Partners and Programs:
Partners and Programs:

FLIGHT SAFETY FOUNDATION HEADQUARTERS

701 N. Fairfax Street, Suite 250,
Alexandria, Virginia 22314

Phone: +1 703 739 6700 Fax: +1 703 739 6708

67th Annual Business Aviation Safety Summit

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BASS 2022 Savannah Georgia

May 10-11, 2022 | Savannah, Georgia U.S.

BASS Speakers
May 10-11, 2022 | BASS 2022 | Savannah, GA

Industry Experts Speaking at BASS 2022

Mr. Michael E. Graham, Board Member, National Transportation Safety Board

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Mr. Michael E. Graham

Board Member, National Transportation Safety Board

BASS 2022 Speaker Bio

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Mr. Michael E. Graham, Board Member, National Transportation Safety Board

Michael Graham is the 45th Member of the National Transportation Safety Board. Before joining the NTSB, Member Graham worked for Textron Aviation where he served as the Director of Flight Operations Safety, Security, and Standardization. He began his career as a Naval Aviator flying A-7’s and F/A18’s. Member Graham earned his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of New Mexico. He is also a certified Airline Transport Pilot with over 10,000 flight hours.

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Andrew Karas, IBAC

Mr. Andrew Karas

IS-BAO Programme Director, International Business Aviation Council

BASS 2022 Speaker Bio

Andrew Karas, IS-BAO Programme Director, International Business Aviation Council

As a licensed Airline Transport Pilot, Certified Flight Instructor, and Unmanned Aircraft/Drone pilot, Andrew has over 20 years’ experience in the US Air Force and with business aviation operations. His significant aviation expertise includes flight training, standardization, compliance, and the managing and application of Safety Management Systems. He is type rated in Gulfstream V, Bombardier Global Express, King Air 200, and Lockheed C130 and has logged more than 4000 hours total flight time. Most recently, Andrew was a GV Captain for a Stage 3 IS-BAO-registered Part 91 and 135 operator in Florida where he was responsible for SMS administration and standard procedure adherence. He is a Certified Business Continuity Professional (CBCP) specializing in risk management, a graduate of Ohio State University with a bachelor’s degree in Aviation and earned a master’s degree in International Relations from St. Mary’s University.

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Mr. Andrew Skow, President and CEO, Tiger Century Aircraft

Mr. Andrew Skow

President and CEO, Tiger Century Aircraft

BASS 2022 Speaker Bio

Mr. Andrew Skow, President and CEO, Tiger Century Aircraft

Coming Soon

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Bryan Burns President, Air Charter Safety Foundation

Mr. Bryan Burns

President, Air Charter Safety Foundation

BASS 2022 Speaker Bio

Mr. Bryan Burns, President, Air Charter Safety Foundation

Bryan Burns is President of the Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) and is responsible for the foundation’s daily operations and leadership.

Burns has over 30 years’ experience in the fixed base operator (FBO) industry. Prior to joining the ACSF, he was the general manager for Signature Flight Support at the Washington Dulles and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airports, where he was responsible for all daily operations. Under his successful management, Signature Flight Support at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport was rated the #1 FBO in the nation for four consecutive years by Pro Pilot Magazine.

Previously, Burns served as the vice president of Jackson Hole Aviation, where he managed 35 employees in line service, customer service, aircraft maintenance and properties. Prior to that, Burns was the President of Vail Valley Jet Center in Eagle, CO. While in Vail, he developed a strong partnership with the local airport board and improved their ranking in the Aviation International News survey year after year. He has held similar positions with other FBOs in Florida and St. Louis.

A private pilot, Burns holds a B.S. degree from Florida Institute of Technology.

 

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Mr. Chad Brewer

Operational Safety Analyst, Federal Aviation Administration

BASS 2022 Speaker Bio

Mr. Chad Brewer, Operational Safety Analyst, Federal Aviation Administration

ASIAS government and industry representatives will discuss the practical use cases on how the program’s safety information can be leveraged by business aviation operators to proactively manage risk.

Chad Brewer is an Operational Safety Analyst within the FAA’s Office of Accident Investigation and Prevention located in Washington, D.C. He is actively involved in the Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing (ASIAS) initiative and serves as the government tri-chair for the General Aviation Issue Analysis Team within ASIAS.

He works closely with government and industry stakeholders supporting the Commercial Aviation Safety Team (CAST) and General Aviation Joint Steering Committee (GAJSC).  He serves as a U.S. international representative on ICAO’s Asia Pacific Regional Aviation Safety Team.

Mr. Brewer graduated cum laude from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Science and a Minor in Air Traffic Management.  He holds a commercial pilot certificate with multi-engine and instrument ratings.

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Charlie Precourt, Chair, Citation Jet Pilots Association

Mr. Charlie Precourt

Chair, Citation Jet Pilots Association

BASS 2022 Speaker Bio

Mr. Charlie Precourt, Chair, Citation Jet Pilots Association

Coming soon!

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Mr. D. Richard Meikle, EVP Safety and Regulatory Compliance, FlightSafety International

Mr. D. Richard Meikle

EVP Safety and Regulatory Compliance, FlightSafety International

BASS 2022 Speaker Bio

Mr. D. Richard Meikle, EVP Safety and Regulatory Compliance, FlightSafety International

Richard is happily married to his wife of 27 years and is the proud father of two adult children. Born in New Zealand, he grew up in Australia until immigrating to the USA by himself at age 18. After converting his pilot certificates to US equivalents, he flew in corporate, regional airline and fractional operations and holds type ratings in the BA-3100, CE-500, DA-2000, HS-125, and G-V aircraft.

Richard joined FlightSafety International in March 2020 after 25 years at NetJets Aviation, including 16 years directing the safety program as V.P. Safety. Since joining FlightSafety, he has established a safety department with the primary focus of delivering safety focused training which meets the regulatory requirements rather than the traditional approach of viewing training as a regulatory event with safety elements included. This approach is based on an industry event focus and use of data provided through the GE Digital C-FOQA program to develop and deliver specifically targeted risk reducing training scenarios. Richard holds a Master of Science degree with a minor in safety program management from Embry Riddle University.

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Capt. Dave Belastock, Vice Chair, FSF Business Advisory Committee

Capt. Dave Belastock

Vice Chair, FSF Business Advisory Committee

BASS 2022 Speaker Bio

Capt. Dave Belastock, Vice Chair, FSF Business Advisory Committee

Inspired by his airline pilot father and uncle, Dave Belastock began his own airline career in 1989 as a B-727 Flight Engineer with the Trump Shuttle, which later merged with US Airways. After nearly 14 years flying the B-727 and A320, and active in ALPA safety, communications, representation and negotiation, Dave was furloughed in 2002 in the wake of September 11. Unwilling to give up on his flying dreams, Dave discovered the opportunities afforded by a career in business aviation. Flying charter for 3 years with Million Air Charter Teterboro (later Meridian), Dave joined Dassault Falcon Jet as a Demo Pilot in 2006, and advanced to the positions of Assistant Chief Pilot – Technical and later Director – Pilot Technical. In 2019, Dave joined BNTI Corp as a Falcon 8X and 900EXy Captain. Passionate about giving back to the business aviation community, Dave began volunteering with the Teterboro Users Group (TUG) in 2002, first as Secretary/Treasurer and currently as President. He’s also a member of the NBAA Access Committee’s ATC, Airspace and Flight Technologies Working Groups. As a long-standing member of the Flight Safety Foundation Business Advisory Committee (BAC), Dave was elected Vice-Chairman in 2021.

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Capt. David Lawrence, National Resource Specialist (Air Carrier Operations), Senior Aviation Accident Investigator, National Transportation Safety Board

Capt. David Lawrence

National Resource Specialist (Air Carrier Operations), Senior Aviation Accident Investigator, National Transportation Safety Board

BASS 2022 Speaker Bio

Capt. David Lawrence, National Resource Specialist (Air Carrier Operations), Senior Aviation Accident Investigator, National Transportation Safety Board

Captain Lawrence is a National Resource Specialist (Air Carrier Operations) and Senior Aviation Accident Investigator and has been with NTSB's Operational Factors Division since 2009. He has served as a group chairman and investigator-in-charge, and has worked on numerous domestic and international investigations including: American 331 B737 in Kingston, Jamaica; Air India Express 821 B737 in Mangalore, India; Ethiopian Air 409 B737 in Beirut, Lebanon; UPS 6 B747 in Dubai, UAE; Omega Air B707 in Pt. Mugu NAS, CA; Dana Air MD83 in Lagos, Nigeria; FreshAir Convair 580 in San Juan, Puerto Rico; Asiana 991 B747 off Jeju Island, Korea; National Airlines B747 in Bagram, Afghanistan; UPS 1354 A300 in Birmingham, AL; USAirways 1702 A320 in Philadelphia, PA; the Scaled Composites SpaceShipTwo accident in Mojave, CA; Delta 1086 MD88 in LGA, the Lockhart, Texas balloon accident, the Liberty Helicopters/NYONair aerial photography accident in New York City, and the Atlas Air B767 in Trinity Bay, Texas.  He has over 40 years of experience in the aviation industry and is a retired airline pilot having served as a Captain, Instructor Pilot, Simulator Instructor, Check Airman, Basic and Advanced Check Airman Instructor, AQP and LOFT development, and member of the Accident Investigation Team. He has over 25 years accident investigation and safety pilot experience with the airlines, established and trained the accident investigation team at a major airline, teaches accident investigation at the NTSB Academy in Ashburn, VA, provides case study presentations to airlines and industry groups, and was the recipient of the NTSB 2013 Distinguished Investigative Service Award. Captain Lawrence graduated from the University of Texas and holds an Airline Transport Pilot license with type ratings on the Airbus 320, Boeing 737, Embraer 190, Embraer 170, Embraer 120, Fokker 28, and Canadair 65 with over 16,000 flight hours in worldwide operations. He is also a certified flight instructor with instrument and multi-engine ratings.

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Mr. Doug Carr, SVP, Safety, Security, Sustainability, & International Affairs, National Business Aviation Association

Mr. Doug Carr

SVP, Safety, Security, Sustainability, & International Affairs, National Business Aviation Association

BASS 2022 Speaker Bio

Mr. Doug Carr, SVP, Safety, Security, Sustainability, & International Affairs, National Business Aviation Association

Douglas “Doug” Carr is NBAA’s senior vice president of safety, security, sustainability and international operations. In this position, he is responsible for leading the association’s broad regulatory and policy agenda affecting business aviation safety, security, sustainability and aircraft operations in the United States and around the globe. He also is the staff liaison for NBAA’s Security Council.

In April 1998, Carr joined the NBAA staff as manager of domestic operations. He subsequently was promoted to manager of safety and operations, director of government affairs and vice president of regulatory and international affairs. In these positions, he monitored and responded to domestic and international regulatory and legislative initiatives by Congress, FAA, TSA, CBP and other government agencies. He also provided operational-related assistance for commercial and non-commercial aircraft operators.

While at NBAA, Carr has led or participated in several landmark aviation rulemaking and policy efforts, including the FAA’s Fractional Ownership Aviation Rulemaking Committee (FOARC), the FAA’s Part 125/135 ARC Flight and Rest Subcommittee, the Takeoff and Landing Performance Assessment (TALPA) ARC, TSA’s Large Aircraft Security Program (LASP) proposal, establishment of CBP’s business aviation pre-clearance program in Shannon, Ireland and updates to ICAO protocols for business aircraft, among others.

Internationally, Carr represents business aviation interests at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and has assisted with several rulemaking and policy efforts at the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). He serves as the corporate secretary for the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC).

Carr is a graduate of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in aviation management and an Associate of Science degree in aviation flight. Prior to his college years, he spent six years in the U.S. Navy. As part of his military duties, he worked onboard a nuclear-powered submarine where he was responsible for many aspects of the submarine propulsion system, including the operation, maintenance and repair of the nuclear reactor and support systems.

Before joining NBAA, Carr was employed by the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) as a specialist in government and industry affairs. There, he was responsible for issues affecting FAR Part 135 on-demand air carriers and flight training providers.

Carr is a commercial, multi-engine, instrument-rated pilot and a certificated flight instructor.

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Hassan Shahidi, President and CEO Flight Safety Foundation

Dr. Hassan Shahidi

President and CEO, Flight Safety Foundation

BASS 2022 Speaker Bio

Dr. Hassan Shahidi

President and CEO, Flight Safety Foundation

Coming Soon!

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Mr. Henry Gourdji, Director, Safety Strategy and Policy, Flight Safety Foundation

Mr. Henry Gourdji

Director, Safety Strategy and Policy, Flight Safety Foundation

BASS 2022 Speaker Bio

Mr. Henry Gourdji, Director, Safety Strategy and Policy, Flight Safety Foundation

Henry has a lifetime of experience working in the aviation sector having held prominent senior management and technical positions in the international arena. He is currently, Director Safety Strategy and Policy with the Flight Safety Foundation, and prior to that, spent over twenty-two years with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). He has held such positions as Head of Strategic Planning, Coordination and Partnerships in the Office of the ICAO Secretary General and led the Office responsible for developing and managing the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP), one of ICAO’s leading programs, known today as the world’s ‘watchdog’ for aviation safety. Mr. Gourdji previously worked in the Canadian civil service, including ten years with Transport Canada, managing Canada’s Civil Aviation National Audit Programme.  Mr Gourdji holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Strategic Studies with the Canadian Armed Forces.  He holds a Canadian aircraft maintenance and engineering license for airframes and power plants and is an active pilot with a multi-engine rating. He retired after 31 years of Canadian military reserve service with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. Mr. Gourdji received the Military Canadian Decoration for his service to Canada and was the recipient of the Flight Safety Foundation President’s Citation award in 2011 for his contribution to world aviation safety. In 2019, he was awarded the prestigious Meritorious Service Cross (M.S.C) by the Governor General of Canada for monitoring compliance and augmenting safety procedures around the world and enhancing Canada’s reputation as an international leader in the field of civil aviation.

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Capt. James D. Kelly, Pilot and Safety Manager, Pfizer Aviation, and FSF Business Advisory Committee Member

Capt. James D. Kelly

Pilot and Safety Manager, Pfizer Aviation, and FSF Business Advisory Committee Member

BASS 2022 Speaker Bio

Capt. James D. Kelly, Pilot and Safety Manager, Pfizer Aviation, and FSF Business Advisory Committee Member

Jim is a dual rated Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) both airplane and rotorcraft pilot currently flying the Gulfstream G650 with over 18,000 flight hours. Holds a Seaplane rating as well. He has his graduate degree in Human Factors from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (Masters of Aeronautical Science) Summa cum laude.

He has been an active member of the FSF Business Advisory Committee (BAC) since 2004 and took the co-Chair position in 2015-2019 as well as a member of the NBAA safety committee. Jim has been a pioneer in corporate FOQA and held the chair position on the C-FOQA centerline steering committee. He was also is engaged with the ICAO Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) working group represented the business aviation sector regarding FDM programs on a global scale. Jim was involved in the business aviation side of the ASIAS program and held a seat on the Issue Analysis Team (IAT) for the ASIAS program.

Jim has been the safety manager and FOQA gatekeeper for Pfizer Aviation since 1998, and helped drive the culture and process of an IS-BAO Stage 3 department. He was an early leader in the Northeast operators Safety Roundtable, Mercer County Community College aviation advisory committee and president of the "sky's the limit" trust which provides scholarships to aviation college students.

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Mr. Jeff Wofford, CAM, Director of Operations and Chief Pilot, CommScope

Mr. Jeff Wofford, CAM

Director of Operations and Chief Pilot, CommScope

BASS 2022 Speaker Bio

Mr. Jeff Wofford, CAM, Director of Operations and Chief Pilot, CommScope

Jeff is Chief Pilot and Director of Aviation, COMMSCOPE, and Chairman of the NBAA Safety Committee. Jeff Joined the US Navy after graduating from high school and served from 1975 until 1981. He began flight training while still on active duty, receiving his private and commercial certificates, instrument and multi-engine ratings. After leaving active duty, Jeff continued his training and received his CFI and CFII. Jeff began his professional career in March of 1980 as a flight instructor. Jeff worked for a local FBO as a flight instructor and Part 135 Charter Pilot. In 1983, Jeff was named Chief Flight Instructor and was instrumental in developing an aircraft management business for the FBO. In 1984, Jeff went to work for CommScope, Inc. as a first officer. In 1994 Jeff was promoted to Chief Pilot and in 1997, the title was changed to Chief Pilot and Director of Aviation. During his time as Director for CommScope, Jeff led the efforts to build a robust safety program for the department. Starting with a formal SMS program in 2005, CommScope went on to receive IS-BAO Stage 1 Registration in 2012 and is preparing for their third Stage 3 audit later this year.

Jeff has a BSc in Aviation Management, as well as NBAA CAM certification. He has an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate with type ratings for LR-Jet, LR-60, as well as the Challenger 300, and holds LOAs for the Lockheed T-33 and North American T-28. Jeff still maintains his CFI, CFII, and MEI. He has accumulated over 13,000 accident free flying hours and has flown over 100 different aircraft. Jeff is the Chairman of the NBAA Safety Committee and is a member of the FAA Safety Team.  Jeff was also the 2013 recipient of the Eugene Cernan Aviation Safety Award.

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Ms. Jenny Showalter, Chief Motivational Officer, Showalter Business Aviation Career Coaching

Ms. Jenny Showalter

Chief Motivational Officer, Showalter Business Aviation Career Coaching

BASS 2022 Speaker Bio

Ms. Jenny Showalter, Chief Motivational Officer, Showalter Business Aviation Career Coaching

Jenny Showalter is the Founder and Chief Motivational Officer of Showalter Business Aviation Career Coaching (SBACC). With over 25 years of business aviation experience, she is passionate about helping industry professionals elevate their careers. Jenny specializes in one-on-one coaching, resume writing, interview preparation, and LinkedIn presence. Her industry experience stems from working as the third generation in her family’s former FBO, Showalter Flying Service, and leading regional business aviation associations in Florida. Most recently, Jenny worked with a prominent business aviation recruiting firm, matching business professionals with Part 91 flight departments, and coaching displaced industry professionals through the outplacement process. Paired with her professional experience, Jenny is also the wife, daughter, and sister of business aviation pilots which gives her a unique view of industry issues. She proudly serves as the Board Secretary for the Central Florida Business Aviation Association (CFBAA), and as a member of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Local and Regional Groups Committee.

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Mr. Jens Hennig, Vice President of Operations, General Aviation Manufacturers Association

Mr. Jens Hennig

Vice President of Operations, General Aviation Manufacturers Association

BASS 2022 Speaker Bio

Mr. Jens Hennig, Vice President of Operations, General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA)

Jens Hennig is responsible for General Aviation Manufacturers Association’s activities for safety, security and operations. He is the association’s primary staff person on Air Traffic Control modernization and issues affecting manufacturer flight operations.

Jens’ engagement in policy and rulemaking committees covers a range of topics including ADS-B rule development and implementation, landing and takeoff performance standards, and rulemaking cost analysis. He chaired FAA’s airman training and testing standards rulemaking committee which developed the new framework for pilot training in the United States and also managed the agency’s review of the Part 135/125 regulations. He promotes the General Aviation Joint Steering Committee as an essential body to advance GA safety based on data- driven, systematic processes, and serves as co-chair of its Safety Analysis Team.

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Speaker photo coming soon

Capt. Joe Dickinson

FSF Business Advisory Committee Member

BASS 2022 Speaker Bio

Capt. Joe Dickinson, FSF Business Advisory Committee Member

Joe Dickinson is a New Jersey native who grew up with a passion for aviation as his father was a WWII Army Air Corps veteran and an airline pilot. Upon graduating from the University of Colorado at Boulder, he was commissioned in the United States Navy and served as a Navy pilot for over 20 years of active-duty service. Predominantly flying P-3 Orion aircraft he deployed all around the world while also serving in various leadership positions. After retiring from active-duty service in 2008, Joe began his career in business aviation. He is presently employed by Hess Corporation as an international Captain and Safety Manager. Joe has been a Teterboro User Group board member since 2014 and presently serves as the Vice President, he is also a member of the Flight Safety Foundation’s Business Advisory Committee (BAC), and he is a member of the Northeast Safety Roundtable (NESRT).

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Mr. Keith DeBerry, VP Safety, National Air Transportation Association

Mr. Keith DeBerry

VP Safety, National Air Transportation Association

BASS 2022 Speaker Bio

Mr. Keith DeBerry, VP Safety, National Air Transportation Association (NATA)

Keith DeBerry was named National Air Transportation Association (NATA) Senior Vice President in January 2022. DeBerry most recently served as the Association’s Senior advisor for Regulatory Affairs since January 2020.

Prior to coming to NATA, Keith was the Federal Aviation Administration’s Academy Director. As a Senior Executive, Keith led a workforce of over 500 federal employees and hundreds of contractors, providing technical learning solutions for thousands of students annually across the FAA and global aviation communities.

Keith also led the Regulatory Standards Training Division where he had the responsibility for providing technical training for the FAA’s aviation safety inspectors and engineers. He was also the accountable executive for the Academy’s flight program where he led the development and implementation of the FAA’s first flight program’s Safety Management System (SMS), utilizing the Part 5 SMS rule.

Keith also served as FAA’s field program lead in the development and implementation of SMS for the air transportation industry. He co-chaired the SMS pilot project with aviation industry senior leadership in the testing of SMS policy and procedures, sharing best practices with the aviation industry.

In his 21-year federal career, he has had extensive experience leading, directing and managing aviation safety oversight activities. Keith served as the Supervisory Principal Maintenance Inspector for UPS Airlines. Where he oversaw a workforce charged with Congressional mandated safety oversight of UPS’ Airlines worldwide fleet.

Keith is retired from the US Air Force and is a USAF Thunderbird Alumni.

He holds a master’s Business Administration degree (MBA) and a bachelor’s degree in professional Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Keith is also a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute.

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Dr. Kyle Ellis, Deputy Project Manager, System-Wide Safety Project, National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Dr. Kyle Ellis

Deputy Project Manager, System-Wide Safety Project, National Aeronautics and Space Administration

BASS 2022 Speaker Bio

Dr. Kyle Ellis, Deputy Project Manager, System-Wide Safety Project, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Dr. Kyle Ellis is an aerospace research engineer at NASA Langley Research Center and currently manages research supporting NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate as the deputy project manager for the System-Wide Safety Project under the Airspace Operations and Safety program.

Dr. Ellis currently leads a team charged with developing a Concept of Operations for In-Time Aviation Safety Management Systems that enables new aviation markets to exist and to protect those already in place, leveraging input from strategic partnerships across industry, academia and government. His project work at NASA develops, leverages, and integrates matured technologies that support both traditional and emerging operations such as drones and urban air mobility. Research and development focus toward this effort includes increasingly autonomous systems, verification and validation methods for certification, and future-gen aircraft and airspace operation and safety management concepts. He was previously a safety enhancement technical lead at NASA conducting research in collaboration with industry to support development of advanced technology design standards focused on preventing loss of control in-flight in commercial aviation for the Commercial Aviation Safety Team (CAST).

Dr. Ellis currently serves on multiple committees and forums focused on the development, implementation and effectiveness of critical safety enhancements for the aviation industry. Dr. Ellis currently serves as the co-lead for the System-Wide Safety IASMS ConOps working group with the FAA SWS Research Transition Team, RTCA SC-213 member, NASA representative to the ASIAS Executive Board, International Forum of Aviation Research (IFAR) scientific assessment team member, member of the Flight Safety Foundation (FSF) Autonomous and Remotely Piloted Aviation Systems (ARPAS) committee, and NASA representative for the CAST Joint Implementation Measurement Data Analysis Team (JIMDAT).

Dr. Ellis is an internationally recognized expert in Crew-System Interactions and Decision Making, Autonomous Systems, Advanced Air Mobility, Human-Machine Teaming, Aviation Safety Management Systems, Advanced Vision Systems, Flight Systems Integration, Loss of Control Prevention, Airspace and Automation Design Tools, Business Development and Strategic Partnerships.

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Ms. Lauren Hanna Director of Aviation Solutions, GE Aviation, and FSF Business Advisory Committee Member

Ms. Lauren Hanna

Director of Aviation Solutions, GE Aviation, and FSF Business Advisory Committee Member

BASS 2022 Speaker Bio

Ms. Lauren Hanna, Director of Aviation Solutions, GE Aviation, and FSF Business Advisory Committee Member

With a passion for safety and a background in aviation, Lauren is constantly striving to gain further knowledge to help improve operations through flight data and innovation. She serves on the FSF Business Advisory Committee (BAC), the NBAA Safety Committee, and several other committees and advisory boards. 

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Mr. Luke Bowman, Senior Product Manager, GE Digital

Mr. Luke Bowman

Senior Product Manager, GE Digital

BASS 2022 Speaker Bio

Mr. Luke Bowman, Senior Product Manager, GE Digital

Luke Bowman. Luke is a Senior Product Director running the Flight Analytics product line for GE Digital, Aviation Software. He has spent his career working to bring innovative application built on flight data to the aviation industry. The latest product from his team, FlightPulse, helps to bring flight data out to pilots at airlines so they can make more informed decisions around safety and efficiency based on data.

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Mark Millam, Flight Safety Foundation

Mark Millam

 Technical Programs and Events, Flight Safety Foundation

BASS 2022 Speaker Bio

Mark Millam, Technical Programs and Events, Flight Safety Foundation

Coming Soon!

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Dr. Martin Smith, Ph.D, Founder and CEO, Presage Group Inc.

Dr. Martin Smith, Ph.D

Founder and CEO, Presage Group Inc.

BASS 2022 Speaker Bio

Dr. Martin Smith, Ph.D, Founder and CEO, Presage Group Inc.

In 1981 Dr. Martin (Marty) Smith (Hons B.A., M.A., Ph.D.) left a career as an active pilot to pursue another passion, namely studying the psychology of human error in the flight deck.  Upon the completion of his Ph.D. in Psychology (Clinical / Industrial) from the Université du Québec à Montréal, Dr. Smith spent 10 years providing clinical support services in various mental health institutions, as well as providing Employee Assistance Program (EAP) clinical assessments and psychotherapeutic support to numerous airlines.  Dr. Smith utilized his expertise to provide clinical treatment for addictions, depression, anxiety, PTSD, and stress management. 

In 2006 Dr. Smith Co-Founded Presage Group Inc., a software company that has developed numerous decision-making software solutions that target and mitigate the psychological, social, operational, and cultural drivers for non-compliance (human error).  At the onset of COVID, Presage developed and deployed a unique assessment tool that quantified the extent to which an active mental health condition (i.e., Depression and/or Anxiety) compromised compliant decision-making in the moment.  The Presage intellectual property solutions have been deployed at airlines, air navigation services, and airport authorities around the world.  Additionally, other business verticals beyond aviation/aerospace such as utilities, nuclear power, medicine, and food manufacturing have utilized the tools that Dr. Smith has developed to improve safety and operational efficiency.

In 2021, Dr. Smith joined the University of Waterloo’s School of Aviation, “WISA” (Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics) Advisory Board.  Dr. Smith is also a noted conference speaker and consultant to IATA, ICAO, TSB, NTSB, Eurocontrol, and Flight Safety Foundation.  Of equal value and personal importance, Marty remains an active pilot, having accumulated numerous endorsements and licenses over his 43 years of flying.

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Matt Cox, CEO, Beacon AI

Mr. Matt Cox

CEO, Beacon AI

BASS 2022 Speaker Bio

Mr. Matt Cox, CEO, Beacon AI

Matt is a Bay Area native, UC Irvine graduate, and 11-year Navy veteran. In the Navy, he served as an F/A-18 pilot and military advisor. After the military, Matt led the LIDAR software team at Cruise, a leading self-driving car company. Following his time at Cruise, he helped Scale AI establish its government presence, evaluated technology on behalf of DIU, and founded Beacon AI.

 Beacon AI is an aviation startup located in the Bay Area made up of experts across aviation, AI, and software engineering, focused on building the aerospace platform of tomorrow - a launchpad from which the next evolution of air vehicle efficiency will rise, and near zero-incident aviation safety will be catalyzed. Our investors and advisors include some of the best institutional technology firms and industry experts, including the former Chairman of the NTSB and the former FAA Associate Administrator of Aviation Safety.

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Capt. Piyush Gandhi, VP Operations and Business Development, Presage Group Inc., and FSF Business Advisory Committee Member

Capt. Piyush Gandhi

VP Operations and Business Development, Presage Group Inc., and FSF Business Advisory Committee Member

BASS 2022 Speaker Bio

Capt. Piyush Gandhi, VP Operations and Business Development, Presage Group Inc., and FSF Business Advisory Committee Member

Piyush is an experienced executive in the field of aviation.  He currently holds the position of Vice President, Operations and Business Development for the Presage Group Inc. which is an organization that uses psychological science-based assessments to understand the behaviours of employees in operational workplaces and provide mitigation strategies that ultimately improve the performance of those organizations.  Most recently, he spent 2½ years with Sunwing Airlines in the role of Vice President Flight Operations.  Along with safety, operational, regulatory, and fiduciary responsibility of more than 30,000 flights in the B737-800/MAX-8 per year, he maintained his pilot proficiency flying on the line as a B737 Captain.  Previously, he was the Vice President Flight Operations at Porter Airlines where he was a founding team member from its inception in early 2006.  He contributed to helping build Porter from its humble 4 aircraft operation to 28 aircraft operating more than 65,000 flights per year carrying more than 3-million passengers.  Prior to that, Piyush spent 10-years with Bombardier Aerospace as their Chief Pilot & Customer Liaison Pilot.  In addition to his OEM certification/production test pilot duties on the Q400 and Global Express business jet, Piyush spent much of his Bombardier tenure overseas training pilots, delivering new aircraft, conducting sales & marketing tours, and providing operational support to various airlines and operators globally.

Since 2018, Piyush has been on the Board of Directors for The Redwood – a not-for-profit shelter for women and their children fleeing domestic abuse.  In 2020, Piyush was the first male elected to the Board of Directors for the Northern Lights Aero Foundation which promotes and celebrates women in the field of aviation and aerospace in Canada.  Piyush founded and chaired the Y.A.Y! (You Are You!) diversity and inclusion committee at Sunwing and he also co-founded/chaired the successful Women Soar at Porter program. Piyush has also been on the Advisory Boards for Colleges, and Universities, most notably, the Seneca College Aviation PAC (Program Advisory Committee). Piyush is a graduate of the Seneca Aviation Program (Class ’93) and he completed a Master of Business Administration (MBA) graduate degree at the Rotman School of Business (University of Toronto) in 2014. 

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Dr. Quay Snyder, M.D., MSPH, President and CEO, Aviation Medicine Advisory Service, and FSF Business Advisory Committee Member

Dr. Quay Snyder, M.D., MSPH

President and CEO, Aviation Medicine Advisory Service, and FSF Business Advisory Committee Member

BASS 2022 Speaker Bio

Dr. Quay Snyder, M.D., MSPH, President and CEO, Aviation Medicine Advisory Service, and FSF Business Advisory Committee Member

Quay Snyder, MD, MSPH. Dr. Quay Snyder is President/CEO of Virtual Flight Surgeons, [Aviation Medicine Advisory Service] providing medical certification and aviation safety guidance for pilot and air traffic controller unions as well as business and general aviation pilots.  Dr. Snyder has been the Air Line Pilots Association, International Aeromedical Advisor since 2010, after serving as Associate Aeromedical Advisor since 1994. Since 2015, he has served as the FAA / ALPA HIMS Program Manager and has over 20 years experience sponsoring and monitoring substance addicted pilots.

Quay holds board certification in Aerospace Medicine, Addiction Medicine, Family Practice and Occupational Medicine.  He is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, Duke University School of Medicine and the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center.  He served in the USAF, USAF Reserve and Colorado Air National Guard for 25 years as a flight surgeon, glider instructor pilot and in leadership roles. 

Dr. Snyder is active in many aviation safety committees and organizations, both nationally and internationally. He is an AsMA Fellow and member of several of AsMA’s Constituent and Affiliate organizations.  He serves on the Board of Directors of the International Academy of Aviation and Space Medicine and on the Board of Trustees of the National Aviation Hall of Fame from 2014-2020.  He has chaired the National Business Aviation Associations Safety Committee’s Fitness for Duty Working Group and served on both the medical expert group for the FAA’s Pilot Fitness Aviation Rulemaking Committee and co-chairs AsMA’s Pilot Mental Health Working Group. He is a member of the Flight Safety Foundation’s Business Advisory Council and is on the faculty of the University of Southern California’s Viterbi School of Engineering in the Aviation Safety and Security Program.

Dr. Snyder has been an FAA Certified Flight Instructor (Gold Seal) since 1975 and actively serves as a Designated Pilot Examiner since 1998 and FAA Safety Team representative since 2003. He received the Soaring Society of America’s World Distance Award for 40,000 km (Earth’s circumference) of solo cross country flight in his ASK-24B glider.  He is also active in triathlons qualifying for the 2016, 2020 and 2022 Ironman Hawaii World Championships and in 2020, qualified for the International Triathlon Union’s World Championships representing Team USA in every triathlon distance from sprint to long course as an age group amateur.

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Mr. Rick Malczynski, CAM, Founder and President, Business Aviation Safety Consortium

Mr. Rick Malczynski, CAM

Founder and President, Business Aviation Safety Consortium

BASS 2022 Speaker Bio

Mr. Rick Malczynski, CAM, Founder and President, Business Aviation Safety Consortium (BASC)

The son of a Chicago Police Officer, Rick grew up in the city and survived the Chicago Public School System. After graduating from Annapolis, completing Naval Flight Training, and being designated a Naval Aviator, he soon found himself in Southeast Asia, flying numerous direct combat support and combat missions.

Upon his return stateside, he was assigned as a Naval helicopter flight instructor in Pensacola, Florida. He was quickly selected as a Standardization pilot and ultimately was promoted to model manager of the U.S. Navy TH-57 program. His civilian career started with 5 years at a large 14 CFR Part 91 flight department. He gained significant experience in the S-76, KingAir 200, Citation V, and Lear 45. He was then hired by American Airlines, and after considerable experience on several Boeing aircraft, he was hired into a management position with a New York area corporate flight department. While fulfilling the responsibilities of Safety and Training, Rick oversaw the complete re-write of his flight department’s Operations Manual. He maintained the momentum from the completion of the manual and rallied the department to become the eightieth company worldwide to achieve IS-BAO Stage One Registration.

He ultimately formed the Business Aviation Safety Consortium (BASC) which focuses on…THE OPERATOR! The Consortium partners with winning flight departments to achieve SMS and operational compliance and excellence, through a progressive and collaborative process, while adhering to the tenants of common sense and reasonableness.

Rick lives in Fort Worth, Texas with his wife of 30+ years, Cathy. All three of their children are serving our country throughout the world, representing the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.

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Mr. Robert J. Rufli, Vice President of Flight Operations, Pentastar Aviation

Mr. Robert J. Rufli

Vice President of Flight Operations, Pentastar Aviation

BASS 2022 Speaker Bio

Mr. Robert J. Rufli, Vice President of Flight Operations, Pentastar Aviation and Air Charter Safety Foundation’s Board of Governors and its Executive Committee

Robert J. Rufli is the Chairman of the Air Charter Safety Foundation’s Board of Governors and its Executive Committee. He also serves as Vice President of Flight Operations for Pentastar Aviation.

Among his many responsibilities at Pentastar, Robert applies his exceptional customer management skills and experience in technology to further evolve the firm’s robust Safety Management System (SMS). He also oversees the implementation of processes to keep Pentastar as a leader in safety, efficiency, and world-class customer service.

With more than 35 years in the aviation industry, Robert is well-versed in FAA operational certification and certificate merger projects. His experience also includes worldwide flight experience, startup and operations of corporate shuttles, 14 CFR Part 121 initial operational certification, FAA authorized A 502 Merger of five Part 135 Certificates, and implementation of cloud-based data management tools among others.

Most recently, Robert served as President of Landmark Aviation. Prior to that, he served as Director of Flight Operations. For more than 22 years, Robert was Executive Director of Flight Operations at Aerodynamics, Inc., and Chief Pilot at PDQ Air Service. He’s also served as a flight instructor at Northwestern Michigan College and Florida Institute of Technology.

Robert earned his Bachelor of Science in air commerce from Florida Institute of Technology and completed flight training in Gulfstream III, Hawker 800XP & 700, McDonnell Douglas MD-80, Airbus A-320, Beechjet 400A and 400, Mitsubishi Diamond, Beech Starship and Merlin VIC and 300 through Flight Safety International.

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Mr. Scott Williams, Aviation Systems Lead, MITRE

Mr. Scott Williams

Aviation Systems Lead, MITRE

BASS 2022 Speaker Bio

Mr. Scott Williams, Aviation Systems Lead, MITRE

Mr. Scott Williams is an Aviation Systems Lead at MITRE/CAASD. Scott joined MITRE in 2006 following a 20-year career as a pilot in the United States Air Force.

His Air Force flying career included time as a T-38 instructor pilot teaching Undergraduate Pilot Training, a C-141 airlift, air refueling, and airdrop instructor pilot/flight examiner flying worldwide airlift support, a C-21 (Lear 35) pilot at the Air Force Flight Standards Agency, and as a Gulfstream III/V instructor pilot flying Special Air Missions at the 89th Airlift Wing. Scott logged over 5,000 hours during his time in the Air Force and gained worldwide and wartime combat experience during his military career.

During his time at MITRE, Scott has provided expertise and experience in numerous areas including; assisting the FAA with rulemaking for the Enhanced Flight Vision System; concept of operations development for Synthetic Vision Systems; RNAV arrival and departure efficiency analysis; modeling and analysis for airspace interactions, Optimized Profile Descent analysis; aircraft separation modeling; participation in the Environmental Working Group; UAS analysis and outreach; RNAV arrival Directed Study; the FAA's Air Traffic Organization Top 5 Hazard analysis; Portal training and Industry outreach lead; and analysis and Subject Matter Expertise on Risk Prioritization. Scott was also the lead for Program and Project Management in the Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing (ASIAS) department. Most recently, his experience is in aviation safety data, analysis, vulnerability discovery, and safety studies in the ASIAS program.

Scott received his undergraduate degree from the University of Central Florida in Political Science, International Relations with a minor in Military Studies. During his time in the Air Force, Scott completed a Master's degree in Computer Resources and Information Systems from Webster University. In 2020 he completed a second Master's degree at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Aeronautical Science with specializations in Aviation/Aerospace Safety Systems and Human Factors in Aviation Systems.

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Mr. Sonnie Bates, CAM, MSM, CEO, Wyvern Ltd.

Mr. Sonnie Bates

CAM, MSM, CEO, Wyvern Ltd.

BASS 2022 Speaker Bio

Mr. Sonnie Bates, CAM, MSM, CEO, Wyvern Ltd.

Sonnie Bates is CEO of WYVERN Ltd, the global leader in elevating safety and security for the aviation industry. He began his aviation career in the U.S. Air Force, where he served in various key leadership roles including Instructor Pilot, Flight Examiner, Flight Commander, Aircraft Maintenance Quality Assurance Evaluator, C-5 Galaxy Aircraft Commander, Boeing C-17 Safety Program Manager, and Director of Operations for the largest air freight operation in the U.S. Department of Defense.

Sonnie’s experience in business aviation includes Chief Pilot, Safety Manager, and Captain on various types of business jet aircraft. Sonnie served as Program Director for the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC), overseeing the International Standards program for 700 operators worldwide. He is Vice-Chairman of the NBAA Business Aviation Management Committee. His credentials and degrees include: FAA Airline Transport Pilot, Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, Master of Science in Management, Master of Philosophy in Management, NBAA Certified Aviation Manager, ISSP Certified International Safety Manager, and IBAC accredited Auditor.

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Mr. Steve Bruneau, VP Aviation Services, Polaris Aero

Mr. Steve Bruneau

VP Aviation Services, Polaris Aero

BASS 2022 Speaker Bio

Mr. Steve Bruneau, VP Aviation Services, Polaris Aero

Steve Bruneau is the Vice President of Aviation Services at Polaris Aero responsible for expanding the company’s suite of safety management solutions.  Prior to joining Polaris, he spent the five years as the Chief Operating Officer of Pulsar Informatics delivering Fatigue Risk Management Systems (FRMS) to Aviation organizations of all types, including their maintenance and ground handling departments.  Steve has over 25 years of process consulting experience helping organizations meet regulatory requirements or achieve new levels of performance.  Steve has a BS in Mechanical Engineering, an MS in Aerospace Engineering, and has been a leader of three successful startup companies prior to joining Polaris.

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Mr. Tom Huff, Aviation Safety Officer, Gulfstream Aerospace, and FSF Business Advisory Committee Chair

Mr. Tom Huff

Aviation Safety Officer, Gulfstream Aerospace, and FSF Business Advisory Committee Chair

BASS 2022 Speaker Bio

Mr. Tom Huff, Aviation Safety Officer, Gulfstream Aerospace, and FSF Business Advisory Committee Chair

Tom Huff was named Aviation Safety Officer in 2012, reporting directly to the Gulfstream president as an independent safety advocate. He oversees safety programs and effectiveness for product life cycle, including laboratory testing as well as development, production and in-service flight operations. Moreover, he champions a corporate culture that embraces safety and quality as foundational values.   

Huff retired from the U.S. Navy after 28 years, with significant operational, test and acquisition experience. He led an FA-18 squadron as well as the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. His last assignment was Wing Commander for Navy and Marine Corps test programs at Patuxent River, Maryland. 

Huff holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy, a master’s   degree in aviation systems from the University of Tennessee and a master’s in foreign affairs and strategic studies from the U.S. Naval War College. He is an Associate Fellow in the Society of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP), the Chairman of the Flight Test Safety Committee and past Vice Chairman of the NBAA Safety Committee. He is the current Chair of the Flight Safety Foundation’s Business Advisory Committee.

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Here's what some past BASS attendees have to say...

Exceptional conference with a number of presentations that were of great value to my work.
BASS Attendee
BASS AttendeeAviation Professional
BASS provides the best forum in business aviation to benchmark your organization's safety culture against industry standards and best practices.
BASS Attendee
BASS AttendeeAviation Professional
Very good briefings and well-prepared subject matter experts.
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BASS AttendeeAviation Professional
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The 67th annual Business Aviation Safety Summit is organized by Flight Safety Foundation, in partnership with the National Business Aviation Association.

Flight Safety Foundation 75th Anniversary

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