EAA - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Regional Account Executive at Aircraft Spruce
Alan is a Regional Account Executive at Aircraft Spruce and Specialty covering the Upper Midwest. He served 25 years as President, Newsletter Editor and Technical Counselor for EAA Chapter 579 in Aurora, Illinois.
He served on the original EAA Strategic Planning Committee and was the first Chairman of the EAA Chapter Advisory Council. He previously served as the Board Secretary. He currently serves on the EAA Board of Directors and is a member of the Museum and Pathways Committees.
Alan restored a Staggerwing B17L s/n 3 that won Reserve Grand Champion Antique at Oshkosh in 1983. Alan holds a Private Pilot Certificate and a Mechanics Certificate (A&P) and an Inspection Authorization (IA).
Job Titles:
- Member of the Astronaut Hall of Fame
Charlie recently retired from Northrop Grumman where he had served since 2005 as the vice president and general manager of the company's Propulsion Systems business. He built a VariEze that first flew in 1987.
Charlie, who retired as an Air Force colonel in 2000, graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1977 with a degree in aeronautical engineering. He was an F-15 pilot, instructor, and flight commander, and a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School.
A veteran of four space flights and member of the Astronaut Hall of Fame, Charlie held several management positions within NASA, including deputy program manager for the International Space Station, chief of the Astronaut Corps, and director of operations for NASA at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia.
Charlie also serves on the Board of Directors for the National Business Aviation Association, and the Safety Committee of the Citation Jet Pilots Association.
Darren leads Google's Global Customer Acquisition organization. Prior to joining Google, Darren was a Partner at McKinsey & Company.
Darren is active in the aviation community. In addition to his Board position with the EAA, he serves as an appointed Board member for the Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos, CA. As president of the Northern California Aerobatic Club, he led the Chapter to becoming the largest IAC chapter in the country.
Darren has logged over 6,000 hours of flying time, holds an ATP certificate and is a current CFI, and owns several experimental and certified light aircraft.
Dave has a passion for all thing aviation. He has built or restored four experimental aircraft, including a Maranda; an F1 Rocket, a SeaRey and a Rotorway Exec helicopter. He has flown ultralights, paramotors, single engine, multi-engine, helicopters and seaplanes. He works part time as a flight instructor and especially enjoys introducing people young and old to flying and to building experimental airplanes. He volunteers on a variety of ASTM aviation committees and as an EAA Technical Counselor. He serves on the Homebuilt Aircraft Council.
Job Titles:
- Director of Communications
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Chairman of the Board
- Chief Executive Officer
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Member of the Senior Leadership Team
- Retired Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Cessna Aircraft Company
Jack Pelton was named as EAA's Chief Executive Officer in November 2015, formally adding those responsibilities to the Chairman of the Board role to which he was first elected in October 2012. Pelton is the first elected Chairman from outside EAA's founding Poberezny family in EAA's history. In his role as Chairman/CEO, Pelton leads the organization's board and staff in its mission of growing participation in aviation and inspiring people to fly, build, and further engage in flight.
Pelton is a lifelong, passionate aviation enthusiast, following in the footsteps of his parents, both of whom were pilots. He built his first airplane with his father as members of EAA Chapter 1 (Riverside, Calif.) in the 1970s. Pelton is an EAA Lifetime Member who has also been devoted to restoring and flying vintage aircraft, even as he reached the highest levels within the aviation industry over the past three decades. He currently holds airline transport and commercial pilot certificates, and has earned instrument, multi-engine and seaplane ratings, plus type ratings for the Cessna Citation and Cessna Mustang jets.
Pelton is the retired chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Cessna Aircraft Company, headquartered in Wichita, Kansas. In his decade with Cessna, beginning as senior vice president of product engineering, he oversaw new aircraft development, testing, certification, and improvements for all Cessna models.
Prior to joining Cessna, Pelton was senior vice president of engineering for Dornier Aircraft in Germany. He began his career with Douglas Aircraft in Long Beach, California, where he rose within the company in operations, engineering, and program management.
Pelton's knowledge and experience has also been a valuable asset throughout the aviation community. He is past chairman of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association board, and served on the boards of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, the National Business Aviation Association, and the Corporate Angel Network, as well as numerous local organizations in the Wichita area. Pelton has also served as volunteer chairman of EAA's Gathering of Eagles, the annual fundraiser held during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh that has raised millions of dollars to inspire youth in pursuit of aviation dreams.
Pelton has received numerous awards through his career. In 2017, he received the National Aeronautic Association's Distinguished Statesman of Aviation Award, the FAA's Friend of Safety Award, and induction into the Kansas Aviation Hall of Fame. His other honors include the 2010 Lindbergh Award for balancing technology and nature, the 2008 Aviation Week Laurel for Business and General Aviation, and EAA's highest honor, the Freedom of Flight Award.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Chief Financial Officer at Sargento Foods Inc
Jeremy Behler is the Chief Financial Officer at Sargento Foods Inc, a leading $1.7 billion natural cheese company. He has over 25 years of experience leading Strategy, Operations, Sales, IT, FP&A, Accounting, Tax, and Treasury for brands across the globe.
A lifetime EAA member, Jeremy has been a pilot since 2003. He has an instrument rating and flies a Cirrus SR22 for business, pleasure, and to support public benefit flying with Lifeline Pilots, Angel Flight Central, and Pilots N Paws. Jeremy currently serves on the EAA Board's Finance and Audit Committees.
Jeremy also serves on the Board of Directors for Driven Data Inc., The Salvation Army of Sheboygan County, and The Kohler School Foundation where he is Treasurer.
Jeremy holds a BS in Finance and Computer Information Systems from Indiana University along with an MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Senior Leadership Team
- Director of Publications
- Vice President, Publications, Marketing, Membership, and Retail
Jim Busha, an experienced pilot and aviation writer who has been with the Experimental Aircraft Association since 2014, has been promoted to Vice President of Publications, Marketing, Membership and Retail Operations for the organization.
In this role, Busha continues his leadership of EAA's editorial, photo/video, and marketing teams, with added responsibility for membership services. He will report directly to EAA CEO/Chairman Jack Pelton as part of the association's senior leadership team.
"Jim's leadership of our editorial and publications group has brought us continued growth and improvement in our print publications, broader digital offerings, significant increases in social media traffic, and expanded internal collaborations that benefits our members," Pelton said. "As an EAA member for more than 35 years, he understands the passion for flight that characterizes our members, and he will have the opportunity to develop even more ways to connect with them while welcoming more people into EAA's community of flight."
Busha joined EAA in October 2014 as Director of Publications, where he had responsibility for all of EAA's print and electronic publications including EAA's flagship magazine, Sport Aviation, and EAA's publications for its special interest communities. He accepted additional responsibilities over the EAA marketing team in August 2019. In his new role, Busha will continue his involvement in EAA's Vintage Airplane and Warbirds magazines.
A longtime pilot, Busha currently owns and flies a Stinson L-5. He has contributed too many aviation publications and journals, including to EAA publications for more than two decades. Busha has had several books published, most recently as a co-author of EAA Oshkosh - The Best AirVenture Photography, published in 2017. He initially came to EAA after a 30-year career with the Oshkosh Police Department, retiring as a detective/lieutenant.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Jim started his aviation journey when he became a US Air Force navigator in 1986, after many years of building and flying everything from rubber band powered balsa wood kits to model rockets to 3-meter radio controlled gliders. He accumulated over 1,300 hours of navigator time in both the C-130 and C-141 cargo planes, flying around the world in support of nearly every major military operation through 1998.
Along the way, he started on his private pilot license in 1987 while stationed at Little Rock, AFB, but a variety of demands from his flying duties, getting married, and having a family pushed his completion out until he earned his Sport Pilot certificate in 2015. Along the way, he pursued ultralight training in Perris CA, Colorado Springs CO, and Jackson NJ; while building his career in the Air Force. Jim retired as a Lt. Col. From the US Air Force Reserves in 2011 after spending the previous 8 years as a Civil Air Patrol Liaison Officer supporting the Wisconsin Civil Air Patrol.
In 2014, Jim started work building a Belite Ultracub and simultaneously resumed earning his Sport Pilot training in Hartford WI with Cub Air Flight. At the same time, he joined EAA Ultralight Chapter #1, in turn assuming the positions of chapter Vice President and eventually President in 2017. He lives in Germantown, WI and is looking forward to exploring the opportunities to learn to fly Powered Paragliders and starting a flying club that will be associated with his ultralight chapter.
Joe is President of Hartzell Propeller and COO of Tailwind Technologies Inc., a holding company that owns Hartzell Propeller and three additional aviation businesses, including Hartzell Engine Technologies. He has worked in aviation manufacturing for 24 years.
A lifetime member of EAA and AOPA, Joe is also involved in General Aviation Manufacturers Association and supports the Recreational Aviation Foundation. Joe is an instrument rated pilot with 3,000 hours. He flies a TBM and Glasair Sportsman.
Joe is a graduate of Middlebury College.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Senior Leadership Team
Job Titles:
- Owner and President of Kocourek Automotive
Keith Kocourek is the owner and president of Kocourek Automotive, an automotive company that currently has six dealerships in Wausau, Wisconsin.
An avid pilot for over 35 years, Keith has flown medical flights for Angel Flight and has been a supporter of the EAA Young Eagles program, as well as EAA's Gathering of Eagles. Keith is a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of EAA. /span>
Keith is also a member of the President's Circle for EAA. He currently owns and flies a Cessna Citation, a T-6, De Havilland Beaver and a Super Cub float plane.
Ken McKenzie, a recreational aviation enthusiast and senior vice president for strategy and corporate development for Airbus Group, Inc., has joined the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) board of directors.
>McKenzie was invited to join the board during its November 2016 meeting in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. As a Class III director for EAA, he will serve a one-year renewable term on the EAA board.
Ken McKenzie is an EAA lifetime member who is personally committed to recreational aviation in all its forms and brings very strong aviation industry leadership experience to our organization," said Jack J. Pelton, EAA CEO/Chairman. We are grateful he has accepted our invitation to join EAA's board whose members volunteer their time and expertise to lead our association, as we pursue our mission of growing participation by sharing the spirit of aviation."
McKenzie has 35 years of involvement in aviation, beginning as a pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force for 14 years. His recreational aviation pursuits include owning and flying a homebuilt Lancair IV-P, and more recently, enjoying "low and slow" flight with powered paragliders. He holds an FAA Airline Transport Pilot certificate, Transport Canada Transport Pilot's License and Transport Canada Commercial Helicopter Pilot's License.
Upon joining Airbus Americas in 2001, McKenzie first served as Senior Vice President of Customer Services and Chief Operating Officer. In 2014, he moved to his current role of Senior Vice President of Strategy and Corporate Development, where he oversees strategy development, merger and acquisition activity, and research and technology activity in the Americas.
Prior to joining Airbus, McKenzie worked in the commercial air carrier side of the aerospace industry at WestJet (Canada), Air Canada Jazz, and Spirit Airlines. He also served abroad as Program Director of the West African Flight Program for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.
McKenzie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Manitoba, and a Master's of Business Administration from the Jack Welch Management Institute at Strayer University. He has also successfully completed the Ivey Executive Program at the University of Western Ontario.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Global Aerospace Safety Initiatives
Lacey Pittman is the vice president of Global Aerospace Safety Initiatives (GASI) at The Boeing Company. In this newlyformed role, Pittman collaborates with Boeing and industry stakeholders and leads an Integrated Product Team to improve aerospace safety through several key initiatives.
Job Titles:
- Special Advisor to the JSSI Board of Directors
Lou Seno also serves on the Board of Directors of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). He is a past member of the Board of Governors of The Flight Safety Foundation as well as Duncan Aviation. Since 2001, Mr. Seno has been an actively involved in Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
He is an active general aviation pilot with over 6000 hours currently holding an ATP and Cessna 525 type rating. At the present time, he owns and operates a Beechcraft Bonanza Model F33A and an Aviat Husky A1B on amphibious floats. Over the years Lou and his Father have completed several homebuilt projects including a Corben Junior Ace and Wag-Aero Sport Trainer.
Lou joined the EAA Board of Directors in 2015.
As Chairman Emeritus and Special Advisor to the JSSI Board of Directors, Lou Seno provides counsel to the JSSI Board and represents JSSI at important business aviation conferences, events and trade associations.
Prior to joining JSSI, he held senior management positions at the business aircraft units of Boeing Capital Corp. and G.E. Capital Solutions.
Job Titles:
- Retired Vice President of Digital Aviation, the Boeing Company / Retired Chief Executive Officer, Jeppesen
- Vice President of Digital Aviation for the Boeing Company
Mark Van Tine is formally the Vice President of Digital Aviation for The Boeing Company. In this capacity, he oversaw a global enterprise comprised of 5000 employees focused on developing and delivering intelligent information solutions to optimize customer's operations and environmental performance. Concurrently he served as the Chief Executive Officer of Jeppesen, an 85-year-old information solutions company providing products and services for the aviation industry around the world. He was appointed to lead Jeppesen in October of 2002 and was named leader of the newly formed Digital Aviation organization at Boeing in October of 2012. He retired from Boeing in July of 2016.
Paul Schafer has a degree in aeronautical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and earned his private pilot certificate after graduation. Commissioned through Air Force ROTC, he started his 32-year USAF career in 1980 and primarily flew A-10 Warthogs. An outstanding graduate of the USAF Fighter Weapons School, Paul won the Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award for his combat command in Southwest Asia, and flew more than 40 combat missions over southern Iraq. He retired as a major general and is a defense and leadership consultant in Washington, D.C. He is chairman of the EAA Museum Committee.
Paul started homebuilding when he was an undergraduate. He was a project leader for a student team that designed, fabricated, and tested a self-launch composite glider. He is currently building an Onex in his garage. He holds a commercial pilot certificate with more than 3,000 hours. Paul is a volunteer pilot for Patient Airlift Services. He flies Young Eagles, and is the Eagle Flights leader for EAA National Capital Chapter 186. Paul and his wife live in Fairfax, Virginia.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Having recently retired from the automotive and powersports industries, Richard now is based in the Pacific North West. Previously Richard was the Chief Operating Officer for Kawasaki Motors Corp., USA, responsible for marketing, sales, and service for all of Kawasaki's recreation and utility products. Prior to that he was Executive Vice President for marketing and sales at Jaguar Land Rover North America and spent 34 years at Ford Motor Company, reaching VP level.
Richard owns and flies a Jaguar-edition A36 Bonanza and is an active Command Pilot for Angel Flight West.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Senior Leadership Team
- Vice President of Marketing and Communications
- Vice President, Communities & Member Programming
Rick Larsen returned to EAA as Vice President of Marketing and Communications in 2013, and was named to his current role in August 2014. He previously had also been EAA's Vice President of Marketing and Communications from 2004-2012. Rick is responsible for all of EAA's diverse member programs and offerings, including EAA chapters, flight activities such as Young Eagles and Eagle Flights, the editorial and publications group, marketing, and knowledge and information initiatives that include SportAir workshops, webinars and more.
Larsen graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Studies and a Masters of Business Administration in Aviation.
Prior to joining EAA, Larsen spent 13 years with ATA Airlines, Inc. as Vice President of Marketing, supporting the transformation of the airline from a niche charter carrier into a schedule service-focused airline with hubs in Chicago and Indianapolis. Before joining ATA, he spent more than 10 years with Midway Airlines in Chicago in various maintenance and marketing roles.
In the past, Larsen served as President for the Board of the Indiana Children's Wish Fund and as a member of the Embry-Riddle President's Advisory Board and Alumni Council. He currently is a board member for the Oshkosh Convention and Visitors Bureau.
A Chicago native, Larsen is an avid sport pilot and resides in Appleton, Wisconsin, with his wife, Pat. They have two grown daughters.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Senior Leadership Team
- Vice President, Advocacy & Safety
Sean joined the EAA staff in April 1996 and has been Vice President of Advocacy and Safety since December 2010.
With this responsibility, he manages EAA's government affairs offices at both EAA headquarters and in Washington, D.C. He is responsible for reviewing and analyzing government policy on the federal, state, and local levels that affect recreational aviation, as well as advocacy for EAA members and private individuals who build and fly aircraft for recreation.
After fours years serving as the Executive Director and President for the National Association of Flight Instructors beginning in 1996, Sean took over EAA's Aircraft Operations and Air Tours in 2000. As the head of EAA Aircraft Operations, Sean is responsible for the development of the Air Tour programs as well as the implementation of pilot training and standardization in some of the most rare and challenging aircraft to fly. In addition, the aircraft maintenance department reports to him and handles the significant challenges of maintaining the fleet. Oversight of a national B-17 tour, national Ford Tri-Motor(s) tour, and the annual carriage of over 16,000 passengers are all part of what EAA accomplishes with its very special fleet of aircraft and is a significant part of Sean's duties at EAA.
Sean is a pilot and instructor in most of EAA's vintage and experimental fleet. He is qualified in many different types of vintage aircraft including: 1929 Ford 4-AT-E Tri-Motor, 1929 Travel Air E- 4000, PT-17 Stearman, 1937 Waco YKS-7, 1930 Pitcairn Mailwing, 1930 Consolidated PT-3, 1927 Ryan NYP "Spirit of St. Louis Replica", 1935 Stinson SR-9, 1930 Stinson SM-8A, 1930 D-25 New Standard, 1927 Curtis Swallow, 1932 Waco UEC, North American T-6, Socata TBM 700, Douglas DC-3 (type rated), and Boeing B-17 (type rated). Sean's credentials include holding an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate, FAA Aviation Safety Counselor designation, over 8,200 hours of Pilot in Command time, and over 5,500 hours of dual instruction given. He holds CFI, CFII, CFMEI, Gold Seal, AGI,and IGI.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Member of EAA's Executive Committee, Chairman of the Organization 's Finance Committee
- Senior Advisor at Ampersand Capital Partners
Stuart Auerbach is a member of EAA's executive committee, chairman of the organization's finance committee, and serves as EAA's Treasurer. He is also a trustee of the EAA Foundation and a member of EAA's President's Circle.
Stuart earned his private pilot certificate when he was in college and now holds CFI and ATP certificates with single-and multiengine land and sea, turbojet, and rotorcraft ratings. He owns and operates both fixed wing aircraft and rotorcraft for personal, business, and part 135 Air Carrier operations.
In addition to volunteering his time to EAA, Stuart is a volunteer pilot and flight instructor with an organization that is committed to bringing joy and hope to kids through the wonder of flight. He was also a founder, board member and Treasurer of the TBM Owners and Pilots Association.
Professionally, Stuart is a senior advisor at Ampersand Capital Partners, a growth equity investment firm he has been a partner of for almost 30 years. Over that time he was part of a leadership and investor team that built more than a dozen successful industrial and healthcare companies. In addition to his Ampersand activities, he is an active personal investor and board member in several industrial technology companies and real estate ventures. Stuart received his bachelor's degree in engineering from Columbia University and his master's in business administration from Harvard Business School.
He served as a trustee of the EAA Aviation Foundation and is a current President's Circle member.
Susan Dusenbury of Walnut Cove, North Carolina, a longtime vintage aircraft enthusiast and Vintage Aircraft Association member and chapter leader, was named VAA's president in February 2017.
Dusenbury began flying at the age of 15 on a private airport (Overton Field) located near her shared hometowns of Andrews and Pawley's Island, South Carolina, and earned her private pilot certificate during her senior year in high school. She is a graduate of Francis Marion University with a degree in accounting and business administration. While in college, Dusenbury also earned her commercial, multi-engine, instrument, and flight instructor certificates. She also holds an associate degree in aviation maintenance technology.
Dusenbury is a longtime EAA and VAA member and volunteer and is president of the Carolinas - Virginia Antique Airplane Foundation (EAA Vintage Chapter 3). She served on the national EAA board of directors as a volunteer director for 20 years, and recently retired from ABX Air (formally Airborne Freight Corporation) after flying 25 years of night freight. She has owned and/or restored several vintage airplanes, including an Aeronca 7AC Champ, a Luscombe 8A, an Inland Sport, a KR-21, and a Culver Cadet. She now owns and flies a 1953 Cessna 180 and a 1937 Taylor J-2 Cub from her farm in North Carolina and is currently restoring a 1935 Stinson SR-6 Reliant.
Van Tine began his career in 1981 with Lockheed DataPlan, a leading flight planning and weather services company located in Los Gatos, California, which in 1989, was acquired by Jeppesen. He served as the Managing Director of DataPlan from 1991 until 1995, before relocating to Denver, Colorado to oversee Jeppesen's worldwide flight information development, printing and distribution operations, and IT organizations. He has spent his career working in a variety of different organizations within Jeppesen, including flight operations, customer service, navigation, and information technology. Van Tine served as Jeppesen's EVP of Operations and Chief Information Officer from 1998 through 2002.
Van Tine earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation and a minor in business from San Jose State University in 1980 and attended the Harvard School of Business Program for Management Development in 1998. He holds a Private Pilot certificate, lives on an airpark in Colorado, and is an active general aviation pilot. He is married to his high school sweetheart, has three grown children and is a very proud grandfather.