s tenure at United he oversaw and led a number of notable industry achievements including: (1) achieving ICAO and Member State approval of RNP 10 (Required Navigation Performance), lateral separation standard in the Pacific; (2) achieving establishment of new routes over the Russian Far East between North America and Asia, and Polar Routes across Russia and China; (3) achieving the first certification of an Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System in a transport aircraft and approval for full fleet implementation; (4) achieving approval for full fleet implementation of Predictive Windshear weather radar systems. Bill was also involved in creating new approach criteria and achieving a funded program for installation and operation at SFO on closely spaced runways as well as creating and delivering testimony to Congressional Committees on aviation issues related to air traffic control systems, their performance, and flight safety.
From 1995 to 2000Mr. Cotton was concurrently Chairman of the Board, ATN Systems, Inc., where he led a Washington-based consortium of the eleven largest U.S. Airlines in carrying out a cooperative agreement with FAA to create the Aeronautical Telecommunications Network. In addition, Mr. Cotton has been a member of the National Academy of Sciences select committee on the future needs of air traffic management; RTCA Free Flight Implementation Steering Committee; RTCA Free Flight Implementation Select Committee, Inception - 2200 and the Air Transport Association, Flight Systems Integration Committee, Air Traffic Management Committee, and Alliance for Safety.
Mr. Cotton honors include a 2006 NASA award for contribution to the Autonomous Operations Planner, Pro Pilot award for pioneering efforts on Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B), Aviation Week and Space Technology Laurels Award for Pioneering Work in Aircraft Situational Awareness Systems for safety and the RTCA Chairman’s Award for Sustained Service on Free Flight Select Committee. Bill is a 1964 graduate of the University of Illinois with a BS Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering.
Gary R. Church: Aviation Operations Support/ Business Development Support (Chief Executive Officer)
The President of Aviation Management Associates, Inc. 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 the Aero Club of Washington where he was Membership Chair and Trustee. Further, Mr. Church served as the Chairperson of the Airway Science Research Advisory Council of Embry- Riddle Aeronautical University. Mr. Church majored in physics and minored in economics at the University of California, Berkeley and Indiana University, Bloomington.
Reza Eftekari, PhD: Technical Support
Dr. Eftekari is a seasoned technical executive with over 30 years of professional experience in the field of information technology, signal processing, communications/networking technologies, and applications of advanced automation technologies. Particular domain expertise in FAA modernization systems, including air traffic automation, data link, telecommunications, and voice communications. Significant expertise in systems engineering and hardware/software prototyping and integration activities for DOD C3I systems.
As an Executive Director at the MITRE Corporation he oversaw enterprise modernization for a group of 600 experts in areas such as strategic planning, lifecycle acquisition, systems engineering, and advanced technologies supporting FAA, DHS and other government customers such as IRS and the US Federal Courts. He previous experience included a role as Director of National Air Space (NAS) Infrastructure Modernization Division in MITRE’s Center for Advanced Aviation System Development where he was responsible for all modernization program studies for terminal and en-route automation, communications, navigation, and surveillance work with FAA.
Further Reza has managed technology areas such as network and communication technologies; distributed simulation and software engineering; advanced database, data mining, language-related technologies; C2 decision support technologies; and C4ISR analysis. His background includes work in the communications and anti-submarine warfare research areas, which ranged from analysis to modeling and simulation to hardware and software prototyping. Specific applications included wireless COTS products to DOD applications. Networking activities included low speed ATM transmission on tactical SATCOM, wireless (SATCOM/LOS) ATM for Global Grid, and field trials for DOD community using wireless PBXs.
Dr. Eftekari serves as an adjunct professor at George Mason University, George Washington University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, and University of Maryland. He received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University. He has held both DoD and DHS Top Secret clearances.
Pat Forrey: Workforce Policies and Plans Support
As a result of Pat’s proven leadership skills he was elected President of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association from 2006 until 2009. During his tenure his responsibilities included NATCA National President and Chief Executive Officer where he managed over 50 employees with an annual budget of $20 million. He was chair of all Executive Board meetings and Biannual Conventions and he prepared annual budget requests. In addition to these executive and administrative responsibilities he was the primary Congressional lobbyist and has testified on a variety of safety topics on behalf of 20,000 aviation safety professionals and was responsible for address the media and negotiating collective bargaining agreements for 19 bargaining units in the public and private sector with the Federal Aviation Administration.
In addition to his NATCA duties, he was selected to serve on the AFL-CIO’s Political Committee, which developed Union involvement in industry through participation in RTCA, the NGATS Institute, ATMAC and other forums.
While NATCA President he negotiated an Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) with the FAA to further address the needed change to a safety culture in the FAA. He established a mentorship program for newly hired air traffic controllers and other safety professionals to assimilate and educate them on their profession. Mr. Forrey received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1983 from the Cleveland State University in Cleveland, Ohio. He is a trained Air Safety Investigator, Arbitration Advocate, Classification and Compensation Expert and trained in Interest Based Bargaining (IBB) and numerous other related Conflict Resolution techniques.
Shawn Friesen: AMA Director of Contacts and Administration
Mr. Friesen has experience as a program analyst supporting the AEGIS shipbuilding budget and STANDARD Missile contracts. He later went on to train in Information Technology at Chubb Computer Services. After completing training he began working at E-Commerce Industries, Inc. where he managed the installation and maintenance of e-Commerce platforms and Mobile Computing software. Mr. Friesen is a graduate of the University of Miami where he received a Bachelors of International Finance & Marketing.
Ira Gershkoff: System and Operations Analysis Support
Mr. Gershkoff has over 25 years experience in airline operations and IT, in positions ranging from analyst to VP. He Invented patent-pending technologies to improve airline schedule efficiency and is a recognized leader in streamlining processes to improve performance, with a smooth transition from the old to the new. Recent work has resulted in patent-pending technology to vary airline schedules in response to fluctuations in demand. Benchmark tests show profitability improvement of tens to hundreds of millions of dollars for major carriers. Ira was winner of Small Business Innovation Research grant from the National Science Foundation and applied the technology to additional applications for air taxi and air charter services. (Formerly JIT Airline Resources LLC). Previously Mr. Gershkoff provided strategic IT consulting services examined costs/benefits/risks of transitioning a Point-of-Sale system to a centralized application model, resulting in long-term savings of $2 million per year in network maintenance costs. He has also evaluated crew scheduling procedures for four airlines; recommended process changes resulting in expected savings of up to $2.5 million annually.
From 1994 to 2000 Mr, Gershkoff was Vice President of Sabre System and led the team that developed a state-of-the-art operations control center for a major Chinese airline. Resulting design was the first to integrate all key elements of system operations control into a single suite of applications; project has now become a template for implementation at other airlines around the world. Mr Gershkoff also served as Vice President, Applications Development and managed a department of 115 programmers and analysts. Ira instituted rigorous project management methodology for tracking department workflow. Analyzed long-term architecture options for migrating from a mainframe-based system to a client/server environment, including transition issues and costs. From 1991 to 1994 he was a Director at American Airlines and managed a department responsible for monitoring operations performance and working across organizational lines to get problems resolved. He oversaw benchmarking studies of performance relative to competitors and re-set internal performance standards based on those benchmarks. Undertook consolidation of multiple databases through corporate data warehouse, resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars in annual savings of data center expenditures. Prior to joining American Airlines Ira was Manager, Corporate Research & Development for United Airlines with a responsibility for a crew scheduling system for 18,000 crew members. Mr. Gershkoff received a B.S. and M.S., Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1974 prior to joining ARINC Research as an engineer.
Mr. Gershkoff has had numerous published technical articles and had been often referenced in trade press these include: “Removing ASMs from the Trash Can”, Op Ed in Aviation Daily, October 13, 2006; “Walking the Tightrope: Even when budgets are tight, companies still need to foster a culture that embraces process improvement”, CIO Update, April 2004; “Out with the Old, In with the New”, Business Integration Journal, December 2003; “Improving On-Time Performance and Dependability” (with Peter Berdy), in Handbook of Airline Operations, Gail F. Butler and Martin R. Keller, eds., McGraw-Hill, 2001; “An Approach to Just-in-Time Airline Scheduling”, in Operations Research in the Airline Industry, Gang Yu, ed., Kluwer Academic Publishers, Boston, 1998; “A Hybrid Scheduled/Charter Framework for Long-Haul Air Service,” in Handbook of Airline Marketing, Gail F. Butler and Martin R. Keller, eds., McGraw-Hill, l998; and “The Crew Schedule Optimization Problem”, Interfaces, August 1989 among others. Ira sits on the Board of Directors, MIT Enterprise Forum (2007 to date); is a member, Vistage International (2005-2007); and Chairs, Technology Executives Networking Group, Los Angeles and Washington, DC Chapters (2003-2006). He has completed Six Sigma Executive training through General Electric (2000) and has served as Chairman of AGIFORS Crew Management Study Group (1988-1991).
Karl Grundmann: Aviation Business Development Support
Mr. Grundmann has 31 years experience with the Federal Aviation Administration focusing in the field of air traffic control. Karl began his career as an air traffic control specialist working at both military and civilian facilities from the Sacramento Executive Air Traffic Control Tower to the Southern California TRACON. He was heavily involved in controller workforce issues from 1983 until 1993 when he moved to Washington, DC as the workforce liaison to the Air Traffic Requirements Organization and later to the FAA Free Flight Program Office. During this period, Mr. Grundmann demonstrated exceptional ability to build consensus and successfully collaborate on a variety of technical programs.
This successful experience led to a position as a NASA employee to provide a liaison between NASA and the FAA from 1999 to 2003. This was followed by his NASA role as the Director of Partnership Management and Communications to the JPDO in Washington, DC until 2007 where he again demonstrated his strong interpersonal skills, innovation and leadership. His recognized accomplishments then led to a management position at Boeing Phantom Works, Advanced Air Traffic Management, developing long range business strategies and plans as well as work teaming and partnering opportunities and agreements. Karl received further business development, marketing, sales and contract proposal experience with Raytheon until 2010.
Karl is both well known and well liked in air traffic control circles and commands the respect of his peers from air traffic controllers in the field to top air traffic control management in Washington, DC.
Michael J. Harrison: Aviation Engineering Support
As former Director of Architectural and Systems Engineering for the Federal Aviation Administration, Mr. Harrison was responsible for the development of the FAA's $10 billion to $18 billion capital investment plans to execute strategies for aviation transportation investments. In addition, Mr. Harrison provided leadership and long-term business planning for the FAA in various management capacities, with emphasis on planning, research, systems engineering, and engineering development. With extensive experience in aviation, from flight operations to air traffic management and airport operations, much of Mr. Harrison's experience has been in systems engineering for development of requirements, transition strategies, program planning and execution, and defining new operational concepts in aviation. This includes experience in technology assessment, feasibility, safety risk assessments, measures of performance, architectures, systems integration, and consensus standards development.
Doug Helton: Aviation Technical Policy and Plans Support
Mr. Helton has over 25 years of aviation industry experience providing expert domain knowledge of aircraft and air traffic control operations, technologies and plans and programs. Mr. Helton’s previous experience includes enhanced vision system marketing and sales, coordination of engineering, manufacturing, management and customer priorities and initiatives for ADS-B, GPS-WAAS and data link products and services, and Vice President of Air Traffic Services and Technology for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association leading a professional staff focused on government air transportation policy, plans, programs, procedures and technologies. Mr. Helton holds a BS Degree in Air Commerce/Flight Technology from the Florida Institute of Technology as well as certificates from the University of Southern California in Aircraft Accident Investigation and Kansas City University in Aircraft Certification and Airworthiness in addition to Management Courses from the American Management Association. Mr. Helton is a Commercial Instrument Pilot and Flight Instructor with over 1,000 hours of flight time.
Richard Kramer, PhD: Aviation Technical Programs Support
Dr. Kramer recently retired as Director of Business Development for CSC Federal Sector, where he provided business development leadership in two important U.S. Government Accounts the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Department of Commerce including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Dick has extensive background in developing business and designing solutions for the FAA infrastructure especially in the areas of networking, data communications, telecommunications and network management. He has also worked extensively in Aeronautical Information Management, Flight Services and Aviation Weather.
Prior to assuming his role in Business Development Dr. Kramer held a series of increasingly responsible positions in technical and program management. As Engineering Director for the Aviation and Weather Business area in DynCorp/GTE he was responsible for the development and implementation of the Aeronautical Information System (AIS) for the FAA as well as the enhancement of the Direct User Access Terminal Service. As Director of Research and Development for GTE, he developed enhanced capabilities in Network Management, Network Modeling and Information Systems Security.
Prior to that Dick was heavily involved as an FAA support contractor in the design of the current National Airspace System operational backbone network, including NADIN 1 and NADIN 2. He was a contributor to the inaugural Official National Airspace System Plan, Interfacilities Communications Section.. Dick has written and presented many informal presentations and white papers on Integrated Network Management, Network Architectures and Protocol Design Tradeoffs. He has been a member of the IEEE Communications Society for 30 years
In Dr. Kramer’s earlier career he served on the faculty of the Pennsylvania State University from 1972 to 1980 where he taught mathematics and published a number of mathematical research papers in the field of Partial Differential Equations. He earned his Ph. D. degree in Mathematics from the University of Pennsylvania, and his B. A. cum Laude, in Mathematics, from Fordham University.
Bob Lilley, PhD: Aviation Navigation Support
Doctor Lilley has provided considerable management and technical experience in advanced navigation and position location systems. He has contributed to navigation/position evaluation, test, operations, system integration and national/international navigation policy. Recently, his leadership of the program to demonstrate the benefits of magnetic-field aviation antennas for Loran-C in weather operations has led to reconsideration of the system as a backup or alternative to GPS. Dr. Lilley is Director Emeritus of the Avionics Engineering Center, Ohio University, earned his Ph.D. at Ohio University and is an instrument-rated commercial pilot. He was awarded the Medal of Merit by the International Loran Association (ILA) for contributions to the Loran-C program. He is an ILA past-president and long-time member of the Board of Directors. Dr. Lilley was awarded the FAA's first Excellence in Aviation Award in 1997.
Bob Long: Aviation Maintenance and Engineering Support
Bob is an incredible client resource with more than 34 years of FAA experience in FAA ATC maintenance. Mr. Long spent over 20 years as an FAA field manager at numerous FAA facilities and offices. The last 8 years of his FAA career were spent as a Senior Executive as Airway Facilities Program Manager and Deputy Director of the FAA's Airways Facilities Service. Mr. Long's accomplishments included Co-chairing the NAS Configuration Board, which established and maintained the baseline configuration for over 25,000 FAA facilities, developing the ATS business model for the ATO's Technical Operations Organization for financial and management accountability, developing national emergency plans and procedures, and directing NAS modernization efforts for fielding new equipment, systems and facilities in the national airspace system. Mr. Long, as a qualified engineer, majored in physics at the University of Nebraska and graduated from the Federal Executive Institute. In addition, Mr. Long has authored a number of published papers and possesses a top secret security clearance.
Dharmesh Patel: Avionics Systems Support
Mr. Patel has broad avionics system related experience. He was previously a Senior Marketing and Product Manager at Honeywell Aerospace responsible for product life cycle management, profitability, product cost, pricing and product globalization for Crew Interface Products, which included FMS, EFIS/Display Systems, including SVS. One of his areas of responsibility included system retrofit and forward-fit designs. While at Honeywell he worked FAA funded research programs on 4D FMS TBO (Trajectory Based Ops). He also worked planning and execution for major product launches including several avionics upgrades for RNP and SBAS/LPV. He developed and contributed to ATM (Air Traffic Management) STRAP and key focus areas related Performance Based Navigation, Trajectory Based Operations. While at Honeywell he served on many industry workgroups and task forces for ATM related issues, including RTCA (ATMAC), JPDO, ICAO, IBAC and ATA CNS TF.
While working at Honeywell Aerospace Mr. Patel was Technical Sales Manager for the Airbus Team and provided directions and support for proposal development for new avionics opportunities for all Airbus platforms. He also worked for Honeywell’s Commercial Electronic Systems. While the Flight Control Management Systems Lead Engineer for the Air Transport Division he worked with senior staff to develop system architecture and design for new FMGC (Flight Management & Guidance Computer) functionality based on customer inputs, prepared and presented system design overviews for A380 FMS, developed system and software requirements definition for Performance & Guidance functions and executed system level tests, utilizing Design for Six Sigma Principles, utilized Host Simulated System tool to evaluate and develop test procedures prior to executing in a six degree freedom simulated aircraft environment, implemented system engineering throughout the product development cycle, including requirements analysis, requirement tracking, specification preparation, system integration and verification, including performing validation and verification testing for airplane system level integration through certification of AC25-15, AC120-67, DO 178B/ 236A/ 254, ARINC 429/629/661/704 specifications.
As a Flight Controls engineer Mr. Patel gained thorough working knowledge of commercial avionics systems (i.e., FMS, ADIRS, IRS/INS, FADEC/ECU GPS, RADIOS, SATCOM, TCAS, Wx Radar, EGPWS). He generated auto-code models for operational flight code and high fidelity aircraft simulations using Matlab Simulink for the Embraer ERJ family. He is also experienced in development of monitors and engage and mode logic for PRIMUS EPIC platforms as he developed systems requirements for autopilot/flight director systems including system performance, system interfaces, architecture, and algorithms.
Prior to joining Honeywell Mr Patel was a flight operations and performance engineer for United Airlines where he acted as an interface and focal point between Flight Operations, Engineering, Maintenance Operations and manufacturers for operational/technical matters. While at United he created airplane performance related operating data for technical publications and flight planning systems for all UAL fleets, worked with airplane certification data, criteria and principles, developed, maintained and published airplane weight and balance control methodology, techniques and procedures and evaluated the effects of modifications or new equipment on reliability, performance, payload capability and route feasibility for Schedule Planning/Marketing. He also evaluated new and retrofit equipment and provided technical feedback to Flight Operations including, Electronic Flight Bag, Mode S transponders, TCAS II, EGPWS, FMS/FMGC and represented UA Flight Operations at industry meetings (AEEC/RTCA, ARINC and Eurocontrol). Additional Mr. Patel was Involved in the system design and fleet integration of wireless Flight Data Acquisition units with Teledyne Controls, as part of FOQA (Flight Ops Quality Assurance) program and worked with UA Flight Dispatch and Miami ARTCC during the initial testing and rollout of VDL4 in Latin/South America.
Mr. Patel received his Masters of Business Administration, Finance at USC Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California, 2003. He also was trained in Performance Engineering at Boeing and received additional training at in Flight Test and Performance Engineering at the National Test Pilot School in Mojave, California. Mr, Patel is skilled in computer programming languages: C, FORTRAN, VisualBasic, VAX.
and software: MATLAB/SIMULINK, MatrixX, Microsoft office, Deltagraph, 4D, FileMaker Pro, CATIA. His
professional affiliations include AIAA, SAE and AOPA.
Doug Powers: Air Traffic Control Operations
Mr. Powers is a former air traffic control system manager with wide ranging air traffic control operational and management experience. Before leaving the Federal Aviation Administration he served as a special assistant to the FAA ATO Vice President of Terminal Services as well as to the FAA ATO Vice President of System Safety. Prior to this assignment Doug served as Manager of the FAA’s Great Lakes Region Requirements Branch, Resource Management Branch and System Management Branch. Further, Mr. Powers served as Special Assistant to the Regional Director as well as FAA ATO Division Manager. Prior to this broad management experience, he was an active air traffic controller and Manager at many of FAA’s busiest and most challenging facilities, including Chicago O’Hare TRACON, Minneapolis Air Traffic Control Tower and TRACON, Detroit Air Traffic Control Tower and TRACON as well as the Indianapolis Air Route Traffic Control Center. Mr. Powers has a B.S. Degree from the University of Illinois and 3,000 hours of flight time with single and multi-engine aircraft as an instrument rated commercial pilot.
Louis G. Selk II: Avionics Systems Support
Mr. Selk possesses significant experience and knowledge of aircraft approach guidance systems including GPS and RNP RNAV; product specification, design and application; development, certification and support of navigation and flight management systems; customer communication, training, and satisfaction; and industry participation
From 1998 to 2002, Mr. Selk worked at Honeywell Aerospace Electronic Systems as a Principal Systems Engineer, flight Management Systems, Business Regional and Helicopters. He defined, developed, tested and certified enhanced navigation solutions for corporate and airline aircraft. As lead engineer for flight management systems on business and regional jet aircraft, Lou applied new concepts to solve difficult navigation problems, particularly in his field of specialization, which is approach guidance systems. He received a patent for an RNP performance display 2005. Lou attended industry conferences to promote external communication; participated in the definition of aircraft certification requirements and navigation committees under the FAA (TAOARC and PARC), ICAO, RTCA, NBAA, ARINC, Regional Airlines Association, and the International Air Transport Association. He participated in drafting FAA Order 8260.52 and AC90-101.
Prior to joining Honeywell he was employed at Honeywell Sperry Flight Systems, Business and Commuter Aviation Systems Division as a Principal Customer Support Engineer. He was a Product Engineer and Manager of FMS navigation database product, including coordination of data supplier specifications and contract negotiation, inter-divisional coordination of database processing, satisfaction of engineering development requirements and support of aircraft certification activities. Lou created Pilot Manuals, System Maintenance Manuals, and Installation Bulletins. He developed flight-planning software Communications and Training, provided customer pilot training and participated in NBAA and Operator Conference activities since 1985. He trained flight crews and maintenance personnel in the use and support of GPS, inertial and FMS systems. Here he also obtained first FAA certified STC of GPS approach system on Part 121, scheduled air carrier aircraft as well as assisted in development of first GPS approach to an airport in an obstacle-rich environment. His industry involvement includes being a member of AEEC, Systems and Architecture Integration Subcommittee, ARINC 424 Working Group, member of RTCA Special Committee 157 for User Selectable Navigation Databases, member RTCA Special Committee 181/EUROCAE WG-13, advisor to International Air Transport Association on ICAO Obstacle Clearance Panel, Member Dornier 328 MSG-3 team.
His education includes attending the following establishments Southern Methodist University where he obtained his Bachelors of Science in Electrical Engineering, Arizona State University gaining his degree in Business Administration, and FAA Academy for FAA Terminal Instrument Procedures Design (TERPS) RNAV/GPS/LORAN Approach Development.
Alexis Stefani: Aviation Budgeting and Compliance
Ms. Stefani has a wide range of expertise in Federal transportation programs with special emphasis in aviation; financial management and budgeting; auditing and evaluation; and quality assurance activities. Her capabilities include program, cost and functional analysis to devise strategies, solve problems and recommend solutions; project planning; advising and monitoring program and legislative activities; and training in audit and evaluation processes.
As the former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs, she provided leadership and guidance on a variety of transportation budgetary and programmatic issues including development of the aviation reauthorization proposal, annual Departmental budgets, disaster response activities, the physical relocation of the Headquarters staff, and special task forces to solve problems or devise policy. She has had twenty-five years of progressive and diverse experience in leading complex and sensitive audits of diverse Department of Transportation functions including financial management, major acquisitions, transportation and information security, aviation and highway safety, major public infrastructure construction projects, air traffic operations, organizational governance, cost accounting, and human resource management. Also, experience in setting policies for large Office of Inspector General organizations and 15 years experience in managing budgets for offices of various sizes.
Ms. Stefani’s government career includes employment with the Department of Transportation, Department of Commerce, Department of Transportation, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, and General Accounting Office. She was recently Deputy Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs for the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of the Secretary. Prior to this position she was Assistant Inspector General for Auditing for the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Inspector General and Principal Assistant Inspector General for Auditing and Evaluation, U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT),
Alexis’s awards include a Presidential Rank Award, the Secretary’s Partnering for Excellence Team Award, and the Secretary’s Award for Exceptional Public Service. Ms. Stefani attended the Harvard Kennedy School of Government (1999) and graduated with a Master of Business Administration from the University of Maryland after receiving her Bachelor of Science as an Accounting Major from the Pennsylvania State University.
Tom Styc: Aviation Business Development Support (Chief Operating Officer and Director of Business Development Client Support)
Mr. Styc started his career as an air traffic controller in the Air Force, holding several positions as ATC facility chief, and Director of ATC operations for five major Air Commands. After the Air Force he worked as a systems engineer supporting FAA projects and then as Program Director for several contracts, supporting FAA activities in acquisition and program implementation. Tom has had over 17 years with government program and contract management and two International contracts in Airport Communications design and ATC infrastructure upgrades. Mr. Styc further has senior executive experience in the commercial sector managing operations in multiple corporate divisions with responsibilities for systems engineering, training and simulation, learning technologies, and telecommunications support services for FAA, US Treasury, Army, Navy, USMC, AF, and several International corporate clients.
James Tauss: Aviation Weather Support
Mr. Tauss is experienced as a systems engineer with primary focus on weather-related air traffic control systems and supporting architecture. In addition, he has a comprehensive background with FAA and NOAA Meteorological Systems Engineering Management, Test and Evaluation, Specification Compliance, Systems Acquisition, Requirements/Functional Analysis and Definition, Policy, Meteorological Systems Commercial Definition and Applications, and Meteorological Training. Mr. Tauss received his BS in Physics from Adelphi University in 1982 as well as his BS in Earth Science from Adelphi University that same year. Mr. Tauss completed graduate studies in Meteorology at the University of Maryland.
Becky Umbaugh: Aviation Business Development Support
Becky has had extensive experience with configuration management automation for NASA as well as technical planning for FAA terminal and en route automation programs. She was involved in the FAA D-BRITE program in addition to the ARTS IIIE program where she supported the development of the risk analysis and re-planning activities used until program completion. As the Program Control Chief, Ms. Umbaugh's responsibilities included financial and program planning and execution as well as administration of the FAA's automated master schedule system database. In 1996, Ms. Umbaugh joined Unitech as the Manager of Business Development where she managed all DOT-related opportunities for the company. She continues to be a facilitator for various FAA initiatives including the 1998 Strategic Plan, the development of the Acquisition Management System's COTS/NDI requirements, and numerous team building and organizational development sessions. She has been a speaker at the FAA's General Council Acquisition Reform, FAA Small Business Conferences and Small Business Advocacy symposiums. Ms. Umbaugh serves on numerous ATCA committees. In 2003, she was elected as Director at Large for the ATCA board of directors.
William Umbaugh: Aviation Business Development Support and Program Management
Mr. Umbaugh has more than 30 years of experience managing multimillion dollar programs for the FAA employee and industry. His program management expertise encompasses such areas as project planning, engineering, systems analysis, project tracking, quality control, management of personnel and subcontractors, budgeting and forecasting, and administration. Past FAA assignments included Program Manager, Branch Manager, Division Manager, and Deputy Integrated Product Team Lead, where he was responsible for programs from concept development to implementation.
Prior to his program management and business development career Mr. Umbaugh was Deputy Director of the FAA Air Traffic Management (ATM) Integrated Project Team and managed a team acquiring automation systems for optimizing airspace utilization. He directed integrated product team with 150 members, including engineers, computer scientists, analysts, testers, logisticians, contracting officers, air traffic controllers, and others engaged in research, design, development, testing, and implementation of automation systems to improve the capacity of the NAS. These systems included Traffic Flow Management (TFM), Center TRACON Automation System (CTAS), Departure Sequencing Program (DSP), and others, with budgets approaching $1 billion, improved gate-to-gate air traffic movement efficiency. Bill also has experience as an FAA Division Manager, Branch Manager, Program Manager, Systems Engineer and Technician. During his FAA career he was Manager for En Route Automation and Automated Flight Service Station Branches; Dep. Manager, ATC Automation Division; and Manager, Automation Engineering Division responsible for acquisition and implementation of ATC automation systems for en route, terminal, oceanic, traffic flow, and flight services. Mr Umbaugh has detailed experience with a number of FAA systems including, En Route NAS Programs such as the Central Computer Complex (CCC), Display Channel Computer (DCC)/Computer Display Channel (CDC), Radar Data Acquisition System (RDAS), Direct Access Radar Channel (DARC) and Automated Flight Service System (AFSS). Mr Umbaugh has also maintained air navigation systems including VHF Omni-directional Radio Range (VOR), Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN), Instrument Landing System (ILS) and Radar Microwave Link Repeater (RMLR) systems.
Mr. Umbaugh has a B.S. in Management/Engineering from the National-Louis University (1997) and an AEE, Electronics Technology Certification from Pennsylvania State University (1959), an SEI CMM System and Software Engineering Certification from Litton PRC. He has completed the following training courses from the: FAA Executive Development School, FAA Software Acquisition for Managers, FAA Utilizing Human Resources, Strategic Plans & Executive Leadership, Implementation & Results, OPM SES CDP, Total Quality Management Facilitator, ODI, Trail Boss Program, (Acquisition), GSA and VOR, TACAN, Systems Engineer Flight/Radar Data Processing (FDP) & (RDP) Systems.
Dottie Wilkins: Administrative Support
Ms. Wilkins has over 41 years executive level administrative, budget, and analyst experience with the Federal Government and private industry. She began her career in 1962 as a secretary with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, then the Office of Economic Opportunity and finally with the Department of Transportation. She spent the last 14 years of her federal career in the Office of the Secretary of Transportation where she was Secretary, Office Manager, Management Analyst and Budget Officer to the Assistant Secretary for Administration. After retiring from the government in 1998, Ms. Wilkins went to work for UNITECH at the FAA utilizing all her senior executive assistant skills to support the Operational Support Directorate.
Aviation Management Associates, Inc.
Staff Personnel
