Ambassadors - Transportation Research Board

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Ambassadors
Alaskan Region
Rich Sewell, C.M.
Alaskan Region Representative
Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, Division of Statewide Aviation
4111 Aviation Dr.
PO Box 196900
Anchorage, AK 99519
Tel: (907) 269-0730
Email: [email protected]
Rich Sewell works for the Alaska DOT, Division of Statewide Aviation, as an aviation policy planner. The Alaska
DOT owns, operates, and maintains 254 airports. Mr. Sewell has worked in airport planning, development, and
policy for 10 years. In his current role, Mr. Sewell focuses on the policy and regulatory environment of aviation
in Alaska. He holds a Master of Business Administration and is a Certified Member of AAAE. Previously, Mr.
Sewell was the Regional Economist for Anchorage, Alaska, working in economic development planning.
Additionally, he owned a seafood business that sold live seafood wholesale to global markets. Mr. Sewell
brings both analytical and customer service perspectives to the planning and development of airports.
Central Region
Gregory Albjerg, P.E.
Central Region Representative
HNTB Corporation
5500 Wayzata Blvd., Suite 450
Minneapolis, MN 55124
Tel: (763) 852-2161
Email: [email protected]
Greg Albjerg is HNTB’s National Director of Airfield and Airspace Planning. Mr. Albjerg has more than 25 years
of experience in airfield and airspace capacity analysis and three years of experience as an FAA air traffic
controller. Mr. Albjerg is also a registered professional engineer and an active licensed pilot with instrument
rating. Over the past five years, Mr. Albjerg has evaluated airfield capacity improvements at Hartsfield-Jackson
Atlanta International, Salt Lake City International, George Bush Intercontinental, and Minneapolis-Saint Paul
International Airports. He has been directly involved in a wide variety of airport engineering, planning, and
environmental projects ranging from small general aviation airports to major air carrier airports. Mr. Albjerg is
recognized industry-wide for his airspace and air traffic expertise.
Eastern Region
Alex Kashani, A.A.E.
Eastern Region Representative
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority
Washington Dulles International Airport
Airport Operations, MA-210
P.O. Box 17045
Washington, DC 20041
Tel: (703) 572-7159
Email: [email protected]
Alex Kashani is Operations Business Officer at Washington Dulles International Airport, Metropolitan
Washington Airports Authority (MWAA). Since 1993, Mr. Kashani has served in a variety positions with MWAA,
including in the areas of information technology, budget, and airport finance. Prior to that, he was employed
by airports in Florida and Maryland where he held positions in airport operations, airport noise, and
environmental and airport planning. Mr. Kashani is a former member of the Executive Committee of the
Northeast Chapter of AAAE, of which he was president from 1999 to 2000. He has also served as Board
Member, Vice Chair, and Chair of the Technical Services Committee for AAAE and has been a
speaker/moderator at various airport conferences. Mr. Kashani holds a Bachelor of Science in Aviation
Management and Computer Science and a Master of Science in Industrial Professional Technology from
Indiana State University.
Great Lakes Region
Gary Shafer
Great Lakes Region Representative
Southern Illinois Airport/Southern Illinois University
P.O. Box 1086
Carbondale, IL 62903
Tel: (618) 529-1721
Email: [email protected]
Gary Shafer is Airport Manager at Southern Illinois Airport and a visiting assistant professor for Southern
Illinois University, both located in Carbondale, Illinois. Mr. Shafer has spent the past 36 years in the airport,
FBO, and teaching professions. He earned his undergraduate degree in business with a minor in aviation
from The Ohio State University and holds a master’s degree in public policy from Southern Illinois
University. He has been involved in ACRP since its inception, serving both as a panel member on research
and synthesis topics and as a consultant for the general aviation business plan project.
Craig Williams, A.A.E.
Great Lakes Region Representative
Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority
3801 W. Ferguson Rd., Suite. 209
Fort Wayne, IN 46809
Tel: (260) 446-3427
Email: [email protected]
Craig Williams is Director of Operations and Facilities for the Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority. He
oversees the airport’s operations functions, including public safety, maintenance, custodial, and customer
service as well as the FBO operation at the Authority’s reliever airport. Prior to this role, Mr. Williams served as
the airport’s Director of Finance and Administration. Before joining the Airport Authority, he worked as a Senior
Aviation Consultant for Reynolds, Smith, and Hills, a national airport consulting firm. He also worked for two
years in Washington, D.C., first for Helicopter Association International and later as Staff Vice President of
Regulatory Affairs for AAAE. Mr. Williams is an Accredited Member of AAAE and serves in voluntary positions
on a number of boards. He holds a master’s degree in public administration with a concentration on
transportation policy and logistics from George Mason University and a bachelor’s degree in aviation
administration from Indiana State University in Terre Haute.
Angela Newland, P.E., I.A.P., A.A.E.
Great Lakes Region Representative
City of Columbus
90 West Broad St., Suite 416
Columbus, OH 43215
Tel: (954) 646-2714
Email: [email protected]
Angela Newland is a professional engineer and a construction manager for the City of Columbus, Ohio. From
2009 to 2013, Ms. Newland was Assistant Aviation Director for the Broward County Aviation Department. In this
position, she was responsible for the implementation of a $2 billion capital program at the Fort LauderdaleHollywood International Airport (FLL) in Florida. This included providing leadership for all planning,
environmental compliance, noise mitigation, design, and construction work at FLL and its reliever airport. For
the previous 12 years, she served as Vice President of Planning and Engineering for the Columbus (Ohio)
Regional Airport Authority. The Authority manages three airports in central Ohio. She has been the chairperson
for three ACRP panels and has received her International Airport Professional (IAP) and AAE credentials.
New England Region
Christopher Willenborg
New England Region Representative
Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Aeronautics Division
Logan Office Center
One Harborside Dr., Suite. 205N
East Boston, MA 02128
Tel: (617) 412-3686
Email: [email protected]
Christopher Willenborg has served as Administrator of the MassDOT Aeronautics Division since 2009. The
MassDOT Aeronautics Division promotes aviation throughout the Commonwealth while establishing an
efficient, integrated airport system that is focused on airport safety, customer service, economic development,
and environmental stewardship. As Administrator of the Aeronautics Division, Mr. Willenborg is responsible for
directing, implementing, and coordinating statutory and regulatory oversight for all aviation matters in the
Commonwealth. Prior to joining MassDOT, he was Airport Manager of Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport in
Western Massachusetts for over nine years. Mr. Willenborg has worked for over 20 years in management and
aviation at airports throughout the Northeast, including Montauk Airport, Orange Municipal Airport, and
Morristown Municipal Airport. He was President of the Massachusetts Airport Management Association from
2002 until 2005 and is currently Vice Chairman of the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO).
Northwest Mountain Region
Frederick Busch
Northwest Mountain Region Representative
Denver International Airport
City and County of Denver, Department of Aviation (retired)
3841 South Magnolia Way
Denver, CO 80237
Tel: (303) 504-0477
Email: [email protected]
Frederick (Rick) Busch served as Director of Planning at Denver International Airport (DIA) for nearly 16 years. In
this role, Mr. Busch was responsible for updating and implementing the DIA Master Plan, identifying and
defining airport development projects, and coordinating land use and transportation planning with
surrounding jurisdictions. He was part of a team working with the FAA to implement NextGen-related airspace
re-design and also led the initial planning work for the commuter rail connection to the airport, which is
currently under construction. Mr. Busch was also responsible for DIA’s Noise Office and the implementation of
the airport’s Geographic Information System. Previously, Mr. Busch spent 12 years at Miami International
Airport and 11 years in the planning and noise field with a major national consultant. Mr. Busch has been an
active member of the ACI-NA Operations and Technical Affairs Committee Steering Group, has served on
several project panels for ACRP, and has participated on the Airport Subcommittee of the FAA Research
Engineering and Development Advisory Committee (REDAC).
Christy Yaffa
Northwest Mountain Region Representative
Wyoming Department of Transportation Aeronautics Division
5300 Bishop Blvd.
Cheyenne, WY 82009
Tel: (307) 777-3956
Email: [email protected]
Christy Yaffa is Program Manager for the Airports Planning and Programming program of the Wyoming
Department of Transport Aeronautics Division. Ms. Yaffa’s areas of responsibility include airport planning,
environmental analysis, land acquisition, state system planning, the Wyoming Aviation Capital Improvement
Program (WACIP), the Aeronautics Commission Loan Program, and the airports grant program. She joined the
Division in 1994 as a planning intern and has held the positions of Assistant Airports Planner, Planner, and
Senior Planner. Ms. Yaffa is a graduate of the Prescott, Arizona, campus of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical
University and holds a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Business Administration.
Southern Region
http://www.trb.org/ACRP
Terry Anderson
Southern Region Representative
Airfield Solutions, LLC
1003 Birmingham Ridge Rd.
Saltillo, MS 38866
Tel: (662) 255-5066
Email: [email protected]
Terry Anderson runs his own business called Airfield Solutions, which offers small, rural general aviation airports
with experience, expertise, and administrative assistance in management and operations. Prior to starting his
own business, Mr. Anderson was Executive Director of Tupelo Regional Airport from 2000-2010. Mr. Anderson
also served in the Navy for 27 years, achieving the rank of Captain before retiring in 1995. He holds a Bachelor
of Arts in Business Administration from Wittenberg University and a Master of Arts in Education from Old
Dominion University. Mr. Anderson was also President of the Mississippi Airport Association (MAA) from 20042005 and was an MAA Board member from 2001-2010. He has accumulated over 6,000 hours in an assortment
of aircraft, including naval tactical aircraft in which he amassed nearly 700 arrested landings. Mr. Anderson also
has a commercial pilot license with a CFI certification.
Southwest Region
Linda Howard, AICP
Southwest Region Representative
Texas Department of Transportation, Aviation Division (retired)
120 Colovista Dr.
Bastrop, TX 78602
Tel: (512) 913-0382
Email: [email protected]
Linda Howard is the retired Director of Planning & Programming for the Texas Department of Transportation
(TxDOT) Aviation Division. Ms. Howard was with the TxDOT Aviation Division and its predecessor agencies for
almost 21 years, primarily involved in airport system planning and general aviation airport planning and
programming. She was responsible for development of the Texas Airport System Plan and the Texas Aviation
Facilities Development Program. Prior to her employment with the state, Ms. Howard worked in the private
sector as an airport and environmental planner for over 12 years. She received her bachelor’s degree in
environmental studies from St. Edward’s University and a master’s degree in community and regional planning
from the University of Texas at Austin. She is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners
(AICP). In addition to being actively involved on several ACRP panels, Ms. Howard is an emeritus member of the
TRB Aviation System Planning Committee, served two terms as Chair of the Aviation System Planning
Committee, and is a member of the Committee on Intergovernmental Relations in Aviation.
Robert Osborne
Southwest Region Representative
Shreveport Airport Authority
5103 Hollywood Ave., Suite 300
Shreveport, LA 71109
Tel: (318) 673-5370
Email: [email protected]
Robert Osborne is Manager of Special Projects with the Shreveport Airport Authority. Mr. Osborne is
responsible for the administration of the airport’s $20 million Capital Improvement Program, serves as the DBE
Liaison Officer, oversees the development of the airport’s master plan, and manages the Airport Noise
Compatibility Program, airport security and NAVAID rehabilitations, and the implementation of several
sustainability initiatives. His past positions include Design Engineer for AT&T and Operations Manager for JP
Morgan Chase. Mr. Osborne is a member of the Louisiana Air National Guard and has deployed in multiple
support and humanitarian efforts. He received a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering from Southern University in
Baton Rouge, has participated in sponsored research for Georgia Tech Research Institute, and is completing
graduate studies at Louisiana State University in Shreveport. He is a member of several professional
organizations, including AAAE, SAME, PMI, IEEE, and Engineers without Borders.
Western-Pacific Region
Dan Frazee, C.M.
Western-Pacific Region Representative
San Diego County Regional Airport Authority (retired)
9789 Keeneland Row
La Jolla, CA 92037
Tel: (619) 980-1295
Email: [email protected]
Dan Frazee recently retired from San Diego International Airport as Director of the Airport Noise Mitigation
Department. Mr. Frazee and his team were responsible for minimizing aircraft noise for the airport and noiseimpacted community through programs aimed at informing, educating, mitigating, and enforcing operator
compliance. Mr. Frazee administered the Airport Authority’s Noise Compatibility Program, oversaw an awardwinning Residential Sound Attenuation Program, managed noise data in accordance with California DOT
regulations, and developed the Community Noise Information and Education Program. Prior to his 12 years of
service at San Diego, Mr. Frazee served as a noise abatement officer and airport operations officer at
Sacramento International Airport. He holds an FAA Airline Transport Pilot rating and is an FAA Certified
Instrument Flight Instructor. Mr. Frazee is a retired U.S. Air Force pilot and U.S. Army aviator. He has amassed
over 8,000 hours in rotary and fixed wing aircraft. He has also served as a military air traffic controller. He
received his Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of North Texas and his Master of Science in
Counseling Psychology from the University of Texas. He is a Certified Member of AAAE and served for six years
as the chair of the ACI-NA Aircraft Noise Working Group on the Environmental Steering Committee.
Kerry Ahearn, A.A.E.
Western-Pacific Region Representative
City of Boulder City
1201 Airport Rd., Suite 200
Boulder City, NV 89005
Tel: (702) 293-9405
Email: [email protected]
Kerry Ahearn is Airport Manager of the Boulder City Municipal Airport, a busy non-hub airport in Boulder City,
Nevada. With a limited staff, Ms. Ahearn is involved in every aspect of managing the airport, including daily
airfield inspections, maintenance and construction oversight, lease negotiations, budget development, and
grant administration. She also acts as the direct liaison between the airport and City Council. Ms. Ahearn has a
Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Science from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and is an Accredited
Member of AAAE. She started her airport management career at Morristown Municipal Airport. Prior to moving
to Nevada in 2008, Ms. Ahearn gained experience in noise mitigation and operations as the manager of the
Noise Abatement Program at Bradley International Airport. She is active in the Southwest Chapter of AAAE and
serves on two ACRP panels.