Expert Details
Aviation: Air Traffic Control, Airspace Procedures Assessment, Unmanned Vehicle Operations/Systems (UAV-UAS)
ID: 735761
California, USA
Education
| Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: | Degree: | Subject: Professional Aeronautics/Management | Institution: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University |
| Year: 1987 | Degree: | Subject: Air Traffic Controller Screen | Institution: FAA Academy |
| Year: | Degree: | Subject: Numerous FAA Courses | Institution: FAA |
| Year: 1983 | Degree: | Subject: US Navy Air Traffic Control, US Navy Carrier ATC School | Institution: US Navy |
| Year: 1979 | Degree: HS Diploma | Subject: | Institution: John Burroughs High School, Burbank, CA |
Work History
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2018 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Principal | Department: |
Responsibilities:Diverse Vector Aviation Consulting LLC (DVAC) offers services in support of:- Air Traffic Control - UAS/UAV operations airspace and procedural integration, domestic and international. - Safety Management System facilitation and SME services. - Expert Witness for litigation in aviation matters. - Airport operations. - Airspace and procedural development and implementation design. - New entrant aviation systems installation and use. - Entertainment industry aviation needs. - Management and Leadership mentorship. - Municipality assistance (noise, routes, etc) - Land development and real estate aviation analysis. |
|||
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2011 to 2017 | Employer: FAA | Title: Assistant Air Traffic Manager/Staff Manager | Department: Air Traffic Organization |
Responsibilities:Southern California TRACON (SCT) is the busiest radar approach control in the world, with over 2 million operations per year. I assisted the Air Traffic Manager in the daily operations of the facility. I directly managed all aspects of staff support departments for the facility which were: Airspace and Procedures, Training, Safety/QA/QC, Planning and Requirements, and Administrative Services. These departments consisted of 5 Managers and 15 Support Specialists, Administrative personnel, and a contract training group with approximately 10 individuals. I collaborated successfully with our Labor partner, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) on many different issues and was able to work toward a mutual benefit for all.Other routine duties included: Coordinated special operations between the operational workforce and support functions including VIP movement, airport closures, military operations, UAS/UAV activities, airshows etc. Ensured that traffic management initiatives were implemented as necessary for the 51 airports that SCT serves. Designated facility focal responsible for the success of the FAA Optimization of Airspace and Procedures in the Metroplex (OAPM) for Southern California airspace. This project was the largest most complex airspace redesign in the U.S. The airspace redesign affected over 200 procedures for pilots and controllers. It required integration of the Standard Terminal Automation System (STARS) that allows ADS-B processing along with other technology and is part of the Terminal Automation Modernization and Replacement program for TRACON’s. Retraining of over 300 Air Traffic Control personnel on all the changes to equipment and procedures was accomplished on time and within budgetary estimates. As UAS and UAV activity became more and more prevalent I ensured that our specialists were trained and knowledgeable on procedures for applicable waivers. Southern California airspace had an exponential growth of this activity as more and more entities began using small UAVs (under 55 lbs). I directed our Operations Support Group to establish an expert presence in the facility to manage and process requests prior to the implementation of FAR Part 107 in 2016. This improvement to processing expedited approval and coordination time dramatically. Since that time UAS/UAV activity is now governed by several regulations including Federal Aviation Regulations, FAA Orders, air worthiness certificates, operational waivers etc. As the National Airspace System (NAS) assimilates larger more complex UAV/UAS platforms it will require more and more oversight and coordination between customers and FAA. Liaison in many different capacities for several outside organizations including the SoCal Aviation Association, San Diego Airport Authority, Los Angeles World Airport Airspace Users Group and local US Navy and Marine Corps facilities etc. Was responsible for creating and executing the presentations on the work of the FAA and SCT to Congressmen and Senate staff offices, local flying groups, community groups such as the Kiwanis, and spoke to several visiting international aviation groups. I developed and managed the Southern California TRACON Mentoring and Leadership Development Program. I designed this program to offer opportunity to applicants from all FAA lines-of-business to learn business acumen and managerial techniques by embedding participants on a rotational basis through all support, administrative and operational offices. All participants were highly complementary of the program and all have since been promoted throughout the Air Traffic and Technical Operations lines-of-business into upper management positions. |
|||
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2010 to 2011 | Employer: FAA | Title: Manager, Performance and Strategic Analysis | Department: Air Traffic Organization |
Responsibilities:I developed and was responsible for implementing the facility Strategic Plan and driving those initiatives to completion. I was given authority to re-align the facility program management oversight to complement the FAA Air Traffic Organization business plan and Strategy and Performance initiative. LEAN concepts, and some aspects of Six Sigma were utilized in everyday business concepts. Conducted Value Analysis on all departments and operational entities and recommended improvements and changes to the Air Traffic Manager for implementation. |
|||
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2007 to 2010 | Employer: FAA | Title: Manager, Safety Assurance | Department: Air Traffic Organization |
Responsibilities:Managed the Quality Assurance/Quality Control program at Southern California TRACON. I was responsible for all aspects of compliance with FAA and Air Traffic requirements. This included review of operational errors and deviations, ensuring workforce compliance with established rules and regulations, conducting facility evaluations on a recurring basis as defined in FAA Orders. Other responsibilities: I coordinated with other ATC facilities for common ground on potential conflict areas. I coordinated and presented several QA/QC “Summits” with other air traffic facility’s that were our customers so that all personnel understood the commonality of a Safety Culture. Conducted Operational Error Review Boards as directed. At times these groups would include other facilities in a Root Cause Analysis. As a certified Safety Risk Management practitioner, I conducted safety panels as necessary for new inputs to the ATC system or reviews of existing or recommended improvements. I worked closely with the Training Manager to ensure the delivery of certification, refresher and supplemental training was in accordance with FAA requirements. I conducted Training Review Boards when needed to ensure the developmental controller was given the opportunity to succeed on all levels. I was a member of a national team that was brought together to address safety applications as it pertained to like size facilities. Together with Safety Managers and Air Traffic Managers from Southern California, Northern California, New York, Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, and Potomac Terminal Radar Approach Controls, we developed several initiatives that were designed to enhance safety and be implemented at all. The most notable was the Automated Terminal Proximity Alert. This automated function was developed based on our collective input as an enhancement to the Automated Radar Tracking System (ARTS) to alert controllers when separation was about to be compromised. This function was carried over into the new STARS system when installed. |
|||
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2005 to 2007 | Employer: FAA | Title: Operations Manager | Department: Air Traffic Organization |
Responsibilities:Responsible on a shift-by-shift basis for all operations at Southern California TRACON. Provided oversight to 7 areas of operation which on any given shift was approximately 12-14 supervisors and 72-80 air traffic controllers. Ensured all aspects of shift were operating as required including traffic management initiatives, personnel staffing, weather impacts, equipment outages were being reported, training was being performed and other shift requirements. Required to monitor the Domestic Event Network and responded to all directives and operational requirements as needed. |
|||
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2003 to 2005 | Employer: FAA | Title: Quality Assurance Staff Specialist | Department: Air Traffic Organization, Western-Pacific Regional Headquarters |
Responsibilities:Performed duties of Quality Assurance Specialist as assigned to the Air Traffic Division Manager's Quality Assurance Staff. Provided QA/QC oversight to air traffic facilities in the entire western United States. Duties included reviewing services after incidents or accidents, coordinating with airport management, NTSB, regional counsel, conducted facility evaluations of air traffic facilities, augmented national teams for accident investigation when required by NTSB or FAA Headquarters. |
|||
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2000 to 2003 | Employer: FAA | Title: Air Traffic Control Tower Manager | Department: Air Traffic Organization |
Responsibilities:I Managed the control tower operations at Gillespie Field Airport Traffic Control Tower. I Managed a staff of 15-18 personnel. Coordinated closely with the Airport Manager on multiple aspects of airport operations including signage, construction, environmentally sensitive areas, Letters to Airmen, vehicle operations, noise abatement and more. Participated in airport round table discussions of operations and ATC impact at facility user meetings, participated in FBO discussions on specific and general operational needs and requirements. Simultaneously managed Montgomery Field ATCT for approximately 6 months due to a sudden vacancy. Was required to work with both the County and City Airports divisions in this capacity. During this time, I also augmented the supervisory staff at San Diego Lindbergh Field control tower for a short period and was the day-shift supervisor when the 9/11 attack was carried out. |
|||
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1999 to 2000 | Employer: FAA | Title: Front Line Manager | Department: Air Traffic Organization |
Responsibilities:Managed an Area of Southern California TRACON (SCT). Supervised a team on a shift-by-shift basis of 10-15 personnel. Responsible for staffing, training and meeting operational demands as integrated with the National Airspace System. |
|||
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1996 to 1999 | Employer: FAA | Title: Support Specialist | Department: Air Traffic Organization |
Responsibilities:Worked in the Airspace and Procedures Department. Duties included designing, coordinating, and implementing new procedures as required, writing briefings to the operational workforce, coordinating with all control towers and airports in my area of responsibility on procedural and airspace matters. During this period I was also assigned to the Plans and Programs Department. Duties included developing requirements and procedures for new equipment installation and upgrade. Directly responsible for new voice communications and software upgrade capability for air traffic control uses. |
|||
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1987 to 1996 | Employer: FAA | Title: Professional Air Traffic Controller | Department: Air Traffic Organization |
Responsibilities:Fully certified Air Traffic Controller at Southern California TRACON, 1988.Fully certified Air Traffic Controller at Burbank Airport Traffic Control Tower. |
|||
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1979 to 1986 | Employer: US Navy | Title: Air Traffic Controller | Department: Operations |
Responsibilities:Fully certified Air Traffic Controller for both shore-based and afloat commands. |
|||
Government Experience
| Years | Agency | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 1987 to 2017 | Agency: Federal Aviation Administration | Role: | Description: Spent 31 years with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Air Traffic Organization. He has extensive experience as an Air Traffic Controller and Air Traffic Manager. This experience also includes positions held in Quality Assurance, Airspace/Procedures, Programs/Requirements, Safety Management Systems, Performance and Strategic Analysis, and several upper management assignments. Management positions include experience as Front-Line Supervisor, Operations Manager, Support Manager, Staff Manager, and Air Traffic Manager, member of the Quality Assurance Staff at the Western-Pacific Regional Headquarters. Before transitioning to the private sector. Expert was the Assistant Air Traffic Manager/Staff Manager at Southern California Terminal Radar Approach Control. Prior to the FAA he was a member of the US Navy for 7 years and was an air traffic controller. In every position held, Expert worked closely and collaboratively with all levels of stakeholders of interdepartmental and outside entities. This includes local municipalities, military, international contingents, National Air Traffic Controllers Association and the Professional Aviation Safety Specialist organization. He worked extensively on major projects such as Optimization of Airspace in the Metroplex (OAPM) for Southern California, and the Terminal Automation Modernization and Replacement Program (TAMR), working as the Project Coordinator for Southern California TRACON on both. In 2018, Expert opened Diverse Vector Aviation Consulting LLC (DVAC), offering services in the following areas: Expert Witness for litigation support in aviation matters, UAS/UAV operations airspace and procedural integration, domestic and international, Safety Management System facilitation and SME services, Airport operations,Training, Airspace and procedural development and implementation design, New Entrant aviation systems installation and use, Municipality assistance (noise, routes, etc). |
Career Accomplishments
| Associations / Societies |
|---|
| FAA Managers Association 2010-2017. Vice President Chapter 290, 2014-2016. Southern California Aviation Association, 2018-2019 National Air Traffic Controllers Association, 1988-1996. Facility Representative 1992-1994. |
| Licenses / Certifications |
|---|
| Fully certified Safety Management System (SMS) Practitioner Certified Contracting Officers Representative (COR). Air Traffic Control Specialist Credential. Control Tower Operator License. |
| Professional Appointments |
|---|
| City of San Marcos Representative to the Palomar Airport Advisory Committee. Appointed by the San Diego County Supervisor to District 5. 2019-Present. Appointed by the San Marcos Unified School District Board of Directors to be a member of the Community Oversight Committee, for the administration of Municipal Bonds issued by a 2010 voter approved Proposition K. Appointed by the San Marcos City Council as an Alternate on the San Marcos General Plan Committee. |
Additional Experience
| Expert Witness Experience |
|---|
| Currently retained in three on-going cases. Completed August, 2019: Angelina Dwyer, et al, vs. United States of America, 3:17-CV-01219, And Melissa Ward vs. United States of America and Southwest Airlines, Case No. 3:18-CV-00352 |
| Other Relevant Experience |
|---|
| Fully certified Safety Management System (SMS) Practitioner Certified Contracting Officers Representative (COR). Air Traffic Control Specialist Credential. Control Tower Operator License. Designed and managed Mentoring and Leadership Development Program. As the SCT Safety Manager I participated for two years with the San Diego Regional Aircraft Association as presenter and panel participant. In partnership with High Tech High School, San Diego, I Designed intern program at SCT for high school seniors. Executive Board of Directors FAA Managers Association Chapter 290. FAA ACE Camp organizer. CPR/AED certified. Community volunteer at Casa de Amparo, a non-profit organization in San Marcos that houses children who are the victims of child abuse and neglect. |