The National General Aviation Awards (GAAwds) Committee takes great pride in announcing this year's regional General Aviation Awards winners. They are all finalists for the national awards. The mission of the General Aviation Awards program is to recognize individual aviation professionals on the local, regional, and national levels for their contributions to aviation, education, and flight safety. The national judging is currently underway and national winners will be announced not later than March 1st.
The GA Awards program is a cooperative effort between more than 18 general aviation industry sponsors and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Nominations for 2014 will be accepted beginning in August. "Everyone knows a worthy aviation professional. I encourage you to submit a nomination for your favorite flight instructor, maintenance technician, or FAASTeam representative," urged John Teipen, GAAwds co-chair.
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This year's regional winners are:
2013 Regional Aviation Maintenance Technicians (AMTs) of the Year
Scott Eric Austin of Lawrence, Michigan represents the Grand Rapids FSDO and the Great Lakes Region. Scott is the director of maintenance for Western Michigan University. He supervises and trains a staff of 11 full time and five part time technicians.
Bruce Albert Berry of Blytheville, Arkansas represents the Little Rock FSDO and the Southwestern Region. Bruce is vice president of Flight Structures at Aviation Repair Technologies. He is a certified Composite Trainer and trains the trainers.
William Thomas"Bill" Fifles of Honolulu, Hawaii represents the Honolulu FSDO and the Western Pacific Region. Bill is director of maintenance at Kamaka Air, Inc. He enjoys mentoring youth and young technicians.
Kenneth Lee "Ken" Gilliland of Clanton, Alabama represents the Birmingham FSDO and the Southern Region. Ken is chief of maintenance at B& G Flying Service, Inc. He also developed the maintenance program for the Chilton County Sheriff's Office.
Leroy Alan Muise of Trenton, Maine represents the Portland FSDO and the Eastern Region. Leroy is general manger for Columbia Air at Bar Harbor Airport. He is committed to good customer service and competent maintenance.
Bret Samuel Proud of Englewood, Colorado represents the Denver FSDO and the Northwest Mountain Region. Bret is an AMT and DME at Redstone College. He instructs and mentors students in the AMT Society Maintenance Skill Competition and is a FAASTeam representative.
2013 Regional Avionics Technicians of the Year
Bruce Allan Lundquist of Willis, Michigan represents the East Michigan (Detroit) FSDO and the Great Lakes Region. Pentastar Aviation at the Oakland Pontiac Airport employs Bruce. He has been the lead technician and supervisor for more than 30 years.
2013 Regional Certificated Flight Instructors (CFIs) of the Year
Timothy John "Tim" Brill, a 2-time Master CFI-Aerobatic of Reno, Nevada represents the Reno FSDO and the Western Pacific Region. Tim is the owner / chief instructor of Aerobatic Company and Flight School, Inc. He specializes in emergency maneuver training.
George Patrick"Pat" Brown III of Houston, Texas represents the Houston FSDO and the Southwestern Region. Pat is owner/chief instructor for Houston Light Sport Aviation and a lecturer for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA).
Luke Andrew Collison of Arvada, Colorado represents the Denver FSDO and the Northwest Mountain Region. Luke is general manager/co-owner and assistant chief instructor of McAir, Inc.
Peter Gerard "Pete" Demers of Jupiter, Florida represents the South Florida FSDO and the Southern Region. Pete is chief flight instructor at North County Flight Training, LLC a Part 141 and Part 61 flight school.
Dean Wesley Eichholz of Soldotna, Alaska represents the Anchorage FSDO and the Alaskan Region. Dean is an independent flight instructor and Designated Pilot Examiner as well as a broker for Falcon Insurance Agency of Alaska, Inc.
Lee Stanley Jones of Kearneysville, West Virginia represents the Baltimore FSDO and the Eastern Region. Lee is chief flight instructor for Aero-Smith, Inc. a Part 141 flight school and participates in numerous youth/aviation activities.
Linda Hert Langrill, a 2-time Master CFI of Midland, Michigan represents the Grand Rapids FSDO and the Great Lakes Region. Linda is a flight instructor for Acker Aviation in Clare, MI. She participates in several youth aviation activities.
2013 Regional FAASTeam Representatives of the Year
Gary Michael Brossett, a 2-time Master Aviation Educator of Midland, Georgia represented the Atlanta FSDO and the Southern Region. Gary is a certified trainer for Pratt & Whitney. He has arranged, hosted, and/or presented more than half of all safety and WINGS programs in the state for the past three years.
Walter Penn Hunnicutt of Bella Vista, Arkansas represented the Little Rock FSDO and the Southwestern Region. Walter works fulltime for Air Resource Group and has developed safety programs for Arkansas pilots that combine operations and airworthiness topics.
Mark Edward Madden, a 3-time Master CFI of Anchorage, Alaska represented the Anchorage FSDO and the Alaska Region. Mark is a professor of aviation technology at the University of Alaska. He is a leading safety educator in the local FAASTeam, the university, and the Alaskan Aviation Safety Foundation.
Dean Christopher Marshall of East Setauket, New York represented the Farmingdale FSDO and the Eastern Region. He is a flight instructor at Mid-Island Flight School and avidly supports the FAASTeam teaching seminars, planning events and earning the Master WINGS.
Lynwood Karl"Woody" Minar, a 4-time Master CFI of Dresser, Wisconsin represented the Minneapolis FSDO and the Great Lakes Region. Woody is chief instructor at Osceola Aero Sport. He enthusiastically preaches safety while acting as CFI, DPE, Lead Rep, airport manager, and flying club board member.
William Edwin"Bill" Standefer of Fort Collins, Colorado represented the Denver FSDO and the Northwest Mountain Region. Bill promotes safety in the FAAST/ CFI seminars as a Lead Rep, as a major in the Civil Air Patrol, and as Chairman of the Mountain Flying Training program for the Colorado Pilots Association.
Arlene Virginia Steier of Omaha, Nebraska represented the Lincoln FSDO and the Central Region. Arlene spreads the mission of the FAASTeam to flight students, university students, and K-12 teachers in Nebraska and Iowa.
For additional GA Awards program info, call 303-485-8136 & visit http://www.GeneralAviationAwards.org/