FAA Acting Administrator
Billy Nolen was appointed acting FAA Administrator in April 2022. Previously, Nolen served as FAA’s Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety (AVS). The Aviation Safety Organization’s programs are carried out by 7,400 employees located in Washington Headquarters, regional and directorate offices, and 125 field offices throughout the world. The AVS safety purview covers over one million registered aircraft, over one thousand approved manufacturers, over one million active pilots, and over 50,000 flights every day.
Billy has over 33 years of experience in operations and corporate safety, regulatory affairs and flight operations. He started his career as a 767, 757 and MD-80 pilot with American Airlines. His passion for operations and safety led to the role of Manager of the Pilot Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP). He then became Manager of Flight Safety with responsibility for Accident/Incident Investigations, Flight Operational Quality Assurance, Line Operations Safety Audits, and oversight of the Pilot and Maintenance ASAPs.
After American Airlines, Billy served as Senior Vice President of Safety, Security and Operations with Airlines for America, where he collaborated with leaders across the airline industry, government and other key stakeholders to enhance safety and operational performance.
He subsequently served as Executive Manager of Group Safety & Health for the Qantas Group. In that capacity, Billy played a key role in the Qantas Group Safety Governance Framework and was responsible for providing assurance and advice to the Qantas Board, principally the Corporate Health, Environmental, Safety & Security Committee, the Group CEO, the Qantas Group Management Committee, and Qantas’ executive management.
Billy came to FAA from his position as Vice President of Safety, Security and Quality at WestJet in Calgary, Alberta. Reporting to the CEO, Billy had responsibility for overseeing safety, security and quality across WestJet, Encore and Swoop, 14,700 WestJet employees, and the millions of passengers flying on WestJet aircraft each year.
Billy is a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where he earned a BS degree in Aviation Management, and has certificates in aviation safety from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, U.S. Army Safety Center, and the University of Southern California. He is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society (FRAeS) and has travelled extensively across the globe.
United Airlines
Captain Bryan Lesko serves as the chair of the Aircraft Design and Operations Group for the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA-I), where he assists in developing engineering, design, and operational policy for the Association.
He has a Bachelor of Science degree in aviation from Mountain State University, and a Master’s Degree in Aviation Safety, from the Florida Institute of Technology.
With over 12,000 flying hours, he is currently a line Captain on the B-737 for United Airlines. Captain Lesko has a diverse background in aviation. He worked as a flight instructor, founded a private flight instruction company, and started up a Part 91 flight department managing many aspects of daily flight operations.
Captain Lesko has also represented ALPA as a member on numerous government and industry groups. These include the Master Minimum Equipment List working group, FAA ARAC Bird Ingestion working group, and the Ice Crystal Ingestion working group. Captain Lesko served on the Aviation Rulemaking Committee for new engine entrant standards following the US Airways 1549 Hudson River accident. Captain Lesko is also the ALPA-I representative to the International Federation of Air Line Pilots Associations’ Aircraft Design and Operations Group
Captain Lesko has presented at the International Snow Symposium in 2017 and 2018 and at ALPA’s annual Air Safety Week. Additionally, he has spoken at the Flight Safety Foundation, IASS Dublin, October 2017, with a topic of: Electronic Flight Bags, Friend or Foe? He also authored papers on flight crew automation; safety culture in SMS programs; fatigue, duty, and cabin altitude; and just culture and safety reporting within corporate aviation.
Captain Lesko holds FAA Pilot In Command type ratings in the CRJ, A-320, B737, B757, B767, B777 and the Embraer Phenom 100 and 300 aircraft and resides in Charlotte North Carolina with his family.
Delta Air Lines
Chris Collins is the Director of Flight Safety at Delta Air Lines, where he coordinates a team of safety professionals that oversee employee safety reporting (ASAP), flight data monitoring (FOQA), operational safety investigations (accidents/incidents), safety management system (SMS), pilot safety applications, and analytics through a data and decision science team. He also participates as a member of the IATA Safety Group and the Flight Safety Foundation International Advisory Committee. Previously Chris was the Chief Pilot of Flight Operations Safety Programs which included the opportunity to work in fatigue risk management (FRM), safety risk assessment and management, and the pilot safety reporting program.
Chris is an Airbus A320 Captain with over 20 years of professional flight experience. Since joining Delta as a line pilot in 2007, he has held numerous leadership positions in the chief pilot’s office, flight standards, fatigue management, and served as strategic manager supporting the Vice Presidents of Flight Operations. Chris is a graduate of Western Michigan University’s Aviation Program, and before joining Delta, spent time instructing undergraduate aviation students in flight, meteorology, and aviation law.
Chris lives with his family in Atlanta, Georgia, USA and can be contacted at christopher.collins@delta.com.
LATAM Airlines Group
Marcelo Marcusso is an A32F Captain and has extensive management experience in the Flight Safety and Flight Operations areas.
His background in aviation safety includes the qualification as an Aircraft Accident Investigator by CENIPA, Safety Management System (SMS) for airlines by the University of Southern California, Operational Risk Management by IATA, and specialization in Flight Safety and Continuing Airworthiness by the Instituto Tecnológico da Aeronáutica (ITA).
Psychologist
Laura Antunes has been a Clinical Psychologist for 27 years, being 21 years in the area of civil aviation. Qualified in Continuing Safety of Aviation and Airworthiness by the “Instituto Tecnológico da Aeronáutica (ITA)”, she is also a CRM Facilitator by ANAC. At CENIPA, she graduated as an Aeronautical Accident Investigator in the Human Factor Area.
A member of the Nucleus for Psychological Interventions in Emergencies and Disasters (NIPED), she is also qualified in Disaster Risk Reduction by the “International Development Center” of the International Labor Organization (UN), in Italy, and a specialist in Comprehensive Risk Management and Disasters.
In the teaching area, Laura is instructor for stewards’ preparation and has given lectures on Death, Mourning, Emergencies and Disasters to members of the “São Paulo Metropolitan Civil Guard” and at the Universities “Anhembi Morumbi” and “São Judas”. She is a professor at the Department of Psychology at “Escolas Universitárias Integradas Campos Salles” and co-author of the book “A Psicologia em Acidentes e Desastres Aéreos”.
FAA
Dr. Susan A. Northrup is the Federal Air Surgeon for the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. In this capacity, she leads the Office of Aerospace Medicine in Washington, D.C. She leads strategic management of the FAA’s aviation medical programs, which oversee all pilots. She is responsible for the direction and management of all FAA medical programs.
This includes the development and establishment of airman medical certification, the air traffic control specialist medical qualification policy, the application of that policy in medical decision making, the medical appeals process, and the oversight of aviation industry drug and alcohol testing programs. Dr. Northrup oversees the FAA’s aeromedical education programs, the planning and conduct of aerospace medical and human factors research, and the investigation of aircraft accident medical factors.
A private pilot, Dr. Northrup is a retired U.S. Force colonel. She is board certified in aerospace medicine and in occupational medicine. She is an acknowledged expert in aviation. She has authored several scientific papers on accident investigation, the use of sleep aids by pilots, cabin air quality, and bioterrorism. While serving in the Air Force, she was the U.S. Head of Delegation to NATO’s aeromedical working group.
Dr. Northrup has experience as a senior FAA aviation medical examiner. In 1985, Dr. Northrup earned a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry with Honors in Liberal Arts from The Ohio State University. She earned a medical degree, also from Ohio State, in 1989. She was awarded a Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Texas in 1994.
Dr. Northrup is a past President of the American Society of Aerospace Medicine Specialists and the Civil Aviation Medical Association. She also was vice-president for the Aerospace Medicine Association. Dr. Northrup spent nine years (2007-2016) as a trustee for the American Board of Preventive Medicine. She is on the adjunct faculty for the USAF School of Aerospace Medicine and is a Fellow of the Aerospace Medicine Association.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
John R. Watret, Ph.D., FRAeS is a dedicated leader and champion for education. As the Chancellor of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Watret provides strategic direction that fosters growth, maintains academic integrity, and promotes efficient operations for the Worldwide Headquarters in Daytona Beach, Florida, and the over 130 campus locations worldwide.
Under his leadership, the Worldwide campus, which serves more than 23,000 students annually, has experienced an increase in accredited programs, an expansion of highly qualified faculty and staff, and the introduction of research initiatives all of which help to advance the university’s relationships throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and South America. Since 2013, Embry-Riddle Worldwide has secured the top 5 rankings in U.S. News & World Report’s annual list for best Online Bachelor’s Programs, including being named No. 1.
Watret is active with organizations both nationally and internationally, serving as Chairman of the Board of Directors for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Asia, Ltd. in Singapore; as an elected member for the Flight Safety Foundation Board of Governors; and as a board member for the Aerospace Alliance, Inc. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society (FRAeS) and has been a featured speaker and panelist at several national and international conferences.
During his 26-year tenure with the University, Watret has served in several senior-level administration roles. He is also a tenured Professor of Mathematics.
A licensed private pilot, he holds a Ph.D. and Master of Science in Mathematics, both from Texas A&M University, and a bachelor’s degree with honors from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland.
AeroMexico Group
Capt. Juan Carlos Gonzalez Curzio, for 37 years, served as AeroMexico Pilot, flying experience 24 000 flight hours, currently B787 Captain, TRI/TRE on B787 type. USC graduated on Aviation Safety and Accident Investigation. Former AM Flight Standards and Human Factors Coordinator.
Currently SVP of Safety for Grupo AeroMexico (AMX and AMC operators), Chairman for SkyTeam SSQ (Safety, Security and Quality) Group.
Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras
Capt. Renan Frota joined Azul at the Startup of the company as a First Officer.
During these last 14 years, the Startup became “The Best Airline in the World” and Captain Frota passed through different positions during this time.
After the creation of a forerunner position in the industry as Head of Safety Data, he became the Safety Management System Manager for Azul.
ATR
Aeronautical engineer (graduated from Ecole Nationale de l’Aviation Civile in 1996) Géraud has started his career as an autopilot specialist in Airbus and has then worked over 13 years as an incident/accident and flight operations analyst in France, before being sent to India as a Flight Analyst instructor in order to setup a team of analysts.
He has joined ATR in October 2015 as the Regional Flight Safety Director thus coordinates ATR’s flight safety initiatives worldwide. The main driver being the prevention, these initiatives include dedicated training to operators, promotion of Flight Data Monitoring within ATR operators, promotion of Performance Based Navigation as well as participation to international working groups. Géraud is member of RASG-PA Executive Steering Committee.
CANSO
Responsible for CANSO’s initiatives in Latin America and the Caribbean, Mr Vanegas represents the interests of CANSO and its Members to promote and facilitate the development of ATM in the region. He also represents CANSO and the ATM industry across the region with governmental and industry bodies. Before joining CANSO, Mr Vanegas spent five years at Enaire’s Air Navigation International Development Department, responsible of managing the financial/economic environment of projects such as SESAR, EGNOS and other project participated by Enaire at an international level. Mr Vanegas also worked in EADS-CASA (currently Airbus Military) in Madrid, Spain; the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, JFK Int. Airport operations units and the Port Authority of NY and NJ HQs at the Customer Services and Standards Aviation Department; the Lee County Port Authority, South West Florida International Airport at the Customer Service and Standards unit. Mr Vanegas holds a Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Aviation Administration from State University of New York Farmingdale, New York, USA and a Master Degree in Airport Systems from the Polytechnic University of Madrid, Aeronautical Engineering School.
Gol Airlines
Danilo Andrade joined GOL Airlines in 2004. He is a Captain since 2011, currently flying 737NG and MAX. In 2019, Danilo became Director for SMS & Security, being responsible for the Safety, Quality Assurance, Security, Safety Promotion and Emergency Response areas.
Danilo is a Certified Air Safety Investigator and holds bachelor´s degrees in Aeronautical Sciences and in Social Communication, a MBA in Business Administration, a Specialization in Safety & Continuous Airworthiness and an Aviation Management Certificate.
