Speaker Bios
Janell Barrilleaux
Environmental Program Manager, FAA - Airports Division
Janell Barrilleaux is ANM Airports' Environmental Program Manager. Her primary areas of responsibility are NEPA, noise, Environmental Management Systems (EMS), wildlife, and sustainability.
From 2000 to 2010, Janell was Director of Environmental Programs for the City and County of Denver Department of Aviation at Denver International Airport (DIA). Prior to joining DIA Janell spent 15 years in environmental consulting where she conducted numerous site assessment and remediation projects, including remediation of the former Stapleton International Airport in Denver.
During her career, Janell has been active in several boards, commissions, and professional organizations, including the Colorado Pollution Prevention Advisory Board and Water Quality Control Commission (as a gubernatorial appointee), the Colorado Airport Operators Association Board of Directors, the Global Reporting Initiative Airport Sector Supplement working group for sustainability reporting, and the Airports Council International - North America Environmental Committee, where she served as the second vice chair for one year and the vice chair for two years.
Janell has a Master of Science degree in Geology from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She also is a Licensed Professional Geologist (Alaska), a Professional Geologist (Wyoming and Arkansas), Certified Professional Geologist (AIPG), and an ISO 14001 Lead Auditor (classroom training).John P. Bauer
Manager, FAA - Denver Airports District Office
John Bauer is currently Manager of the Denver Airports District Office (ADO). He is responsible for overseeing the Airport Improvement Program including, engineering, planning programs, compliance, fiscal control, and environment planning activities for Colorado, Utah and Wyoming.
John has been with the Denver ADO since 1996. He worked as the Assistant Manager, Project Manager, Compliance Specialist, Wyoming State Engineer, Utah State Engineer, and Utah/Wyoming Airport Planner.
Joelle Briggs
Regional Compliance Program Manager, FAA - Airports Division
Joelle Briggs is the Regional Compliance Program Manager for FAA's Northwest Mountain Region.
Joelle has been with FAA since 1987 and joined the Airports Division in 2005. She provides guidance to the Region's Airport District Offices and Airport Sponsors on compliance with federal grant assurances. This includes guidance on revenue use policy, land use compatibility, economic non-discrimination, exclusive rights, and rights and powers.
Joelle received her Bachelor's degree from the University of Washington in 1990, and her Juris Doctorate from Seattle University School of Law in 2004. She was admitted to the Washington State Bar in 2005.
Kathleen Brockman
Airport Compliance Specialist, FAA's Office of Airport Compliance and Management Analysis
Kathleen Brockman is a Compliance Specialist in FAA's Office of Airport Compliance and Management Analysis in Washington, DC. She has been with the FAA for 15 years. Her first job was as a compliance specialist during the roll-out of the Part 16 formal complaint process.
After six years in Compliance, Kathleen moved to the Office of Civil Rights to manage the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program. After four years, Kathleen missed talking about aviation and became an aviation safety inspector with the Office of Aircraft Certification - working primarily on amateur-built aircraft issues. In 2008, Kathleen returned to Compliance, adjudicating formal complaints and working on airport issues with FAA's Southern, Southwest, Northwest Mountain and Alaska Regions.
Before joining FAA, Kathleen worked for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) for 14 years, managing the pilot hotline and as director of airports. Kathleen earned her wings as a private pilot in 1987.
Thomas W. Clark
Planning Specialist , Planning and Requirements, NAS Planning and Integration North Team,
FAA - Air Traffic Organization
Tom Clark is a Planning Specialist for the FAA Northwest Mountain Region. He is a point of contact for both internal and external FAA customers whose needs may affect the National Airspace System (NAS). Tom is a subject matter expert who seeks input on customer needs and establishes working relationships to meet those requirements. Tom also is a member of the Strategic Events Coordination Committee, and is Western Service Area point of contact for reporting and coordinating airport projects that will significantly impact the NAS.
Prior to joining the FAA Western Service Area in 2010, Tom was a Front Line Manager at Juneau Automated Flight Service Station in Alaska. Tom has been with the FAA since 2002.
Tom graduated from the University of Vermont with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. Tom has lived the majority of his life in Vermont, Colorado, and Alaska. Tom also holds a private pilot certificate.
Sushil Deodhar, Manager, NAS Planning & Integration, FAA - ATO Western Service Center
Sushil Deodhar joined FAA's Western Service Center (WSC) in 2007 and has held several positions with WSC since then, including Program Implementation Manager, Cost Estimating Team Manager and currently, NAS Planning & Integration Manager. Prior to joining the WSC Sushil worked in FAA's Engineering Services for seven years in the Telecommunications Operations Team.
Before coming to the FAA, Sushil worked at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for 18 years, where he held several engineering positions and a management position in the Nuclear Engineering Department.
Sushil graduated from Washington State University with a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering.
Diane De Borde, Operations Support Specialist, FAA - Operations Support Group
Diane De Borde is a Support Specialist with the Federal Aviation Administration Northwest Mountain Region's Operations Support Group. She is the point of contact for the Columbia Terminal District and Seattle ARTCC.
Diane joined federal service in 1987. She worked at Big Delta, Alaska, in Flight Service. She transferred to Fairbanks, Alaska's, Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS) in 1990 - where she worked as a specialist for a year. She then worked in the Fairbanks AFSS Quality Assurance and Staff Support for 10 years before becoming a Front Line Supervisor in 2001. In October 2006, Diane was promoted to her current position in Renton, Washington.
Sarah Demory, Airport Deputy Director, Airport Operations and Security, City of Boise, Boise Airport
Sarah Demory is the Airport Deputy Director of Airport Operations and Security with the City of Boise at the Boise Airport. She has been with the Boise Airport since March of 2011 and leads the Airport Operations, Airport Security, Airfield Maintenance and Airport Technology programs at the Boise Airport. Sarah came to Boise after spending nine years with the Port of Seattle at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. At Sea-Tac Sarah served in several positions including Airport Duty Manager, interim Airport Emergency Program Manager and Runway Activation Manager overseeing the opening and activation of SeaTac's new third runway. Sarah also has experience in Airport Operations at Omaha's Eppley Airfield and Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
Sarah has a Bachelor of Business Administration in Aviation Management degree as well as a Master's degree in Aviation from the University of North Dakota. She holds a Commercial pilot's license with instrument and multi-engine ratings.
Aimee Fenlon, Environmental Public Health Program Administrator, City and County of Denver, Department of Aviation, Planning and Development Division, Environmental Services Section, Denver International Airport
Aimee Fenlon joined Denver International Airport five years ago and is currently an Environmental Public Health Program Administrator. She is responsible for preparing NEPA and General Conformity documentation. In addition, she currently prepares and reviews environmental permit applications for projects.
In 2010, Denver International Airport was awarded a grant to prepare a Sustainability Management Plan (SMP). Aimee is currently managing the contract to develop the SMP.
Warren D. Ferrell, Financial Assistance Program Manager, FAA - Airports Division
Warren Ferrell has served as the Airport Financial Assistance Program Manager since January 1994. He is responsible for overseeing the Airport Improvement Program and the Passenger Facility Charge Program. Prior to accepting this position, Warren spent 8 years as an aviation planner.
Warren earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Washington State University, and his Master of Public Administration at California State University, Long Beach.
Doug Fuller, Airport Solutions Specialist, Aero-Metric, Inc.
Doug has over 47 years of combined military and private photogrammetric experience, with over 37 years experience in a supervisory and administrative capacity. A substantial amount of this experience is in providing mapping project design support and detailed cost estimating for the production activities at Aero-Metric's facility in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Throughout the course of his career Doug has become an ASPRS Certified Photogrammetrist and an ASPRS Certified Mapping Scientist. In addition, Doug earned the ASPRS Meritorious Service Award in both 1993 and 1998, and the Outstanding Service Award in 2004. In 2009, Doug became involved in airport projects using the new FAA Advisory Circulars 16, 17, and 18. Since that time he has been involved in over 60 Obstruction and/or eALP airport projects that have used those ACs throughout the United States and its' Territories. In 2010 he became certified in FAA Integrated Distance Learning Environment (IDLE) Level 3 Training.
Peter C. Hahn, Lead, Airport Certification Safety Inspector, FAA - Airports Division
Pete has been an Airport Inspector with the FAA since 2007, and assumed the position of Lead Inspector for the region in 2009.
Prior to coming to the agency, Pete worked in the US Air Force as an Airport Manager for 21 years. During that time, he managed numerous airports throughout the world.
Pete has a Bachelor's Degree in Professional Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Kathlyn Hoekstra, Project Manager, Aeronautical Information Management, FAA - Air Traffic Organization
Kathlyn Hoekstra is a Project Manager in the Aeronautical Information Management (AIM) Division of the FAA's Air Traffic Organization where she has spent the last 5 years. Within AIM, Kathie was responsible for the project which published the first computer-generated Digital NOTAM from Atlantic City International Airport on April 20, 2010.
Most recently Kathie has been given responsibility for rolling out the Federal NOTAM System for Tech Ops and also for obstruction tower light Operators. When she first joined AIM, Kathie was tasked with writing the Safety Risk Management Document for all NOT AM originators.
Kathie is a commercial, multi-engine pilot, as well as an attorney who practiced law for over 25 years before joining AIM.
Michael T. Irwin, Federal Security Director, Oregon , Transportation Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security
Mike Irwin was selected by Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) Assistant Secretary, Kip Hawley, as Oregon Federal Security Director (FSD) in October 2005. He manages a staff of more than 700 and is responsible for fulfilling the TSA mission of protecting the Nation's transportation systems to ensure freedom of movement for people and commerce in all modes of transportation including aviation, mass transit, highway, pipeline and maritime.
Mike started his TSA career in 2002 as the Deputy FSD at San Francisco International Airport, and also served as the Deputy Assistant Administrator for Aviation Operations at TSA Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Prior to joining TSA, Mike served 25 years in the Air Force where he retired as a Colonel. He brings a unique perspective on transportation security as he was the Director of Operations in the White House Military Office on September 11, 2001, responsible for over 3,000 military personnel serving the President and White House staff.
Mike is a native Oregonian. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Portland; a Master's in Industrial Engineering from the University of Illinois; a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Eastern Illinois University, and a Master's Degree in National Security Strategies from the National War College in Washington, DC.
Paul Johnson, PE, Civil Engineer, Safety and Standards Branch, FAA - Airports Division
Paul Johnson works in the FAA Northwest Mountain Region Airports Office, Safety and Standards Branch, as a resource for paving, safety management system implementation, and policy guidance. He has been with the FAA since 1991.
Paul's previous work experience includes 12 years with U. S. Army Corps of Engineers in the field of design and construction of civil and military projects.
Paul graduated from University of Washington with a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, and did postgraduate work at Purdue University in the field of concrete, materials, and pavements. He is a registered Civil Engineer in State of Washington.
Anne Kusaka, P.E., Lead Planner, FAA - Air Traffic Organization, Western Service Center
Anne joined the FAA in 1984 as a civil engineer in the Seattle Airports District Office. Her career with the FAA also includes working as an Airway Facilities Navaids engineer, program manager, and Airport Integration Engineer. Her current responsibilities include developing reimbursable agreements and ensuring the successful planning and integration of FAA and sponsor projects in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana.
Anne holds Bachelor and Master of Science Degrees in Civil Engineering from the University of Washington. She is also a registered professional engineer.
Catherine Lang, Deputy Associate Administrator for Airports, FAA Headquarters
Catherine (Kate) M. Lang is the Deputy Acting Associate Administrator for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Office of Airports and served in that role since August 2003. Prior to that Ms. Lang was the Director of FAA's Office of Airport Planning and Programming for almost four years, and Deputy Director of that office for two years.
The FAA Airports organization provides leadership in planning and developing a safe and efficient national airport system. The Airports Division is responsible for all programs related to airport safety and inspections, and standards for airport design, construction, and operation (including international harmonization of airport standards). Each year the office awards $3.5 billion in airport grants, and approves passenger facility charge collections totaling $2 billion. The office also is responsible for national airport planning, as well as environmental and social requirements. We establish policies related to airport rates and charges, compliance with grant assurances, and airport privatization.
Before she joined the FAA Airports organization, Ms. Lang served for three years as Chief of Staff to FAA Deputy Administrator Linda Daschle. Her first position in the agency (in 1992) was Assistant Manager for the Policy and Systems Analysis Division of the Office of Aviation Policy and Plans.
Before coming to the FAA, Ms. Lang worked for the city of Chicago as Assistant Commissioner of the Department of Aviation. Ms. Lang received a B.A. from Briar Cliff College and a M.P.S. from Loyola University of Chicago. She serves on the TRB's Airport Cooperative Research Program Oversight Committee and is the FAA's Liaison to the Aero Club of Washington.
Don Larson, Airport Capacity Program Manager, FAA- Airports Division
Don Larson, previously of the Seattle Airports District Office (ADO), joined the Airports Division regional staff in 2006 as Airport Capacity Program Manager. Don prepares the Regional Airport Plan and works on capacity-related planning projects. He is the regional liaison with FAA Headquarters on airport planning and capacity matters, and is a planning resource for our region's ADOs.
Don has over 33 years of airport-related experience, including nearly 24 years with FAA, six years as an airport consultant, and four years in local government - three of those as an assistant airport manager. From 1988 to 2006, Don's primary role was an airport planner for Oregon and Idaho in the Seattle ADO. He also has experience managing development projects, and as a Part 139 airport certification safety inspector.
Don has a Master of Public Administration Degree, specializing in public management and finance, from Arizona State University. He is a licensed private pilot.
Mike McNerney, Assistant Manager, Airport Engineering Division, FAA - Office of Airport Safety and Standards
Mike McNerney is the Assistant Manager of the Airport Engineering Division of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Office of Airport Safety and Standards, in headquarters where he is in charge of the Airports GIS Program and assists in the maintenance of over 100 advisory circulars.
Mike joined the FAA in October 2010. Prior to that, he served 17 years in the US Air Force as both an instructor pilot in T-37 and RF-4C aircraft and as a research civil engineer, conducting field tests on the Rapid Runway Repair Program. He has 10 years' experience as a Research Engineer with the University of Texas at Austin, where he taught Airport Design and Pavement Design courses. He spent nine years as an airport consultant, including leading the airside portion of the master plan for Houston Intercontinental Airport, as well as developing the geo-spatial pavement management system at Denver International Airport.
Mike graduated from US Air Force Academy with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. He received both his M.S. in Architectural Engineering and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin. He has served as chairman of committees for Transportation Research Board, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), and American Association of Airport Executives. He is the 2011 recipient of ASCE Robert Horonjeff Award for his contributions to Air Transport Engineering. Mike is a registered Professional Engineer. He is a licensed pilot with Airline Transport, Commercial, Instrument, and Instructor ratings.
Mike Meigs, Runway Safety Program Manager, FAA - Office of Runway Safety
Mike Meigs is a 20-year FAA employee. He has spent the majority of his career in Technical Operations as a Navigation/Communications engineer, project and program manager, and an engineering supervisor.
Mike's experience working with the airport community includes 15 years in evaluating proposals for on airport construction. He was the overall FAA project lead for the sixth runway at Denver International Airport, which opened in 2003. Mike joined the Office of Runway Safety in September 2007 and is one of nine Regional Runway Safety Program Managers across the country.
Mike graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering in 1987.
Jason Pitts , Manager, Western Flight Procedures Team , FAA - ATO Operations Support Group, Western Service Area
Jason Pitts joined the FAA in September 1997. He started as procedures development specialist in the National Flight Procedures Office in Oklahoma City. He developed flight procedures for airports in the Great Lakes and Eastern Regions when he joined the Chicago Flight Procedures Office as Great Lakes Regional Specialist in 2002. From December 2005 to now, Jason is the Manager for the Western Flight Procedures Team. He is responsible for managing the FAA Flight Procedures program for the Western Service Area, with duties that include integration of local, state, regional, FAA, and national priorities and objectives into the National Airspace System
Jason has more than 35 years' experience in aviation, which includes his work in Flight Procedures, Air Traffic Control, Aircraft Maintenance, and his international aviation experience in Spain, Ecuador, and Honduras.
Jason is a graduate of Embry Riddle Aeronautical University; since 1987 he did undergraduate and graduate studies in Airway Sciences, Aircraft Maintenance Technologies, Professional Aeronautics, Airline, Airport, and Business Management. He has Associates' Degrees in Aircraft Maintenance Technologies and Airway Sciences, and a Bachelor of Science in Professional Aeronautics.
Carolyn T. Read, Manager, Planning, Environmental, and Financial Programs Branch, Airports Division, Northwest Mountain Region
Carolyn T. Read is Manager of the Planning, Environmental, and Financial Programs Branch in the Northwest Mountain Region of FAA, based in Renton, Washington. She is responsible for oversight of Airport Improvement Program grants and projects, regional environmental processes, and planning for airport development initiatives. She has been with the FAA since 1989 and held various project and program management positions within Airports and recently completed the FAA's Senior Leadership Development program.
Prior to joining the FAA, Carolyn worked as an engineer for the USDA Forest Service, Boeing Commercial Airplane Company, and the US Army Corps of Engineers.
Carolyn graduated from Marquette University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. She also has a Master's degree in Business and Public Administration. Carolyn has her professional engineering license from the State of Washington.Brian Rushforth, Manager, Safety and Operations Division, FAA - Airports Division
Brian Rushforth is Manager of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Safety and Operations Division. This division is responsible for creating, coordinating, and interpreting policy for certificated commercial service airports.
Brian began working at the Office of Airports last year; he has been with the FAA since 2001. Brian worked in various positions in Aviation Safety, as well as the Office of Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining the FAA, Brian worked with a management consulting firm in Washington, DC, leading projects and staff for Fortune 500 clients in a variety of industries. He also worked in marketing development for Blue Cross/Blue Shield of North Carolina.
After graduating from the College of William and Mary, Brian was commissioned in the U.S. Army and became an aviation logistics officer and UH-60 Blackhawk pilot.
Gene Sager, Senior Analyst Airport Operations, FAA - Office of Runway Safety
Gene has over 38 years of Airport Operations experience at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and retired as the Airfield Operations Manager. For the past six years he has served as a contract employee in the FAA's Regional Office of Runway Safety specializing in airfield operations issues.
Christopher J. Schaffer, Assistant Manager, FAA - Denver Airports District Office
Chris is the Assistant Manager for the Denver Airports District Office (ADO). He oversees development and maintenance of the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) and Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) program in the States of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming.
Since joining the FAA in 1990, Chris has served as Colorado State Engineer, PFC Program Manager, and as a Project Manager for the ADO.
Chris has his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Colorado State University and is a registered professional engineer in the State of Colorado.
Mike Speidel, Vice President, Sightline, Airport Marking Consultants
Mike Speidel joined Sightline, Airport Marking Consultants in 2004 and is a contributing author of the Airfield Marking Handbook, published in 2008. As Vice President, Mike advocates higher standards for airfield markings, an issue on which he frequently writes and speaks.
Mike serves aviation business in his home state as a board member for the Virginia Aviation Business Association.
David Stelling, PE, Manager, FAA - Helena Airports District Office
Dave Stelling joined the FAA in August 1990 as a community planner in the Helena Airport District Office. Before joining the agency, he worked for eleven years as an airport consultant in Helena, Montana, and for one year as a transportation engineer for the Washington Department of Transportation in Spokane.
In 1995 Dave was promoted to Manager of the Safety and Standards Branch in FAA's Alaska Regional Airports Division in Anchorage, Alaska. He was responsible for the airport certification program, the airport compliance program, and project management for airport development projects.
Dave returned to Montana in April 2002 as Manager of the Helena ADO, where he is responsible for managing federal airports programs in the state. Since 2002 he also supports the Northwest Mountain Region as the FAA Coordinator for Montana.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Montana State University, Bozeman, and is a registered professional engineer.
Burr Stewart, Transportation Research Board
Burr Stewart is an aviation sustainability and strategic planning consultant from Seattle. He has been very active in the airport planning community since he began working for Seattle Tacoma International airport over 30 years ago, where he held positions in planning, management and sustainability strategy.
At the Transportation Research Board, he was a founding member of the Environmental Impacts of Aviation Committee. Burr is also a member of the Transportation and Sustainability Committee and the Strategic Management Committee. He is the founding chair of the Aviation Sustainability Subcommittee.
Burr has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis, and an MCRP in City and Regional Planning from Harvard. He is an instrument rated pilot.
Carol A. Suomi,Manager,FAA - Seattle Airports District Office
With more than 32 years of experience with the Federal Aviation Administration, Carol Suomi is currently the Manager of the Seattle ADO. She is responsible for control of the ongoing workload in Airport Improvement Program (AIP) , engineering, construction, planning programs, compliance, airspace, programming and fiscal control, and environmental planning activities for the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.
Carol also worked for the FAA as Supervisor of the Washington Section, Regional Capacity Program Officer and Planner for the new Denver International Airport, Regional Airport Planner, Compliance Program Manager, and Project Manager.
She has both Bachelor of Science and Master of Science Degrees from the University of Washington in Civil Engineering, specializing in Pavements and Construction Management.
Carol is a long-time resident of Washington State and enjoys spending her free time with her husband Dave, her two daughters Kelly and Katie, and two step-children Matt and Kayla.
John M. Tippets,President & CEO,North Island Credit Union
John Tippets is President and CEO of the $1.1Billion North Island Credit Union, which he joined in November 2009. With support from the very talented North Island Credit Union leadership team, John helped North Island recover from its lows (measured as a net worth ratio below 3%) to today's net worth ratio near 7%.
Prior to North Island, John spent 42 years in the airline industry, the last 17 plus of those years as the President/CEO of the American Airlines Credit Union in Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas. The AA Credit Union grew from $1.0 Billion to $5.0 Billion over that period serving members worldwide and with branches from San Juan, Puerto Rico to Honolulu, Hawaii.
John is active in the credit union community. He serves frequently as a speaker/panelist on many forums and task forces, including NAFCU Regulatory and Legislative Affairs Committees, the CUNA International Task Force, Renewal Project, the National Credit Union Values Campaign and the Williamsburg Group. He spent a term with the Federal Reserve Board of Governors Thrift Institutions Advisory Council, the Fannie Mae's National Advisory Council; and NAFCU Board of Directors and the PULSE Oversight Committee.
John holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master's Degrees in Business, with an emphasis in Finance, from UCLA.
In retirement, John wrote and published “Hearts of Courage,” a book about the miraculous 29-day survival story of his father - former CAA/FAA employee Joseph Tippets, who was on a plane that went down in Alaska in January 1943. John enjoys opportunities to present his Dad's story.
Kathryn M. Vernon,Regional Administrator,FAA - Northwest Mountain Region
Kathryn Vernon assumed the leadership role as Regional Administrator for the Northwest Mountain Region on April 12, 2009. Her responsibilities include representing the FAA Administrator in the region's seven states of Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Additionally, she leads the region's support of the Air Traffic Organization's Western Service Area. The Western Service Area includes the seven states in the Northwest Mountain Region as well as those in the FAA's Western Pacific Region (Arizona, California, Nevada, Hawaii and Pacific islands) as well as the State of Alaska - Alaskan Region.
Throughout her career with the FAA, Kathryn has held increasingly responsible positions with the Air Traffic Organization and the FAA. Prior to becoming the Regional Administrator, she was the Director of Western Terminal Operations and was responsible for 150 FAA terminal and contract tower facilities, including the busiest Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facility in the country - Southern California TRACON (SCT). She worked with all facets of the FAA to upgrade facilities, install new technology, implement new procedures, develop employees, and create the model work culture in the Western Service Area.
Kathryn served two tours in Iraq, the most recent of which ended December 2011. During her first tour, she was Senior Aviation Advisor for the US Embassy in Baghdad working with the Iraq Civil Aviation Authority on airspace, airport, and air traffic control issues. Her most recent assignment was as the US Secretary of Transportation's Representative to Iraq - the Transportation Attaché. Kathryn worked on all modes of transportation, including seaports, aviation, roads and bridges, and railroads. During both tours, she worked with members of the US military, the Iraqi military, the US State Department, the Iraq Ministry of Transportation, and advisors to the Prime Minister of Iraq. These experiences had incredible professional and personal impacts on Kathryn, shaping her belief in our duty to do more to help those who are persecuted and threatened.
Kathryn holds a Bachelor's Degree in Management and a Master's Degree in Organizational Leadership. She is currently working on her doctorate at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington.
Bill Watson,Manager, Safety and Standards Branch,FAA - Airports Division
Bill Watson is Manager of the Northwest Mountain Region's Safety and Standards Branch, where he is in charge of airport safety and certification programs and projects - including the developing SMS and AGIS systems.
Bill joined federal service in 1981, working for the US Army Corps of Engineers in Alaska on military construction projects and civil works projects. He transferred to the Seattle District Corps of Engineers, where he worked for five years as a military project manager. In 1988, Bill joined the FAA in the Seattle Airports District Office working as the Washington State Engineer, the Community Planner, and became the OR/ID Section Supervisor in 1992. In January 2008, Bill was promoted to his current position.
Bill graduated from Purdue University with Bachelor of Science degrees in Civil Engineering and Land Surveying. He received his Masters of Business Administration from Colorado State University.
Bill is a Registered Professional Engineer and Land Surveyor. He has held an active pilot's license since 1990 and is instrument rated.
Ricky Watson,DBE Compliance Specialist,FAA-Civil Rights Division
Ricky Watson joined the FAA in December 2010. He is currently the ANM Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Compliance Specialist for the FAA's Northwest Mountain Region. Prior to coming to the FAA, Ricky worked in the private sector for several years, as well as with the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as an Equal Employment Investigator.
Ricky joined the U.S. Marine Corps out of high school, and served 22 years until his retirement from service in 2004 at the rank of Master Sergeant. He served with 7th Engineer Support Battalion during both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. His primary duties during his military career were as a Utilities Chief and Journeyman Electrician.
Ricky is a graduate of the Department of Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute. He has a Bachelor of Science in Management & Human Resources, and an MBA. He is originally from Fayetteville, North Carolina, but was raised throughout the nation and the world due to his father's military service in the United States Army.
Ryan Zulauf, C.M. AAAE,Airport Manager,Renton Airport/Clayton Scott Field,Will Rogers/Wiley Post Seaplane Base
Ryan Zulauf is Manager of the Renton Airport, Clayton Scott Field, and the Will Rogers/Wiley Post Seaplane Base. He was hired September 12, 2001. For the past 10 years Ryan worked to revitalize Renton's airport so that it retains its historic role as a regional jobs producer and future home to the next generation of the finest private, commercial, and military aircraft, including the 737 Max.
Ryan's previous jobs include transportation planner and aviation planner in city, county, and state governments, construction worker and heavy equipment operator, carpenter, and farm hand at a dry land wheat and cattle ranch.
Ryan was born and raised in Washington. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree from WSU and a Master's Degree in Urban Planning from Eastern Washington University. He is a Certified Member of the American Association of Airport Executives and is immediate past president of the Washington Airport Management Association. Ryan also serves on the board of a 45-year-old family-owned tree farm located in NE Washington.