A lifelong aviation enthusiast who joined&nbsp;AIN&nbsp;in 2007, Curt came to&nbsp;the publication&nbsp;from the broadcast industry where he was a national science and technology television reporter and producer. He writes on the FBO field, aviation finance, and sustainable aviation and occasionally contributes to&nbsp;AIN&nbsp;sister publication&nbsp;Business Jet Traveler. Curt was a member of the AINtv reporting staff that won the 2008 Aerospace Journalist of the Year award for Best Airshow Daily. That same year, he was a finalist for another AJOYA award. He earned an AJOYA for Best Business Aviation Submission in 2018 and was a finalist in that category in 2021. He received the National Air Transportation Association’s&nbsp; Aviation Journalist Award in 2012 and won a Pegasus Sapphire Business Aviation Award for outstanding journalism in 2021.
Before joining AIN, Curt worked with&nbsp;Consumer Reports’ television division, CRTV, and for several local television news staffs. An honors graduate of the State University of New York at Stony Brook, he earned a master’s degree in broadcast journalism from Boston University in 1995. Curt lives in New York State with his wife and two young sons.

Senior Editor

Curt Epstein

General Dynamics has appointed Daniel Clare, former senior v-p and CFO of its Gulfstream subsidiary, president of its Jet Aviation Group. He replaces Peter Edwards, who stepped down in June. Jet Aviation also made several changes to the leadership in its EMEA and Asia divisions. Stephan Krenz, previously interim general manager of the company’s Basel facility, was confirmed as the site’s senior v-p and general manager; while Johannes Turzer, formerly v-p and general manager at Jet Aviation Dusseldorf, was named Basel’s new v-p and accountable manager of maintenance services. Sebastian Groeger, v-p and general manager at Jet Aviation Singapore, will succeed Turzer in Dusseldorf. He was replaced by Philippe Crevier, most recently Bombardier’s v-p of marketing for business aircraft.
Dassault has promoted Guillaume Landrivon from director of customer relations and field service to v-p of worldwide spares. He is succeeded by Eloi Dufour, formerly director of the company’s authorized service center network and head of its maintenance training program.
Two former executives have returned to Pilatus Business Aircraft. Mike Rector, previously program manager with ACC Integrated Services, has been tapped as v-p of production, while Tom Aniello, most recently v-p of marketing with Cessna, was given the same title with the Swiss turboprop manufacturer.
General Electric has promoted Gary Mercer to v-p and chief engineer for GE Aviation. Previously he was the corporation’s general manager of engineering for oil, gas and renewables. 
The British Business and General Aviation Association (BBGA) announced that Marc Bailey has been appointed chief executive. Previously he was the organization’s COO.
Gulfstream has named Paul Lu director of product support Asia. Previously, he was the on-site program manager for the G650 in Southern California.
Karen Gebhart, formerly president of the AOPA Foundation, was named v-p of business development and expositions for the Helicopter Association International (HAI).
Piper Aircraft has named Michael Dow chief of production for the company’s new Altaire business jet. Most recently he was group manager of manufacturing, engineering and tooling at Aurora Flight Sciences.
The FAA has appointed David Grizzle, previously the agency’s chief counsel, as COO of its air traffic organization. He replaces Hank Krakowski, who left the post in April.
NTSB chairman Deborah Hersman was nominated by President Obama for another two-year term.
The International Business Aviation Councilhas named James Cannon program director for the International Standards for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) program, while Sonnie Bates was appointed IS-BAO operations manager. 
Frank Publiskihas been promoted from maintenance manager to v-p of maintenance at general aviation services provider Pentastar Aviation.
Portland, Ore.-based airborne communications provider Flightcom has appointed Reed Stager its executive v-p. He most recently served as CEO of Pinnacle Licensing Group.
Kenneth Frazier, former v-p of business development for Peak Aero Group, has been named director of marketing and sales for aviation services provider Smyrna Air Center.
Interior component manufacturer Custom Aircraft Cabinets has named Mike Hammers, previously director of sales and marketing at Goodrich Cabin Electronic Systems, its new v-p of sales and marketing.
Christopher Carmody has joined Kansas City-based fractional provider <a href="http://www.execairshare.com/">Executive AirShare</a> as sales director for Missouri and Northeast Kansas. Most recently he was regional sales director for the Kansas City Aviation Center.
Gama Aviation has appointed Trevor Jones, former managing director of Manhattan Jet Charter, as director of client relations.
MRO and completions specialist StandardAerohas promoted Rob Fox to western regional sales director for its business aviation sector.
Kevin Breeden, most recently director of sales with Excel Aviation, has joined Elliott Aviation as regional sales manager for the central U.S.
MRO specialist West Star Aviation has named Scott Kaczor regional sales manager for the southeast territory. Before this appointment he was a Bombardier sales manager with Stevens Aviation.
FlightSafety International has promoted Jeff Rose from director of training at the company’s Detroit Metro/Toledo Learning Center to assistant manager of its Savannah, Ga. facility.
Pat Kenna, most recently president of Elsinore Aircraft Services and Martin Aviation, has joined aircraft management and charter services provider JetFlite International in the newly created position of director of internal evaluation.
Nextant Aerospace has named three industry veterans to its sales team. Mark Whitman will have responsibility for the Southern U.S. Most recently he managed Midwest sales for Avantair. Tom Chapman, previously a senior sales director with XOJet, will oversee the Northeast; while John Frevola, formerly v-p and general manager of Flightcraft, will serve the Western U.S.
Richard Lyon, most recently international regional sales manager for StandardAero, has joined Indianapolis-based Comlux Aviation Services as an independent sales representative.
Clay Moran has joined turbine engine specialist Chromalloy as director of engineering. Previously he served as v-p of engineering with Energy Storage and Power.
Tucson-based Universal Avionics has appointed Greg Potter, previously a regional sales manager for Rockwell Collins, its western region marketing manager.
Leonardo Garcia, most recently lead flight dispatcher with NetJets, has joined Virginia-based <a href="http://www.paramountarg.com/">Paramount Aviation Resources Group</a> as flight crew recruiting specialist.
Texas-based MRO specialist Sierra Industries has named John Warren, formerly v-p and general manager of Interface Air Repair its new operations manager.
Sidanth Rajagopal, previously a senior associate with UK-based law firm Clyde &amp; Co., has joined associated Indian law firm Clasis Law as a partner, heading its aviation practice.
SkyNet Satellite Communications USA has appointed Patrick Bloodworth as its new aeronautical business development director.
Charles Burkhead has joined New-Hampshire-based business aviation consultancy Aviation Management Systems as director of marketing and research.
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based CRS Jet Spares has named Scotia Powell to its accounting team as accounts receivable specialist, and as a member of the company’s customer advocacy team.
Mid-Continent Instrumentshas promoted Jason McMillan from process administrator to business intelligence specialist. The avionics manufacturer also added Courtney Bloom as a marketing specialist.
Karen Tripp, executive v-p of marketing and communications of The Hartford, has been named to the board of directors of the New England Air Museum.
Vilis (Bill) Bardins, senior captain for Amway Aviation, announced his retirement after 33 years.

Awards &amp; Honors
Jet Aviation’sTeterboro and Boston/Bedford MRO organizations have received NATA’s inaugural Employer Recognition “Five Star” Award for having at least 90 percent of its eligible aviation maintenance technicians (AMT) complete training and matching program requirements.
San Jose, Calif.-based TWC Aviation has earned the NBAA Commercial Business Flying Safety Award for 26,838 hours in 11 accident-free years. Greg Paxson, the company’s director of maintenance, received the Maintenance/Avionics Technician Flying Safety Award for 21 accident-free years. Cherie Hecker, assistant director of operations; Lori Spevak, lead flight coordinator; flight coordinators Natalie Villareal and Lauren Bennett; and compliance specialist Mei Lan Wong earned the Aviation Support Services Flying Safety Award for three accident-free years.
Final Flights
Walter Pague, 96, a former director of aviation for Armco Steel and cofounder of NBAA, died in his sleep on July 1 at his home in Middletown, Ohio. Pague was among the thirteen individuals who gathered at the Wings Club of New York in 1946 and set in motion the establishment of the Corporation Aircraft Owners Association, which later became NBAA. Pague served on NBAA’s board of directors from 1947 to 1964 and was the first chairman of the group’s technical committee. After flying missions to Alaska on behalf of the Air Transport Command during World War II, Pague joined Armco Steel’s flight department in 1945, flying the company’s Twin Beech. He remained with the company until his retirement in 1980.
Jamie Barrett, 59, vice president of sales and marketing for aircraft management provider MyJetGuy Aviation, died unexpectedly of a heart attack while on a business trip to California. A 35-year aviation industry veteran, Barrett held executive positions with Jet Linx Aviation, Avcard, Jet Aviation and management and charter provider Corporate Jets. Barrett, a resident of Omaha, Neb., held an ATP certificate and Learjet type rating. He served on several NATA committees, as well as the board of governors of the Air Charter Safety Foundation. He was the current president of aviation fraternity Phi Alpha Chi.

People in Aviation: August 2011

General Dynamics has appointed Daniel Clare, former senior v-p and CFO of its Gulfstream subsidiary, president of its Jet Aviation Group.

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