Leadership

PAMA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The PAMA National Board of Directors serve without renumeration and are responsible for overseeing operation of the trade association in line with the PAMA Bylaws (rev 9, Oct. 28, 2022) and its Conflict of Interest Policy.

executive committee

President John Goglia, after decades of experience as a mechanic at United Airlines and US Airways, was the first and only airframe and powerplant mechanic to receive a presidential appointment to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), serving from August 1995 to June 2004. He played a key role in focusing international attention on the increasing significance of aircraft maintenance in aviation accidents.

John now fills his time as an independent aviation safety consultant, adjunct professor at Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology, and president and co-founder of the Aerospace Maintenance Council, a non-profit trade group that raises awareness about aviation maintenance technician careers through its annual Aerospace Maintenance Competition.

Among numerous other accolades, he is recipient of the Professional Aviation Maintenance Association/Flight Safety Foundation Joe Chase Award and the FAA Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award.His 40 plus years of experience in the industry has made him a sought-after consultant, expert, speaker and writer. He is frequent contributor to Forbes Magazine and author of Torqued, a monthly column appearing in AINOnline.

Read more about John and his vision for PAMA in the interview-with-the-pama-chairman.html.

Vice President Ken MacTiernan is in his third decade of service as an aviation maintenance technician for American Airlines in San Diego. Ken joined the United States Air Force right out of high school, where he served as a B-52 mechanic at Castle Air Force Base.

In 2002, he founded and became the director of the Aircraft Maintenance Technicians Association (AMTA), a non-profit organization that promotes Charles E. Taylor and the aviation maintenance technician’s craft. He is also a founding director for the AMTSociety, where he served as chairman for the Maintenance Skills Competition and scholarship program.

Ken has served as a director of the Northrop Rice Foundation since 2012. In 2013, he became the vice president of the Aerospace Maintenance Council, where he helped create the Aerospace Maintenance Competition. He currently lives in San Diego and is married with three children.

Secretary/Treasurer Todd Curtis is a risk assessment professional in the air transportation arena, with expertise and experience as a systems engineer, online marketer, and data analyst.

Todd analyzes complex technical environments and presents the results of appropriate analyses so that decision makers, from insurance companies in need of a predictive model for expected losses to airline passengers comparing accident rates, can make rational and informed choices.

directors

Ben Coleman is the former Chief Operations Officer (COO) for Costruzioni Aeronautiche TECNAM S.p.A., United States, Sebring Delivery Center. He is a former National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Air Safety Investigator and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Safety Inspector. He is a seaplane/commercial multi-engine instrument rated pilot with thousands of hours flight experience. He is a certificated mechanic with inspection authorization, and a senior parachute rigger. Ben served as a Safety Officer for a helicopter diplomatic security detail in Iraq for the Department of State “Airwing”. Having represented several international aircraft manufacturers and ISR platforms as technical advisor and demonstration pilot, he is well versed in international affairs.

Ben is the creator and anchor host for an aerospace safety televised talk-show called “Plane Time” and feels media/advertising is a key component to our aerospace maintenance safety message. During his spare time he is restoring a 1941 Interstate ‘Cadet’ aircraft to be used for ‘tailwheel’ endorsements.

Gregory Feith is a former NTSB Senior Air Safety Investigator and “Go-Team” captain, and spent more than 21 years with the Safety Board serving as the Investigator-In-Charge or U.S. Accredited Representative for numerous high profile aircraft accidents, including Valujet in the Florida Everglades; American Eagle ATR-72 in Roselawn; Korean Air Boeing 747 in Guam; among many others. He led a team of mountain climbers to 21,000 feet on Mt. Illimani in Bolivia to investigate Eastern Airlines Flight 980, the highest controlled-flight into terrain (CFIT) crash in aviation history.

Greg received a BS Degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University; he holds Airline Transport Pilot (ATP), Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), Instrument Instructor (CFII), and Small Unmanned Vehicles pilot certificates. He has won numerous NTSB and aviation industry awards including the Aviation Week and Space Technology Laurel Award in 1996, and the 2001 ERAU Distinguished Alumni Award.

In addition, Greg is the Co-Inventor of the LapKidz (LapKidz.com), an aviation child safety restraint (ACSD) device for infant/toddlers under the age of 24 months; and he is a partner in In-Flight Labs (inflightlabs.com), a company that has developed a suite of “SMART” electronic systems which include SMART ELT, a distressed aircraft tracking system utilizing the on-board aircraft ELT.

Greg conducts safety lectures world-wide, appears regularly in aviation safety-related television programs such as MAYDAY, Seconds to Disaster, and Why Airplanes Crash, and he is the Aviation Safety Analyst for NBC News (winning a National Emmy Award as part of the NBC News team). In January 2016, Greg was inducted into the Living Legends of Aviation, an elite group of professionals who have made significant contributions in aviation and aerospace.

Clark Gordon joined PAMA in 1992 through the Teterboro Chapter and has served the PA-MA National Board of Directors as the Eastern Regional Director, Director, and Vice Chairman. Gordon was PAMA Chairman from 2006 to 2010.

A graduate of Spartan College of Aeronautics, Clark has work in the aviation industry for 33 years. Gordon is the Director of Sales for Pro Star Aviation, a MRO based in Manchester, NH. Born and raised in Texas, Clark now resides in the Northeast with his wife and three children. Gordon also volunteers his time as vice president of his local Little League board in New Jersey.

Ernest (Ernie) Kiss is vice president of quality and engineering at Airborne Tampa / PEMCO World Air Services in Tampa, Florida.

Over his 35 years in the aviation industry, he has worked in commercial airline, general aviation, and corporate aviation maintenance organizations. Ernie has served as technician, lead, inspector, manager and director across the industry with companies such as Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Eastern Airlines, AAR Corporation, and AAR Landing Gear Services.

He holds associate degrees and certificates in business and finance, is a certified quality auditor, certified aviation maintenance instructor, human factors instructor, and holds an FAA mechanic certificate.

John Koza is a System Safety Engineer and Flight Safety Investigator for GE Aerospace based in Lynn, Massachusetts – Birthplace of America’s First Jet Engine. His 20+ year aviation career includes previous roles as a Regional Aircraft Maintenance Manager with FedEx, multiple roles at Pratt & Whitney - most notably as a Commercial Flight Safety Investigator, in addition to various engineering leadership and product support assignments of increasing responsibility. In addition, John also is a FAA certificated Airframe & Powerplant mechanic and has exercised this privilege as an Aircraft Maintenance Technician with UsAirways as a line mechanic, and with Standard Aero in a corporate aviation setting, and also with GE Aerospace as an Advanced Aircraft Engine Mechanic early in his career.

When not engaged directly with day-to-day safety activities, John shares his unique level of practical, hands-on engineering and forensic investigation experience with his peers and fellow AMT’s in the field. He is also actively involved in mentoring and supporting the next generation of maintainers and technicians at throughout the industry, especially through such organizations as the Aerospace Maintenance Council as a member of the Executive Committee. John is also the Chief Judge and Sergeant at Arms for the Aerospace Maintenance Competition, a yearly skills competition for AMT’s which provides an opportunity for current and future maintenance professionals to showcase their abilities and see how they compare to their peers in the trade globally.

Mr. Koza resides in the New England area. He holds a Masters in Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University, a Bachelors in Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University as well as Certificates in Aviation Safety and Security from The University of Southern California and in Human Factors from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He is also a full member of ISASI, the International Society of Air Safety Investigators, which is dedicated to promoting air safety by the exchange of ideas, experiences and information about aircraft accident investigations, and to aid in the advancement of flight safety.

Chris Moore is an FAA certificated mechanic with over 30 years airline experience. As founder of The Aviation Mechanics Coalition (TAMC), he works tirelessly to advocate for aviation workplace safety and to promote the craft and the intrinsic value of aviation maintenance personnel.

Moore is an international representative for the Teamsters Airline Division, responsible for negotiating and administering mechanic contracts, overseeing safety programs, and coordinating the Division’s License Protection Program. He is also deeply involved with industry coalitions seeking to find solutions to the current pilot and mechanic shortages.

Ric Peri has more than 45 years in aviation maintenance as a mechanic, instructor, writer, consultant and auditor. In his current role as vice president of government and industry affairs with the Aircraft Electronics Association, Peri advocates for the avionics and maintenance industries before the aviation authorities worldwide with a primary focus on the Americas, Europe and the South Pacific regions.

Peri has more than 20 years in association management and supports the AEA membership through consultation and advocacy of aviation issues, with an emphasis on global maintenance, manufacturing and certification regulations. As an award-winning journalist, Peri has been communicating issues pertinent to the aviation industry since the mid-1980s in a wide range of aviation and engineering publications.

As an instructor, Peri has supported the aviation industry as adjunct professor at two universities and currently conducts organized training and education for the association’s membership. He also has been a guest speaker at several industry events worldwide.

Peri is a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a USCG veteran having served in various maintenance and aircrew roles throughout his career.

Marshall Puckett is president of AvReps International. His 50 years of experience in aviation includes selling engine overhaul services for Airwork Corp, acting as president of Avionics Associates Inc., a national distributing company, and helping formulate strategic plans for over 20 of the best companies in the aviation industry.

Marshall worked directly with National Aeronautics and Space Administration contractors helping to commercialize administration technology, most notably data link weather. He is cofounder of the New Mexico Aviation and Aerospace Association and a member of its board of directors. He is also an active member of the Aircraft Electronics Association and has served on its board for 9 years.

Marshall is a private pilot with 5,000 total flight hours and prior to his aviation career spent six years in the United States Navy submarine service.

Roger Sickler is a past PAMA chairman and previously served as DFW chapter president. Until his retirement in 2014, Sickler owned and operated a parts supplier business and an FAA-certificated repair station.

Sickler attended the Academy of Aviation—now Vaughn college—where he completed A&P school and later his associate’s degree. He served two years in the U.S. Army as an aircraft controller before working for several companies in various capacities including GE Aviation, Chromalloy, Air New England, Texas International Airlines, Availl, and Howmet.

He currently serves as a prison minister and instructor, is a member of the board for Euless parks and recreation, and volunteers on the Euless Civilian Emergency Response Team.

Alan Stolzer is the Dean of the College of Aviation on Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Daytona Beach campus, where he is responsible for the academic and administrative oversight of college. He is Professor of Doctoral Studies and teaches Safety Management Systems (SMS) in ERAU’s Ph.D. in Aviation program. Stolzer is the lead author on two books on SMS published by Ashgate Publications. Stolzer holds a Ph.D. in Quality Systems from Indiana State University, and degrees from ERAU and the College of the Ozarks. He also holds an ATP, CFI, and an A&P certificate from the FAA, and was previously a DPE, issuing more than 100 certificates and ratings on behalf of the FAA; he has flown more than 8,000 hours pilot-in-command.

Chad Tew has over 18 years in aviation maintenance as a C-130 Crew Chief, A&P technician, US Air Force instructor, Maintenance Controller, and Business Aviation Sales Manager. Currently he is a Regional Sales Manager with StandardAero’s Business Aviation division. Chad also serves as a Master Sergeant in the Texas Air National Guard as a Maintenance Operations Superintendent. Chad is currently the President of the South Texas PAMA Chapter, headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Chad holds associates degrees in Aviation Maintenance Technology and Military Science and Technology. He currently lives in Houston, Texas with his wife and four children.

Ron Zilberbrand spent his career developing state-of-the art programs for the aviation industry and his aviation experience and entrepreneurial success extends across decades, as the founder of AeroEngine Protection Corporation (AEPC), Jet Support Services, Inc. (JSSI), Zilberbrand Group, LLC, Pyxis Aviation Group, LLC and The Jet Collection, LLC. Today, Ron is the CEO/President of Piston Power, Inc., a aviation services company that has developed and offers the only hourly cost maintenance programs for Piston Airframes and Engines for the general aviation marketplace, PistonPower.com.