Dr. Kurt Barnhart

Dr. Barnhart is a Professor and most recently the Associate Dean of Research at Kansas State University Salina as well as the founding executive director of the Applied Aviation Research Center. Previously Dr. Barnhart was Head of the Aviation Department at Kansas State University. He is a member of the graduate faculty at K-State and holds a commercial pilot certificate with instrument, multi-engine, seaplane and glider ratings. He also is a certified flight instructor with instrument and multi-engine ratings. Dr. Barnhart also holds an airframe and powerplant certificate with inspection authorization (exp). Dr. Barnhart holds an A.S. in Aviation Maintenance Technology from Vincennes University, a B.S. in aviation administration from Purdue University, an MBAA from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and a Ph.D. in educational administration from Indiana State University. Dr. Barnhart’s personal Research agenda is focused in aviation psychology and Human Factors as well as the integration of Unmanned Aircraft Systems into the National Airspace System. His industry experience includes work as a R&D inspector with Rolls Royce Engine Company where he worked on the RQ-4 Unmanned Reconnaissance Aircraft development program, as well as serving as an aircraft systems instructor for American Trans-Air airlines. Before coming to Kansas, Dr. Barnhart was an Associate Professor and Acting Department Chair of the Aerospace Technology at Indiana State University where he was responsible for teaching flight and upper division administrative classes. Courses taught include Aviation Risk Analysis, Citation II Ground School, King Air 200 Flight, Air Navigation, Air Transportation, Instrument Ground School and many others. Dr. Barnhart maintains an active consulting practice in the field of collegiate aviation leadership and planning.

Tom Chandler

I am Tom Chandler, the AOPA Regional Manager for the Central Southwest area (NE, IA, KS, MO, OK, AR, NM, TX, LA). I am relatively new to the job having started in December, but, as a 28-year member, it is a privilege to work for an organization that I truly believe in.

I have been in aviation most of my life. My dad earned his private license when I was 5 years old and I was immediately hooked! I grew up in Kansas and we ran his Skyhawk to every corner of the country, multiple Oshkosh trips, and topped it off with a bucket-list trip to Alaska in 2009. We still fly his Rans S6 LSA together every chance we get. During high school I worked lots of part-time jobs to pay for flying lessons and finally earned my private certificate just after graduation. While working on an Aviation Management degree at Wichita State University I continued to work on my ratings up through CFII, eventually adding an ATP. I spent a couple of decades flying professionally doing charter, air ambulance, and corporate work. Flight instruction has been in the mix all along the way. In 2006 I became the airport manager at a small GA airport in McPherson Kansas and got heavily involved in the Kansas Association of Airports and the Kansas Commission on Aerospace Education. Along the way I owned an RV-4 and was the Young Eagles Coordinator for the local EAA chapter. As it turned out, all the above was just tremendous education and preparation for my work here at AOPA.

As your regional manager I wear quite a few different hats. Typically, the first part of the year is very busy working state-level legislation that affects our members and general aviation overall. The legislation runs the gamut….sales and property taxes, airport protection and land-use issues, airport funding, and even some fun stuff like aviation license plates for your car and statewide aviation awareness days. Year-round work includes GA promotion events, supporting airports directly and via our Airport Support Network volunteers, speaking to local government leaders and civic groups, as well as helping members solve a wide variety of problems. I’m now based in Heath Texas (Dallas metro area) and get to work from home, but, with 9 states to support, I’m on the move quite a bit. Fortunately, I have a great C182 rental setup, so I try to fly whenever it makes sense.

Lauren Heartlein

Lauren Lacey Haertlein is Aviation Regulatory Counsel at global instant logistics leader Zipline. Previously, she served as General Counsel and Director, Safety & Regulatory Affairs at the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), where her work included representing the general aviation manufacturer and maintainer industry’s interests in issues related to safety, training, accident and incident investigation, public policy, federal regulation, state and federal litigation, and aviation education and career advocacy. In 2020, Lauren was appointed to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Women in Aviation Advisory Board, established to develop strategies and recommendations to encourage women to pursue careers in aviation. She received the FAA Friend of Aviation Safety Award in 2018.

Before joining GAMA, Lauren was an associate in Arnold & Porter’s FDA/healthcare group, counseling pharmaceutical and medical device companies on regulatory, compliance, and public policy issues. Prior to law school, she worked in clinical trial management and consulting.

Lauren received her B.A. in biology and political science from Tufts University and her J.D. and M.A. (in philosophy – with a focus in bioethics) from Duke University. After law school, she clerked for the Honorable James A. Wynn, Jr. on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

Lauren is an instrument-rated commercial pilot. She lives in Maryland with her very patient partner (who taught her to fly) and enjoys flying, hiking, and photography.

Dr. Mark Jackson

Mark James-Jackson, a professor in mechanical engineering technology at K-State Salina, has collaborated on two new publications focusing on metal and medicine.

Jackson co-edited the book "Advances in Medical and Surgical Engineering," which demonstrates the connection between engineering and medical science. Released in March, it examines technology in health care facilities and how it is used in specific procedures. The book is meant to be a resource for students, medical practitioners and even policymakers.

Additionally, Jackson teamed up with research colleagues from various universities in Brazil to co-author an article in the upcoming July edition of the Journal of Manufacturing Processes. Centered around the nickel-based superalloy Inconel 625, the scholarly paper Jackson helped pen explores the metal's machinability. While it stands up well to corrosion and oxidation because of its strong properties and resistance to high temperatures, Inconel 625 is challenged during the grinding process. Titled "Influence of Grinding Parameters on Inconel 625 Surface Grinding," the study evaluates surface integrity, grinding forces and specific grinding energy during a variety of experiments.

Jackson says the research is particularly relevant to K-State Polytechnic because Inconel 625 is used in the manufacturing of aircraft jet engine blades and the information could be valuable to students studying aviation maintenance management or be used in future-proposed programs.

Jackson's areas of expertise in mechanical engineering technology include manufacturing, materials science and nanotechnology.

Paul Lewindowski

Since 2001, Paul is the Chief Inspector for Duncan Aviation in Lincoln, Nebraska. His duties include directing aircraft and engine inspections for the largest family-owned MRO. He was previously committee chair of the ASTM Airframe Training Standard. He also directed compliance and risk management programs for Duncan Aviation's 20-plus repair stations, and has been an A&P and FAA designee (DAR) as an ODA unit member.

Prior to Duncan Aviation, Paul was a Senior Customer Services Representative at Rolls-Royce North America, providing technical support for corporations and airlines operating Rolls-Royce turbine powered aircraft, which included on-call support for 12 engine models across a 15-state region.

Paul has also instructed for Embry Riddle Aeronautical University at Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue, Nebraska from 2002 though 2010. As the Instructor Adjunct, Paul taught aviation maintenance technology in the Bachelor of Science program.

Paul's other ventures include being the Director of Quality Control for United Express Airlines and a Maintenance Technician for Continental Airlines.

Dr. Michael Pritchard

Michael J. Pritchard received a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from the University of Kansas, a Master of Science in Information Systems from Northwestern University, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Information Systems from Dakota State University in 2019. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Machine Learning and Autonomous Systems at Kansas State University and a Graduate Lecturer of Data Science at UC Berkeley. His research is published in Information Systems, IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication, International Journal of Transport and Vehicle Engineering, and Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences. His areas of research include integrated machine learning, autonomous systems, cybernetic systems, and information theory.

Greg Principato

Prior to arriving at NAA, Principato served as President and CEO of the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) from 2014 to 2016. He also served as President of Airports Council International, North America (ACI-NA) from 2005 until 2013, overseeing the leading association of airports and airport-related businesses in North America, and the largest of the five worldwide regions of Airports Council International. He has worked on aviation and transportation policy issues for more than 30 years beginning on the staffs of U.S. Senators J. Bennett Johnson and Joseph R. Biden, Jr. After leaving the Senate, he worked for Virginia Governor Gerald L. Baliles, who was nationally known for a commitment to transportation infrastructure and who spearheaded the creation of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.

In 1993, he was the Executive Director of the 15-member National Commission to Ensure a Competitive Airline Industry, a commission set up by the Clinton Administration to examine ways to revive the aviation industry. The Commission tackled issues such as air traffic control reform, capacity enhancement, federal funding, international air service rights and foreign investment. He also served on the Secure Borders and Open Doors Advisory Commission during the George W. Bush Administration.

Brian Richardet

Brian Richardet is Sr. Manager of Civil Certification and ODA Deputy Administrator for Textron Aviation. He has a BSAE from the University of Kansas and an MSAE from Wichita State University.

Brian joined Cessna Aircraft Company (later to become Textron Aviation) in 1989. He has served in Advanced Design, Project Engineering, and Certification.

Brian grew up in South-Central Kansas and resides in Wichita. He enjoys golf and shooting sports.

Brian’s current industry engagements include AIA Civil Aviation Regulatory and Safety Committee, GAMA Technical Policy Committee and ASTM F44 General Aviation Executive Committee. He Co-Led an FAA/Industry team to write the 3^rd Edition of the FAA and Industry Guide to Product Certification.

Brian has a particular passion for advancement of education in aviation and aerospace. While on the AIAA Aircraft Design Technical Committee, he Chaired the Student Activities Subcommittee and Co-founded AIAA Design/Build/Fly (DBF) Competition and continues to serve on the DBF Organizing Committee. He contributed to the AIA NAS9945 standard for Airworthiness Engineering Training & Education.

Don Roberts

Until his retirement in July of 2020, Don served as Lockheed Martin Technical Fellow for Airworthiness and Airworthiness Certification advising multiple civil and military programs and leading the development of the LM certification management tool. In that role, he also served as the Lockheed Martin Corporate Representative to the USAF Airworthiness Defense Industry Advisory Group (ADAIG).

Don brings over 33 years of expertise in Design, Manufacturing, Quality Assurance, and Airworthiness Engineering supporting numerous civil and military programs at both Boeing and Lockheed Martin. Don has a combined 25 years designee experience as a Boeing DMIR and an independent DAR.

As a Founder and Board Chairman of the Association of Airworthiness Professionals, Inc. (AAP), he remains active in many aspects of certification and in furthering the airworthiness cause. Don served 6 years on the Baylor University School of Engineering and Computer Science Board of Advocates and guest lecturer for aeronautics classes.

Don currently serves as an Associate for Dayton Aerospace, Inc. and as an independent consultant providing airworthiness expertise to multiple industry and government customers. He also serves as the lead in coordinating and planning the yearly Aircraft Airworthiness & Sustainment Conference. In his spare time, Don enjoys entertaining his 4 grandchildren, exercising, pickleball, travel, music, and time in the pool.

Laura Sandoval

Laura serves as the Founder and CEO of Global Aircraft Certification Experts (ACES) based in Wichita, Kansas. Global ACES offers aircraft type certificate (TC) and supplemental type certificate (STC) holders certification validation services, providing the proven expertise and experience needed to expedite their products into both the domestic and international market.

Laura’s desire to establish Global ACES started during her 14+ years of working TC and STC validations on the Beechcraft, Hawker and Cessna models, currently owned by Textron Aviation, Inc. Laura managed and conducted the validation processes in her role as the Director of Airworthiness for the Asia Pacific region, supporting over 80+ type certificated aircraft, along with company owned and third party STCs, to meet the company’s international delivery schedules. Laura recognized a growing need for aviation companies to secure such expertise to enhance speed to market with their products and began Global ACES in 2017 bringing together a team of experts that leverages validation process proficiency and long-term relationships with international aviation authorities, to benefit aircraft, engine, propeller, and modification clients.

Prior to her role with Textron Aviation, Inc., Laura held a position at Boeing where she was introduced to aircraft certification and was responsible for managing the company’s designee appointment process and training for authorized representatives under the FAA Designated Alteration Station (DAS/ODA) supporting the development of STCs for Boeing’s military division.

Laura began her career in the aviation industry working in flight test at NASA Dryden, Edwards Air Force Base over 30 years ago as a software programmer and telemetry data analyst supporting experimental flight tests of the X-29 through X-36 programs.

Laura holds a Master of Science, Management from Friends University in Wichita, Kansas and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aviation Management from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.

Debra Sanning

Debra is the Deputy Regional Administrator (A) for FAA's Central Region in Kansas City, Mo. The region is comprised of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. As the Deputy Regional Administrator, Debra provides leadership in a variety of cross organizational matters and initiatives directly with aviation stakeholders, airport authorities, congressional officials and the general public. She leads the Regional Administrator's Outreach Team in Unmanned Aircraft Systems.

With over 21 years of experience, Debra has held several positions within the FAA, most recently as the Senior Advisor to the Regional Administrator's Office, Special Programs Integrator and Facility Manager of the DOT Regional Headquarters. Debra contines to serve on the Downtown Government Security Council, and as a member of the Intelligence Liaison Officers group of Missouri, along with various law enforcement partnerships in the Central Regional.

Debra has been with the FAA since 1989.

Larry Van Dyke

In his over 60 years of experience in the aviation industry, Larry has held several keys roles including advancing to a couple of different director roles for Cessna Aircraft Company. Larry has also held a management position at Hawker Beechcraft, as well as a consulting role on TC ODA overseeing their conformity requirements. He has also been involved in numerous groups in the FAA focusing on harmonization, communication, rulemaking and certification.

Some of Larry's achievements include designing Cessna aircraft loads database concept that reduced times and effort to calculate loads by over 75%, leading the overall structural design of Cessna Caravan resulting in simpler tooling and manufacturing requirements, being a Mechinical Systems Project Engineer on the Cessna Citation X, developing improved certification database at Cessna to strengthen and improve the certification process, creating the ASTM F44 Terminology Standard for use across multiple ASTM aircrafts and writing repair station manuals for an aircraft repair station.

Larry is a 1960 graduate of Spartan School of Aeronautics in Airframe Mechanics. In addition, he has a BSME in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Missouri-Columbia and has completed post graduated work in engineering at Wichita State University.

Jim Wilkerson

James is the Executive Director of Aircraft Certification for Global Aircraft Certification Experts located in Wichita, Kansas. Serving nearly four decades in the aviation industry, James specializes in aviation regulatory affairs, domestic certification, and international validation services.

Before joining Global ACES, James was the Senior Manager of Certification for Beechcraft and then Senior Manager of International Certification for Textron Aviation (Beechcraft, Hawker and Cessna products). James created and streamlined an unparalleled organizational process to expedite the validation and type acceptance for 80+ Type Certificated (TC) aircraft and 1,200 Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs).

During the almost 30 years of international validation experience, James recognized the importance of relationships with the FAA and Civil Aviation Authorities around the world. He has been instrumental in helping to lead and facilitate global industry participation in the Certification Management Team (ANAC Brazil, TCCA Canada, EASA Europe, and the FAA United States). James continues to serve as the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) Advisor to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) where he is a member of Working Group 2.

James has hundreds of hours teaching in both the classroom and cockpit settings over the years. In addition, James served as an Advisory Board member of the Friends University Master of Global Leadership and Management program.

James is a current pilot with a Commercial Pilot Certificate, Multi Engine Certificate, and is instrument rated.

Kirsten M. Zoller

Kirsten M. Zoller serves as director of Professional Education and Outreach for Kansas State University Salina Aerospace and Technology Campus. She has been with the university since 2009, serving in her current role for the past three years. Zoller provides strategic leadership and management focused on expanding the Aerospace and Technology Campus’ educational offerings to achieve a strategic portfolio created for enrollment growth responsive to workforce needs and targeted industry alignment. The portfolio includes in person, online, and hybrid credit-bearing programs, micro-credentials, and noncredit professional development programs. Working collaboratively with cross-institutional and external stakeholders, Zoller drives critical business development strategies, designs program lifecycle stage plans, leverages market intelligence research, develops financial projections and budget strategies, guides quality course design and curriculum design processes, and supports successful launch implementation planning. She manages a budget of over $1.7 million and serves thousands annually in the various programs she oversees. Zoller has previous professional experience in enrollment management, program coordination, and event administration. She obtained her Master of Science in 2009 in Adult Learning and Leadership from Kansas State University, alongside a graduate certificate in Leadership Dynamics. She is a LERN Certified Program Planner and will achieve UPCEA Professional, Continuing, and Online Education Professional certificate designation in 2022.