“Reaching New Heights”: Virtual Career Development Event

Angelia G. Neal is the Assistant Administrator for the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Office of Human Resource Management. With over 20 years of experience in human resources (HR) and business administration, Angelia provides executive leadership for developing, managing, implementing and evaluating the Agency's HR policies and programs for more than 44,000 employees across the nation. Prior to joining FAA, Angelia served as the Chief of Human Resources Policy and Performance Management at the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

At USCIS, she led a team of HR professionals that developed and implemented agency-wide HR policies and programs. Angelia leveraged special hiring authorities to assist the Agency in meeting critical hiring needs. She also formed successful partnerships with union officials on sensitive labor management matters. 

Angelia began her federal career as a U.S. Presidential Management Fellow at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). While there, she served in various capacities with progressive responsibilities, including Human Resources Specialist, Senior Management Analyst, acting Deputy Executive Officer, and Chief of Management Policy and Analysis. Angelia was instrumental in collaborating with NIH leaders to implement nationwide recruitment strategies which led to the development of talent pipeline programs with several colleges and universities. She also played a leading role in strengthening partnerships between NIH and underserved communities. 

Angelia earned a bachelor’s degree from Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA, and a master’s degree from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO.   She obtained an executive coaching certificate from George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. Angelia is a certified coach, credentialed through the International Coaching Federation. Angelia is also a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government Executive Education Program.

Edward (Ed) L. Bolton, Jr. was appointed FAA Chief of Staff in November 2023. Bolton is a retired United States Air Force Major General. He previously served as a senior advisor to the Aerospace Corporation CEO. He is also a co-founder of Space Workforce 2030, through which the Aerospace Corporation and thirty other space-oriented companies, collaborate to champion STEM activities, find aerospace engineering internships and increase space industry career opportunities for diverse individuals.

Bolton also served at the Aerospace Corporation as Senior Vice President of the Defense Systems Group. He retired from Aerospace in March 2019. From 2013-2016 Bolton was the Assistant Administrator for the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) at the FAA where he was responsible for leading the modernization of the National Airspace System—the world’s largest and most complex aviation system. 

During his military career, Bolton commanded the Spacelift Range Squadron, then the Spacelift Operations Group, both at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. He later became the Spacelift Wing Commander at Patrick Air Force Base in Florida. He also completed assignments as the Director of Systems Engineering at the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) and as the Director of Air Force Space and Cyber operations at the Pentagon. While in program management, he led the Satellite and Launch Systems Program Office and the Space Launch and Range Systems Program Office at the Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles Air Force Base. He also served on the White House Staff in two administrations as a director on the National Security Council. He retired from the Air Force in 2013 after serving as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Budget where he managed the Air Force’s $165B budget.

During his time as commander at Patrick Air Force Base, the unit won the General Robert Herres trophy for its selection as the top Space Wing in the Air Force. While at Los Angeles Air Base, his program office was selected as the Best Program Office in Space Acquisition by the Air Force Association. Bolton is also the recipient of both the NRO Leadership Award, and the NRO Gold Medal. In 2023, the SWF2030 team was selected for the Trustees’ Award, the highest honor the Aerospace Corporation awards. 

Bolton served on the Board of Directors of the Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority. He was also on the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee under the Department of Transportation. He has also been a member of the Board of Directors of the Campagna Center, a not-for-profit community service organization located in Alexandria, Virginia. 

Bolton earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the University of New Mexico and holds two Master of Science degrees. He holds an MS degree in systems management from the University of Southern California, and an MS degree in national security strategy from the National War College, where he was a distinguished graduate. He is also a distinguished graduate of the Air Command and Staff College. He completed a Senior Executive Fellowship at Harvard University as well as the Program Management course at the Defense System Management College at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. 

June Green serves as the Director, Office of Management Services, in the Office of NextGen (ANG), providing strategic direction in support of current and future Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) initiatives. Ms. Green is also leading the transformation of Management Services through culture change to deliver customer-first, customer-focused, customer-centric results. Ms. Green’s multi-faceted organization comprises financial services, procurement, business planning, stakeholder engagement (U.S. and international), agency collaboration and communications, and employee services.

Ms. Green oversees the provision of more than $7B in vendor contracts for engineering resources and the awarding of approximately $100M in research and workforce development grants. 

Her directorate, which includes about 100 employees, administers a budget of $243M and provides oversight of nearly $1B for ANG overall.

Previously, Ms. Green served in leadership in the Air Traffic Organization as the Integration Lead/Technical Advisor for Mission Support Services, initiating and achieving notable improvements in organizational effectiveness and accountability.

She also served as Division Manager for Procurement Services, where she managed the MITRE CAASD FFRDC contract, and was the Operations Manager for the Human Factors Group.

Ms. Green joined the FAA in 2010 and was on contract to the FAA for 14 years prior, including during her college career. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in from George Mason University.

A graduate of the Federal Executive Institute’s Leadership for a Democratic Society, she is also PMP-Certified (Project Management Professional Certification) by the Project Management Institute. 

LaMont is a senior Strategic and Business Planning Program Manager for NextGen. He hails from Michigan; and has been with FAA for 6 years.  Prior to his arrival he was a Human Resource Officer and Commander with the Air Force for over 20 years.  In 2010, he led the Air Force’s top Human Resource Office and Professional Development Program.  LaMont enjoys leading, facilitating, guiding and growing winners at FAA; and he is a certified Gallup’s Global Strengths Coach. 

Ms. D'Alessandro was appointed as Regional Administrator in August 2019, serving as the senior agency official in the New England region providing cross-functional oversight and leadership for the FAA Administrator and coordination across FAA lines of business. Ms. D'Alessandro is the principal FAA representative for the six New England states - Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island and Connecticut. Ms. D'Alessandro joined the FAA in 2006 holding various leadership roles within the Aircraft Certification Service. In addition to her many years in the New England Region, she spent time at FAA Headquarters in Washington, DC working as a Technical Special Assistant to the Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety. Prior to joining the FAA Ms. D'Alessandro spent 18 years at General Electric. Ms. D'Alessandro earned her Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, MA and a Master of Science degree in electrical engineering and control systems from Northeastern University in Boston, MA. 

Micah Campbell serves as the Executive Director (A) of theFederal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Office of UnmannedAircraft Systems (UAS) and Emerging Entrants Security, whichis the FAA’s lead organization responsible for drone andAdvanced Air Mobility (AAM) security in U.S. airspace. Mr.Campbell leads FAA’s efforts to safely integrate detection andmitigation systems for drones and AAM operations in theNational Airspace System (NAS) and supports UAS securityrelatedrulemaking, research and development, policyformulation, education and outreach, and data management.Prior to joining the Office of UAS & Emerging Entrants Security, Mr. Campbell served as theDeputy Director for Aircraft Certification Service (AIR) Enterprise Business Operations in theFAA’s Aviation Safety (AVS) Line of Business where he was responsible for administrative andtechnical direction of business program activities supporting 1,500 personnel across nine AIRdivisions and offices conducting aircraft certification and manufacturing oversight activities.

Mr. Campbell began his public service as an airman in the U.S. Air Force. After serving onactive duty, he transitioned to the Air National Guard and later retired from the Air ForceReserve. Following his active-duty commitment, Mr. Campbell joined the FAA as an ElectronicsTechnician at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center and later became an Electronic Engineer Instructor at the FAA Academy.Mr. Campbell has held multiple positions including, FAA Academy Environmental Section Manager, Air Traffic Organization (ATO) Navigation and Communications Training Team Manager, ATO Technical Operations Training Group Manager, ATO Safety and Technical Training Service Unit Senior Technical Advisor, and AVS Office of Accident Investigation and Prevention Senior Advisor.

Mr. Campbell holds a Bachelor of Science in Technical Management and a Master of Science in Engineering Management with a concentration in Project Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Additionally, he completed senior leadership development through the Office of Personnel Management - Federal Executive Institute, and Harvard University -National Preparedness Leadership Initiative.

Laura J. Megan-Posch is the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Assistant Chief Counsel for Regulations in the Office of the Chief Counsel. In this role, Ms. Megan-Posch is responsible for leading and managing both the long-term operation and the immediate daily operation of the Regulations Division and overseeing the complex and diverse legal regulatory practice portfolio. She provides oversight of all legal aspects pertaining to the FAA’s regulatory program. The multidisciplinary legal portfolio encompasses a broad range of agency activity pertaining to airworthiness and certification, operations, air traffic procedures, flight standards subjects, and commercial space law. Prior to holding this position, Ms. Megan-Posch served as the Assistant Deputy General Counsel, Office of the Air Force General Counsel, Fiscal, Ethics & Administrative Law Division. There she was responsible for providing advice to Secretariat, Air Staff, Space Staff, and Major Command-level officials on a variety of issues, including administrative and information laws, standards of conduct, employment law, support agreements, fiscal matters, legislation, and organizational issues. She had worked with this Division since 2011. In 2021, Ms. Megan-Posch retired as a colonel after 23 years of active and reserve duty as a judge advocate in the Department of the Air Force. Shortly before her retirement, she was recognized with the Pacific Air Force’s Outstanding Senior Attorney Award of 2019 for demonstrated excellence and initiative, leadership and management skills, and professionalism in the practice of law across a career of federal service. Ms. Megan-Posch holds a Bachelor’s degree in Physics and Africana Studies from Hamilton College, a Juris Doctorate degree from the Georgetown University Law Center, and a Master of Laws degree in Energy Law from Vermont Law School. Ms. Megan-Posch is a member of the bars of the states of Illinois, Nevada and North Dakota and is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. She is an active member of the American Bar Association and the Federal Bar Association

Allie Panther serves as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration at the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). She previously served as White House Liaison in the Office of the Secretary at DOT. Allie was the Director of Scheduling on the Biden-Harris campaign and scheduled for then-Vice President Biden in the Obama-Biden Administration. Allie has a decade of experience in principal logistics and operations in the federal government, on campaigns, and at advocacy organizations. She is a native Iowan and graduate of the University of Iowa and currently lives in Washington, DC.

Mrs. VaShawn Guice Veal is a Florida native. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in psychology and criminal justice with an emphasis in policy and administration.

VaShawn began her professional career in youth social services and relocated from Florida to Washington, DC, in 2006, to pursue a career in the federal government. Currently, she is a certified special investigator and training director with U.S. DOT/ National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and is on detail with the Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Human Resource Management, Career and Leadership Development Division. She is also a charter member of NHTSA’s HBCU initiative which serves to bring awareness and opportunities in the federal government to students attending HBCUs. VaShawn is a decorated veteran of the United States Air Force Reserves and served her country during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan in 2009. She is also member of several professional and social organizations including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®. When she has extra time, she enjoys event planning, traveling, and fashion styling and is considered an excellent cook by anyone who’s tasted her recipes. VaShawn is married and resides in the Commonwealth of Virginia.   

Michelle Coppedge is the Director of the FAA’s Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City and has served as the Director for the past six years.  The Aeronautical Center is the centralized service and support facility for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of Transportation and home to more than 6,300 Federal and contract employees, with an annual operational budget of $1 billion.  The Aeronautical Center encompasses more than 1,000 acres and has 136 buildings.  Prior to this role, she served as the Program Director for the FAA Logistics Center.

Before joining the FAA in 2004, she was the Engineering Director, Integrated Network Solutions (INS), for Lucent Technologies, where she managed all aspects of business planning, project management, New Product Introduction (NPI) and strategy formation for the 5ESS (Class Five Electronic Switching System) and Any Media Product lines, a $3B business line.  She has extensive experience with World Class Manufacturing and Repair leading strategy formation, supply chain management activities and maintaining financial budgets and income statements.  

Additionally, Michelle has extensive international experience leading globally dispersed teams and managing New Product Introductions in Europe, Asia, Brazil, Russia, and Saudi markets.  She has led supply chain reengineering efforts at manufacturing, repair and distribution centers in Spain, Poland, Brazil, China, Taiwan, India, and the USA.  

Michelle holds a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Purdue University, a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Oklahoma City University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Oklahoma.  

James Garland was inducted into the Senior Executive Series in June 2023 as Director for the Office of Rail Planning and Engineering at the Federal Railroad Administration. In this role, James oversees railroad planning, operations, and engineering technical support for national and regional rail networks, corridors, and projects, to advance plans, programs, and projects through their lifecycle for potential capital investment.

Prior to this, James served as the Deputy Director of Transportation at the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC), where he implemented the vision for growth, mobility, and economic development for one of the largest cities and regions in the country.

Mr. Garland previously served as the Deputy Regional Administrator for the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Region 5 office in Chicago, where he led the operations of the regional office and provided critical leadership through the COVID-19 pandemic. From 2015-2020, James served as the Transportation Planning Capacity Building Team Leader for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Office of Planning, Environment, and Realty in Washington, DC. He led FHWA’s national effort on Megaregions, effectively building partnerships with academia as well as the public and private sectors on complex multi-jurisdictional coordination and collaboration. He also held several key leadership roles with FHWA as Program Manager for the Strategic Highway Research Program, as well as Team Leader for FTA’s New Starts/Capital Investment Grants Program, where he delivered billions of dollars in transit projects through Full Funding Grant Agreements on rail projects in Los Angeles, Portland, and San Diego. James began his career with FHWA in 2002 through the Professional Development Program as a Community Planner in the Atlanta Resource Center.

James holds a master’s degree in Urban Planning from Columbia University in New York, and a bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies and Public Policy from Dillard University in New Orleans. He is a board member for the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Transportation Planning, Policy, and Process committee, and co-chair for TRB’s Subcommittee on Megaregions.

Binu John is the Manager of the Data Analytics team in Aircraft Certification (AIR-341) that provides analytical and monitoring expertise to enable a performance-driven culture in AIR. Prior to that, he worked in the Flight Standards Safety Analysis & Promotion Division (FS-930) where he supported advanced analytics and predictive modeling efforts on surveillance activities. He has supported multiple data quality and standardization initiatives across the agency like Make/Model/Series data mapping, FS Analytics Strategy, Analytics feedback loop etc. He has also held various roles in AQS such as Manager, Team Lead, Business Process Re-engineering Program Manager etc.

Binu started his Federal career in 2004 with the US Postal Service as an Industrial Engineer supporting logistics, networks and operations for USPS processing and distribution centers in upstate New York. Prior to joining the FAA, he was a Senior Industrial Engineer with the U.S. Mint where he helped establish their QMS and served as the Lean Six Sigma Program Manager. Binu has also led and managed projects at other federal agencies, such as the General Services Administration.

Binu holds a Bachelor’s degree (University of Calicut) and a Master’s degree (Penn State) in Industrial Engineering and recently completed his Executive MBA from Georgetown University. He also holds certifications as a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and a Project Management Professional. Binu is also a Presidential Management Fellow, with an extensive background in financial analysis and capital markets.

Alesia Clardy has been delivering training programs for more than 25 years. Her background is in Human Factored Instructional Design, Training Delivery and Project Management. Her training projects have included Harley Davidson, DHL, PNC Bank, and Bank of America to name a few. She has been delivering web-based trainings for over 10 years. Alesia is also the founder and CEO of Focused Attention, an organization that selects team members to handle the VIP Guests at large fan based conventions. Lately she has been working on a startup project to bring fan- based events into the Virtual Worlds. Mrs. Clardy was born in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and now lives were Lewis and Clark started their expedition in historic St. Charles, MO with her husband. She likes to spend time build and create things virtually or playing video games when she isn’t delivering training content, unless it’s the Summer when she can be found Kayaking and camping on the rivers and streams of the Ozarks.

Len Guenther has been with the FAA for eight years, previously holding training positions at other government agencies and the private sector. Len currently works in the Office of Career & Leadership Development (AHD), providing FAA employees with opportunities to learn and grow personally and professionally. Len manages the CDO and SkillSoft programs and is an admin for the eLMS.

I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Marc Galeski and  I am the Collaboration Team Manager for Organizational Effectiveness.  My air traffic control career began in 1996 as an Air Traffic Controller at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, TX. I spent 4 years in Wichita Falls and worked in both the Tower and the Radar Approach Control (RAPCON). Immediately following my enlistment in the United States Air Force, I entered the Minneapolis Air Route Traffic Control (MARC) program in Eden Prairie, MN. The training I received at the MARC school led to my career with the FAA. I was hired on September 9th, 2001 just two days prior to 9/11, at Kansas City Air Route Traffic Control Center (ZKC), in Olathe, KS. As an employee at ZKC, I have served as an Air Traffic Controller, Operational Supervisor, Operations Manager, and Traffic Management Officer. In February 2017, I accepted a Promotion to Air Traffic Manager at Kansas City International Airport (MCI). I served in the role of Air Traffic Manager at MCI until September 2019, when I was selected as Assistant General Manager for the Kansas City District.  In September 2022 I was selected as the Team Manager for the Collaboration Program in the office of Organizational Effectiveness.  My current role has created new challenges and offered a different perspective.  As I now work for Management Services and the focus has shifted significantly from my previous experience in the Operational arm of the ATO.  I think the best part of my job is working with people to influence the ATO.  I believe when we focus on the people we serve and provide support to those people we make a difference.

Facilities: ZKC, MCI, Kansas City District, AJG

Fun/Interesting Facts: On a personal note, I have two children my son, Hayden is 18 years old and in the 12th grade. My daughter, Brooke is 19 years old and is a Freshman at Drury University.  They are my constant reminder of how important the job is that we do. In addition to my children, I also have a blended family.  My girlfriend Angie has two teenage boys, Conner, 18 and Nathan is 16. Our family is rounded out by our 2-year-old bulldog named Mimosa. We stay busy with bowling, track, and lacrosse. Our lifestyle is busy and active and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Jeremy Hodess is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker based in St. Louis, MO with over 20 years experience in behavioral health. He began his career working in a residential program for runaway and homeless youth and offering counseling services to youth and families referred from the juvenile courts. Jeremy also has experience in hospital settings having worked in an acute psychiatric unit and a hospital-based program for the treatment of addiction to alcohol and other drugs. Currently, Jeremy has a private practice where he offers therapy via telehealth to clients in Colorado, Massachusetts and Missouri. Since 2016, Jeremy has also facilitated health and wellness training events to individuals and leaders in a variety of industries, including corporate, government and non-profit sectors.

Dr. Kory Krucher, has focused his entire career on helping employers improve the overall health and wellbeing of their employees and family members. After receiving his Ph.D. in counseling, he went to work for Magellan Healthcare where he has led both clinical operations and customer success teams. In these roles, Dr. Krucher has conducted training for numerous employer groups. His experience providing direct counseling services and delivering health and wellness training to employer leadership teams and employees makes him a great fit for our presentation today. 

Alesia Clardy has been delivering training programs for more than 25 years. Her background is in Human Factored Instructional Design, Training Delivery and Project Management. Her training projects have included Harley Davidson, DHL, PNC Bank, and Bank of America to name a few. She has been delivering web-based trainings for over 10 years. Alesia is also the founder and CEO of Focused Attention, an organization that selects team members to handle the VIP Guests at large fan based conventions. Lately she has been working on a startup project to bring fan- based events into the Virtual Worlds. Mrs. Clardy was born in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and now lives were Lewis and Clark started their expedition in historic St. Charles, MO with her husband. She likes to spend time build and create things virtually or playing video games when she isn’t delivering training content, unless it’s the Summer when she can be found Kayaking and camping on the rivers and streams of the Ozarks.

Ms. Carter currently serves as a Senior Instructional Designer for the Learning Solutions Team (LST) within the Office of Career and Leadership Development (AHD). In this capacity, she leads the design and delivery of several competency-based workshops, teambuilding activities, and professional development events purposed to enhance employee on-the-job performance and potential.

Tiffany holds a Master of Science degree in Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning from Boise State University and a graduate certificate in Executive and Professional Coaching from the University of Texas at Dallas. She has also earned the Associate Certified Coach (ACC) accreditation from the International Coaching Federation (ICF).

Prior to joining FAA in 2023, Ms. Carter served as a Program Manager at the Department of Defense where she led the work of equipping the next generation of entry-level and emerging civilian leaders from GS grades 7-12 with the “power skills” needed to thrive in today’s government, helped enterprise Talent Development programs use data to tell compelling stories of success, served as a leadership coach to both current and up-and-coming Federal leaders, and partnered with coaching subject matter experts in the federal enterprise to build the infrastructure needed to establish a sustainable culture of coaching. Her work was recognized with the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) Group Achievement Award and the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service.

A proud Veteran of the United States Army, Tiffany’s work is dedicated to the memory and legacy of her dearly departed parents, JoAnn, a former federal employee, and LaRoi, a distinguished FAA Air Traffic Controller, Tower Manager, and Quality Assurance Specialist.

Dara Dozier manages the Learning Solutions Team in the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Office of Career and Leadership Development. In this role, she leads a team to develop and deliver short courses and workshops to help build high-performing teams and Core and Leadership Competencies across the FAA.

Dara holds a doctorate in Educational Foundations, Leadership, and Technology and a master’s degree in English Education, both from Auburn University, and a bachelor’s degree in English from Emory University.

She began her professional career as a middle school English teacher and has since held various positions leveraging her passion for learning, technology, leadership, and strategic communication.

Prior to joining FAA in 2022, Dara was the senior Training and Development Specialist at the U.S. Patent Office. In her 10 years there, she led efforts to provide management training and leadership development for the geographically disbursed Patent Examination Corps, pioneering new methods for virtual delivery of training and development. She also facilitated executive and organizational development activities.

Dara has also served the U.S. Department of State as Director of Office Management Training and Deputy Director of Public Diplomacy Training. As an Army civilian, Dara led a team to revise the Senior ROTC leadership development curriculum taught at universities nationwide. Other previous experience includes leading a distance learning initiative at the U.S. Army Infantry School and serving as Public Relations Director and Writing Instructor at a technical college

Michael Shonrock serves as the Director of the Federal Executive Institute (FEI) and has previously served as the FEI Dean of Faculty, FEI Supervisory Faculty, and FEI Senior Faculty Member for the Center for Leadership Development (CLD) within the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM).

Before joining the Center for Leadership Development and Federal Executive Institute in October 2019, Michael has served over 30+ years in private and public higher education having served as the president of a private university, the  president of a public regional university, and the senior vice president at a research university along with serving as a senior faculty member for doctoral and masters in the schools of business and education.

Michael has served as a faculty member for the FEI Leadership for a Democratic Society (LDS) programs, the convenor for the SES Leading EDGE programs, the facilitator for the OPM Aspiring SES Lunch & Learn Webinars, and a co-coordinator for the new political Appointee Leadership Development Journey micro-learning series, assisted with numerous custom and open enrollment leadership development programs, along with executive coaching for senior leaders (GS-15’s and SES’s) within federal agencies.

Michael has chaired numerous national, state, and local boards of directors and has established multiple public-private partnerships with state and local governments. He has led the development of university and community strategic plans, has served as a senior leadership consultant for business and education, and has keynoted national and state professional association conferences.

Michael received his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree from the University of Kansas, his Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) degree from Pittsburg State University, and his Master of Science (MS) and Bachelor of Science (BS) degrees from Western Illinois University. Michael is also a graduate of Harvard University’s Institute for Educational Management (IEM).

Kathy Jo Pollack is a certified Life Coach and professional trainer who holds a bachelor’s degree in human resources and a master’s degree in organizational leadership. She has over 20 years of professional work and training experience and is a trainer at Magellan Health.

Ms. Bisa Cunningham began her tenure as the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Deputy Assistant Administrator for Human Resource Management (AHR-2) on October 8, 2023. In this role, she provides Executive leadership for developing, managing, implementing, and evaluating the agency's human resource management strategies and national programs necessary to ensure the agency's mission accomplishment. She supports the Assistant Administrator for Human Resource Management in the oversight of human capital planning, talent acquisition, career and leadership development, total rewards and worklife programs, policy, operations, and labor and employee relations programs to support approximately 45,000 employees.

Prior to joining the FAA, she served as the Deputy Director for the Office of Human Resources (OHR), United States Capitol Police (USCP). As the OHR Deputy Director, Bisa led a team of professionals providing the full range of human resources operations/management services and consultation in support of USCP’s mission.

Bisa has held many leadership positions in the areas of human resources; equal employment opportunity/diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility; and quality assurance programs for small, medium, and large private, state, and federal entities. Her leadership portfolio includes serving as the Labor Relations Director at the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority; the Director for Quality Assurance and Enterprise Operations for the Office of Field Operations at U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Diversity Officer/ Director for Diversity, Recruitment, and Employee Services at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; and the Human Capital Director at the U.S. Department of State, Office of Inspector General. Bisa is a member of the District of Columbia Bar and holds a Juris Doctor from the American University Washington College of Law, a Master of Public Administration from the New York University Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Miami. Bisa also holds the following human resources certifications: a) Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and b) Society for Human Resources Management Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). Bisa is also a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute.

Micah Campbell serves as the Executive Director (A) of theFederal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Office of UnmannedAircraft Systems (UAS) and Emerging Entrants Security, whichis the FAA’s lead organization responsible for drone andAdvanced Air Mobility (AAM) security in U.S. airspace. Mr.Campbell leads FAA’s efforts to safely integrate detection andmitigation systems for drones and AAM operations in theNational Airspace System (NAS) and supports UAS securityrelatedrulemaking, research and development, policyformulation, education and outreach, and data management.Prior to joining the Office of UAS & Emerging Entrants Security, Mr. Campbell served as theDeputy Director for Aircraft Certification Service (AIR) Enterprise Business Operations in theFAA’s Aviation Safety (AVS) Line of Business where he was responsible for administrative andtechnical direction of business program activities supporting 1,500 personnel across nine AIRdivisions and offices conducting aircraft certification and manufacturing oversight activities.

Mr. Campbell began his public service as an airman in the U.S. Air Force. After serving onactive duty, he transitioned to the Air National Guard and later retired from the Air ForceReserve. Following his active-duty commitment, Mr. Campbell joined the FAA as an ElectronicsTechnician at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center and later became an Electronic Engineer Instructor at the FAA Academy.Mr. Campbell has held multiple positions including, FAA Academy Environmental Section Manager, Air Traffic Organization (ATO) Navigation and Communications Training Team Manager, ATO Technical Operations Training Group Manager, ATO Safety and Technical Training Service Unit Senior Technical Advisor, and AVS Office of Accident Investigation and Prevention Senior Advisor.

Mr. Campbell holds a Bachelor of Science in Technical Management and a Master of Science in Engineering Management with a concentration in Project Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Additionally, he completed senior leadership development through the Office of Personnel Management - Federal Executive Institute, and Harvard University -National Preparedness Leadership Initiative.

Amy Gusky is currently the Acting Director of Enterprise Services in the Program Management Organization (PMO).  In this role, she oversees the acquisition, implementation, and execution of the systems and services that tie ground systems and aircraft together through communications, navigation, weather, data communications, aeronautical information, and unmanned aircraft systems. 

Previously, Amy was the Acting Director of Integrated Services and Analysis in the PMO.  In this role, she was responsible for providing superior customer service, wide-ranging expertise, and practical solutions to enable the successful implementation and sustainment of NAS and Mission Support programs. The Directorate also provides one-stop shopping for resource management services; acquisition support; program health management; and planning, analysis, and integration support for PMO programs.  She also served for many years on the Capital Investment Team, providing strategic advice to the agency and Joint Resources Council on Facilities and Equipment budget formulation and funding recommendations.   

As Director of Surveillance Services, she oversaw the development, implementation, deployment, and sustainment of the surveillance programs and technologies used to maintain aircraft separation in the National Airspace System.  As Director, Amy had direct line authority over three (3) groups with a combined staff of approximately 70 employees and approximately 200 support contractors, and managed a budget of approximately $250M in annual appropriations. Prior to joining Surveillance Services in a permanent capacity in May 2023, Amy served as the Acting Director and Deputy Director of Surveillance Services since September 2021.

Prior to Surveillance Services, Amy spent six months as the PMO’s Acting Deputy Vice President, leading more than 1,000 federal employees responsible for managing a complex portfolio of programs supporting the NAS, with a $1.5B F&E and $1B Operations budget. In this role, she provided strategic guidance for major acquisition programs and the PMO’s organizational structure. Prior to these positions, Amy served as the Acting Deputy Director of Enterprise Services, where she played a critical role in developing investment analysis and acquisition strategy resulting in multiple successful JRC decisions.

Amy began her PMO tenure serving as the Senior Advisor to the PMO’s Vice President. In this role, she served as the primary point of contact for incoming requests from internal and external oversight entities. She also served as the PMO’s Acting Director of Program Control and Integration (now AJM-1). Prior to joining the PMO, Amy worked with the FAA’s Investment Planning and Analysis (IP&A) organization as a Business Case Analyst with the lead on a number of NextGen programs, and later as Manager of the Business Case Group.

Amy also has extensive experience in the private sector financial industry. Prior to joining the FAA, she served as Vice President at Freeport Financial in Chicago, Illinois, where she provided leveraged finance solutions to middle-market companies with private equity ownership. She also worked in the Global Sponsor Finance Group at GE Capital, where she financed leveraged buyout transactions. Amy began her career with Arthur Andersen in both the Transaction Advisory Services and Litigation Services groups

Education, Certifications, and Awards

Level 1 Program/Project Management certified

Federal Executive Institute, Leadership for a Democratic Society                

University of Michigan, Stephen M. Ross School of Business, Ann Arbor, MI.  Master of Business Administration, Emphases in Finance and Corporate Strategy.

University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA. Bachelor of Arts, Major in Economics, Minor in History

Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charter holder since 2001

Professional Associations

• CFA Society of Washington, DC
• CFA Institute

Heather Fernuik Petrenko serves as the Federal Aviation Administrator’s Executive Director of HR Services, overseeing recruitment, staffing, benefits, student programs and other people services to a nationwide workforce of nearly 46,000.

In 13 years, Heather’s advanced DOT’s and FAA’s mission in a variety of capacities, including as: Director, Airports, Northwest Mountain Region, delivering the nation’s first grants for pandemic-aid relief within a $1.5bln portfolio with 345 airports in seven states; Acting Assistant Administrator for Human Resource Management, formulating a strategy for sustainable funding and expanded hiring capabilities for FAA’s Minority Serving Institutions Program and raising FAA’s minimum wage to over $15/hour; Acting Service Center Director, responsible for support to the Eastern third of U.S. airspace and Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs, where she led several Secretarial and White House initiatives within the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and represented the Department of Transportation on the Presidential Task Force for Equal Pay.

Prior to FAA, Heather was fortunate to work with legislators on Ukraine’s successful World Trade Organization bid and to lead large-scale institution-building, development and infrastructure projects in over 40 countries. Heather holds degrees from Brigham Young (Music) and Georgetown (Russian & East European Studies) Universities, as well as numerous professional certifications and is fluent in several foreign languages.

Rob Burrough is the Regional Director for the Eastern Region, Office of Pipeline Safety, within the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration in West Trenton, NJ and serves as a senior leader in pipeline safety for the U.S. Department of Transportation. Before his promotion to director in 2017, Rob served as an Operations Supervisor for the Eastern Region, supervising a cadre of PHMSA’s pipeline inspectors. Prior to May 2015, Rob was a pipeline inspector for PHMSA’s Eastern Region, providing pipeline safety oversight throughout the Eastern Region’s 15 states.

Rob was a member of the first PHMSA Advanced Leadership Development Program. He also received the 2019 Diversity Champion Award at the annual PHMSA Administrator’s Award Ceremony.

Rob has over 12 years of prior experience in the hazardous liquid industry relating to design engineering.

Rob is a Mechanical Engineering graduate of Lafayette College, Easton, PA.

Julie Dunn has almost 25 years of federal service. Before joining the FAA in 2014, she spent 14 years with the Department of Defense in roles such as Budget Analyst, Executive Officer, and Operations Officer. Her time with the FAA has primarily been spent in Human Resources. She began as a Supervisory HR Specialist in the Benefits Operations Center and has served as the National FAA Telework Program Manager and Voluntary Leave Bank Program Manager, after launching the program in 2021. She currently serves as the Acting Division Director, of WorkLife. Julie earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from Kansas State University and has 24 hours of post graduate study from Washburn University School of Law and the Naval Post Graduate School. She is FAC COR III certified and obtained her PMP certification in December of 2020. While she is passionate about her career, her favorite “job” has been “mom.” She lives in Kansas City, MO with her 23 year-old daughter, Zoe.

Joy Washington is the acting Director of Human Capital Programs in the Office of Human Resource Services. In this role, she oversees FAA Strategic Workforce Planning, Corporate Recruitment, FAA Structured Interviewing, Corporate Onboarding, Internship Programs, Competency Modeling & Skills Gap Analysis, and the Veterans Employment Program. Joy has been a Federal Employee for 5 and a half years after serving 25 years as an FAA contractor.

Dominique A. Wallace is the Executive Director of the Office of Business & Mission Services for the Security & Hazardous Materials Safety (ASH) organization. As the Director, she is responsible for providing executive direction and leadership over ASH's business and mission support program areas. Mrs. Wallace exercises executive and program direction over the Finance and Budget Division, Learning and Talent Development Division, Workforce Services Division, Business Services and Security Solutions Division, and the Organizational Effectiveness Team.

Mrs. Wallace has served the Federal Aviation Administration since 1996, and ASH since 2005. Mrs. Wallace has in-depth knowledge of the FAA's programs assigned to the Office of Business & Mission Services and is able to successfully articulate and implement strategic visions for addressing program and workforce challenges.

Mrs. Wallace is a proud graduate of Howard University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree. As an alumna of a Historically Black College/University (HBCU), it was natural for her to be a champion for all things related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.

Mrs. Wallace’s membership in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated further demonstrates her commitment to public service. She is proud to serve as a mentor for women developing themselves and looking to advance their careers into executive roles such as her own. Mrs. Wallace is also a proud wife and mother.

Stacy McDaniel is the Associate Director of HR Systems in the Departmental Office of Human Resources Management.  She oversees many of the HR Systems that are used Department-wide and also has a team that handles all Department-wide HR reporting and data analytics.  Stacy is new to the DOT as of May 2023.  Previously, she was the HR Systems Branch Chief at the US Patent and Trademark Office.  She worked at the USPTO for 15 years and prior to that she worked in the private sector in HR Systems for more than 10 years.

Laura is a Human Resources (HR) leader and diversity, equity, and inclusion champion with education and over 18 years of experience formulating, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating Human Capital programs and activities. In her current role with the Department of Transportation (DOT), Departmental Office of Human Resource Management, Laura serves as the Associate Director for HR Policy and Oversight. She leads a team responsible for developing and implementing department-wide HR policies and evaluating DOT’s Human Capital programs and systems.

In her previous role, Laura served as an Office of Human Resources Division Chief with the DOT Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), where she led the development, implementation, and administration of HR information systems, workforce data analysis initiatives, HR policies, HR accountability programs, and the Agency’s workforce and succession planning efforts. Accomplishments include leading efforts to develop and implement FHWA’s Future of Work strategy and framework, creating and implementing the Hot Off the HR Desk webinar series, and leading various HR modernization efforts.

Laura also served as the FHWA Diversity Management Committee’s (DMC) Diversity Program Manager, responsible for developing, implementing, measuring, and evaluating the effectiveness of cross-organizational and multi-level programs and initiatives that foster a diverse and inclusive organizational environment. In 2018, the Secretary of Transportation awarded her the Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Award for her commitment to fostering an inclusive environment and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the Federal Highway Administration.

Laura holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Studies from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus.

Ms. Carter currently serves as a Senior Instructional Designer for the Learning Solutions Team (LST) within the Office of Career and Leadership Development (AHD). In this capacity, she leads the design and delivery of several competency-based workshops, teambuilding activities, and professional development events purposed to enhance employee on-the-job performance and potential.

Tiffany holds a Master of Science degree in Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning from Boise State University and a graduate certificate in Executive and Professional Coaching from the University of Texas at Dallas. She has also earned the Associate Certified Coach (ACC) accreditation from the International Coaching Federation (ICF).

Prior to joining FAA in 2023, Ms. Carter served as a Program Manager at the Department of Defense where she led the work of equipping the next generation of entry-level and emerging civilian leaders from GS grades 7-12 with the “power skills” needed to thrive in today’s government, helped enterprise Talent Development programs use data to tell compelling stories of success, served as a leadership coach to both current and up-and-coming Federal leaders, and partnered with coaching subject matter experts in the federal enterprise to build the infrastructure needed to establish a sustainable culture of coaching. Her work was recognized with the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) Group Achievement Award and the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service.

A proud Veteran of the United States Army, Tiffany’s work is dedicated to the memory and legacy of her dearly departed parents, JoAnn, a former federal employee, and LaRoi, a distinguished FAA Air Traffic Controller, Tower Manager, and Quality Assurance Specialist.

David L. Sweeney is a seasoned professional with over 26 years of dedicated federal service, currently holding the position of Associate Director for Human Capital Planning and Solutions / Chief Learning Officer in the Office of the Secretary at the Department of Transportation (DOT). His extensive career encompasses significant roles where he has demonstrated leadership in human capital / resources management, strategic planning, and policy implementation across various federal agencies. David's journey in federal service began at the Department of Defense, where he specialized in wage and salary data collection, enhancing operational efficiencies through technological advancements. His expertise led him to influential roles at the Office of Personnel Management, Department of Treasury and later at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, where he managed significant human capital programs, focusing on workforce planning and succession planning initiatives. In his role at the Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration, David excelled as the Director of Human Resources Office, where he managed complex human capital management programs designed to support the agency’s strategic goals. His leadership was instrumental in aligning workforce planning with organizational objectives, significantly improving employee engagement and operational effectiveness. Since 2018, David has been pivotal at the DOT’s Office of the Secretary, first as a Human Capital Program Manager and now in his current dual role. He is responsible for leading all major HR functions and providing strategic advice on human capital management to senior leadership. His work involves critical auditing of human resources programs, developing and implementing strategic workforce plans, and enhancing leadership development frameworks. Under his guidance, his teams have successfully introduced innovative HR efficiencies and fostered a strong culture of talent development and employee engagement across the department. David’s educational background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Business with a minor in Human Resources from Southern New Hampshire University. He is also a member of the Delta Mu Delta National Honor Society, reflecting his commitment to academic excellence and professional development. Recognized for his exemplary service, David has received numerous awards, including the Director's Award for Excellence from the Office of Personnel Management, and multiple accolades from the Department of Transportation including the Secretary’s Award for his impactful contributions. David continues to serve as a key figure in shaping the human capital landscape within the federal government, ensuring that HR strategies not only meet the current needs but also anticipate future challenges in public administration.

Adrienne Young manages the Learning and Development Branch in the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Office of Commercial Space Transportation. In this role, she is responsible for developing and delivering technical and non-technical training for AST employees.

Adrienne has an impressive educational background, completing her Executive Master's in Business Administration at Duquesne University. She also holds a Bachelor's degree in Legal Studies and a Master of Science in Instructional Design from National University. Adrienne began her career in the Armed Services and has since worked in various roles within the Department of Defense. Her primary area of expertise is developing and implementing cutting-edge training programs.

Adrienne is an accomplished professional with a formidable track record in creating and executing well-designed training programs for FAA staff, managers, and executives. She has previously served as a Manager in the Office of Career and Leadership Development, where she spearheaded training delivery to a diverse cohort of over 5,000 front-line, middle, and senior managers. In her capacity, she was tasked with organizing and leading training programs, ensuring that they catered to the audience's needs and were delivered engagingly and effectively. Furthermore, she delivered FAA-wide leadership development programs such as the Aspiring Manager, Aspiring Senior Manager, and Executive programs. Her expertise in this field has helped numerous individuals acquire the skills and knowledge they need to flourish in their roles.

Dara Dozier manages the Learning Solutions Team in the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Office of Career and Leadership Development. In this role, she leads a team to develop and deliver short courses and workshops to help build high-performing teams and Core and Leadership Competencies across the FAA.

Dara holds a doctorate in Educational Foundations, Leadership, and Technology and a master’s degree in English Education, both from Auburn University, and a bachelor’s degree in English from Emory University.

She began her professional career as a middle school English teacher and has since held various positions leveraging her passion for learning, technology, leadership, and strategic communication.

Prior to joining FAA in 2022, Dara was the senior Training and Development Specialist at the U.S. Patent Office. In her 10 years there, she led efforts to provide management training and leadership development for the geographically disbursed Patent Examination Corps, pioneering new methods for virtual delivery of training and development. She also facilitated executive and organizational development activities.

Dara has also served the U.S. Department of State as Director of Office Management Training and Deputy Director of Public Diplomacy Training. As an Army civilian, Dara led a team to revise the Senior ROTC leadership development curriculum taught at universities nationwide. Other previous experience includes leading a distance learning initiative at the U.S. Army Infantry School and serving as Public Relations Director and Writing Instructor at a technical college

Emily N. Reichel is the Manager of the Design and Development Team in the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Office of Career and Leadership Development (AHD). In this role, she leads a team of instructional designers, training specialists, and program managers who develop courses and programs to train managers and build leadership bench strength across the FAA. She enjoys playing an integral part in helping people develop leadership skills via the FAA’s mandatory and elective training courses for managers (formerly known as FLLI), and the FAA-wide programs for Aspiring Managers (AMP) and Aspiring Senior Managers (ASMP).

Emily began her FAA federal career in the ATO as a Writer-Editor in 2006 and has since worked in various roles within the agency, learning and expanding her skillset in multiple ways. Prior to joining AHD in 2021, Emily was a Program Manager in the ATO’s Employee Development Group. In her seven years there, she led the creation and implementation of a competitive and national ATO-wide succession planning and leadership development program for FAA managers (ATO Succession Planning Program) and managed the well-regarded program for aspiring Technical Operations frontline managers (TOLDP). She also worked in ATO Organizational Effectiveness where she provided analytical and staff support and served as a contract representative.

Emily holds a master’s degree in Organizational Management from Trinity Washington University, and a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Boston University.

Leslie McBroom is currently the Area Director – North for the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Human Resource Services Division. In this capacity, she oversees the management of HR services in seven FAA Regions (Alaskan, Northwest Mountain, Great Lakes, Central, New England, Eastern, and the Technical Center). She began her career with the FAA in May 2014 as the Northwest Mountain Region’s HR Director.

Ms. McBroom’s experience includes administering and overseeing a range of human resources programs and operations including recruitment and staffing, classification, benefits and retirement, workers’ compensation, employee relations, incentive awards, work-life, HR automation and reporting, and performance management. Her career chronology prior to joining FAA includes:

· November 2011 – May 2014: Chief, Human Resources Policy Branch

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development

Washington, D.C.

· January 2008 – November 2011: Supervisory Human Resources Specialist

January 2010 through January 2011, served as Acting Assistant Director of Administration

U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of the Solicitor

Washington, D.C.

· September 2006 – January 2008: Human Capital Manager

U.S. Government Publishing Office

Washington, D.C.

· May 1998 – September 2006: Senior Human Resources Specialist

U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General

Washington, D.C.

· July 1994 – May 1998: Management and Program Analyst

U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General

Aviation Audits/Inspections and Evaluations

Washington, D.C.

· November 1991 – July 1994: Human Resources Specialist

U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General

Washington, D.C.

Ms. McBroom has participated in several leadership and related courses through organizations including the Federal Aviation Leadership and Learning Institute, the Human Capital Institute, and the American Management Association. Ms. McBroom has an Associate’s Degree in Management Development from the College of Southern Maryland.

Lissette Castillo serves as the FAA Great Lakes Employment Service Manager. With over 15 years of professional human resource experience and two years in management, she possesses a comprehensive understanding of various programs aimed at facilitating recruitment, placement, and retention of talented individuals. Lissette’s responsibilities include oversight on the planning, development, and execution of various employment programs including merit promotion, internal placement, special placement programs, and qualification determinations. Additionally, she provides direct supervision and technical guidance to her team of 8 HR Specialists and 2 HR assistants. Through Lissette’s leadership she ensures that her team delivers excellent customer service through strategic consultations on recruitment, staffing, and compensation.

Deidra Mitchell currently serves as the Employment Services Manager of the Western-Pacific Region’s Human Resource Services Division (AWP HRSD).

She began her career with the FAA as an HR Clerk in December 1988. She progressed through various positions including Lead, HR Specialist, before becoming an HR Manager.

She has served on several interview panels during her career, which includes serving as the lead on many panels.

She also holds a BA degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Public Personnel Management.

Robin Syba, a native of Oklahoma, attended the University of Oklahoma, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in zoology and a Master’s degree in public administration.  She is a retired Captain from the Navy Reserves.  Her last command was at Navy Personnel Command as Commanding Officer of the supporting Reserve Unit, leading over 200 enlisted and officer personnel.  Robin is the Director of the Human Resources Shared Services Center (SSC) with offices in Atlanta, Georgia and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  The SSC provides personnel transactional processing support, payroll liaison support and records management for over 45,000 FAA employees.

Mike is an experienced public servant with 17 years of federal service. He has worked across four administrations at six agencies including Peace Corps, the Department of State, US Agency for International Development, the Corporation for National and Community Service, FDA, and USDA. His skill set includes digital communications, accessibility, brand management, content strategy, visual design, and media relations. He recently served as Senior Communications Manager for USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) where he led digital operations, performance management, and accessibility initiatives. His current role is the Digital Communications Branch Manager for the Strategic Communications Division in AHR.

Peter serves as the Manager of the Policy Branch of UAS and Emerging Entrants Security at the Federal Aviation Administration, where he leads regulatory and legislative review efforts relating to emerging entrants security. Previously, he served at the White House in the Executive Office of the President as the aerospace and transportation policy advisor on the Domestic Policy Council. He also served as Senior Advisor to the FAA Administrator and Deputy Administrator, and also as Legislative Counsel in the United States Congress.

Peter holds a Juris Doctor degree with a focus on administrative law. He was Managing Editor of the Administrative Law Review and served on the founding Executive Board of the National Security Law Brief, currently serving on its Graduate Advisory Board.

Peter is a licensed private pilot and started flying lessons at age nine, igniting a lifelong passion for aviation. Licensed to practice law in the District of Columbia, Peter is a member of the American Bar Association’s Forum on Air and Space Law and the Drone Law Committee. He is an avid pianist, an amateur radio technician, and performs pro bono legal work for the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless. Peter and his wife and two children live in Virginia.

Ben serves as the Front-Line Manager for the Louisville Flight Standards Office (FSDO) at the Federal Aviation Administration, where he leads the Operations Unit. Previously, he served as a Principal Operations Inspector and trainer for the Greensboro FSDO. He also served as a Principal Operations Inspector and trainer for the Las Vegas FSDO. Prior to joining the FAA, Ben was a manager of various Flight Schools in Phoenix, AZ and Las Vegas, NV. He also was a special authorization instructor for the CAA out of the United Kingdom as well as the LBA out of Germany. Ben is a licensed commercial pilot and started flying with through a program in the Experimental Aircraft Association while in the 8th grade. He lives with his wife and three kids in Louisville, KY.

Karna Bryan is a Senior Data Scientist in FAA’s Aircraft Certification Service (AIR) developing capability for Aviation Safety Engineers to perform data-driven continued operational oversight. She works on a team developing the Analyze Safety Performance Insights Results Environment (ASPIRE) which is a cloud-based platform where custom user-facing applications are directly integrated with data sources and analytic tools for decision making. She performs data integration, data analysis, data science, and end-user application development on the ASPIRE platform. ASPIRE maintains a curated source of truth for aircraft, safety events, and flights that are combined to provide utilization-based fleet analyses, as well as artificial intelligent backed workflows including large quantities of unstructured data.

Before coming to the FAA, Karna was an Operations Research Analyst at Volpe, the National Transportation Center in the Aviation Safety Management Systems Division. She led an effort to develop a risk-based prioritization index for Aviation Safety Inspectors in the Flight Standards Safety Assurance System (SAS). She also worked on data-based inspector staffing models and machine learning and natural language processing projects for the Department of Transportation.

Before her federal service, Karna worked for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Science and Technology Organization in La Spezia, Italy for eighteen years. She was Program Manager of the Maritime Security Program at the NATO Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE) and managed projects examining the role of future technologies for enhanced Maritime Situational Awareness/Maritime Domain Awareness and support to Maritime Security Operations. These projects developed techniques to automate and extract useful information from data with a focus on multi-sensor data fusion and anomaly detection to achieve a greater understanding of traffic in the maritime environment and to detect threats at sea. She also developed prototype software and risk-assessment methodologies for Naval Mine Warfare Countermeasures and Anti-Submarine Warfare. She holds a Master’s degree in Statistics from Yale University and a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is currently completing a Ph.D. in Data Science from National University.

Glorimar Maldonado is the Diversity Officer for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, a bureau of the U.S. Department of Commerce, located in Alexandria, VA. In this role, the first of its kind for the Agency, she provides policy review, technical guidance, data-driven analyses, and strategic leadership for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) programs and initiatives to recruit, retain, engage and develop a prepared, diverse and sustainable workforce. Further, as an instructor, she conducts employment and professional/leadership development workshops for federal and national stakeholders and K-12 activities that promote careers in mathematics and the sciences. From 2021-2023, Ms. Maldonado was the chair of the National Council of Hispanic Employment Program Managers (NCHEPM), an organization that, for more than 25 years, has worked to empower and assist Hispanic Employment Program Managers and other DEIA practitioners in building coalitions and networks to enhance the recruitment, development and retention of Hispanics in the federal workforce. In this role she led programs and initiatives to inform the work of these practitioners, thereby improving the sustainability and overall success of the work they undertake. Previously, Ms. Maldonado was the Interim Deputy Director for Talent Acquisition and the first-ever and first Latina Chief Recruitment Officer for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In this role, she developed, reviewed and implemented policies, programs and initiatives to streamline and improve federal hiring and retention practices, implement robust diversity recruitment practices, and promote DEIA in the workforce. Ms. Maldonado has also been a senior advisor for the Strategic Programs Office at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where she developed, implemented and managed Hispanic recruitment and outreach programs and initiatives. Additionally, prior to joining the CDC, she was the chief of staff for the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics. In this role, she supervised the daily operations of the office, including strategic planning, social media campaigns, management of staff, and the development and implementation of Presidential outreach programs. Ms. Maldonado holds a B.A. in English, history and psychology and an M.S in leadership

Kathy Jo Pollack is a certified Life Coach and professional trainer who holds a bachelor’s degree in human resources and a master’s degree in organizational leadership. She has over 20 years of professional work and training experience and is a trainer at Magellan Health.

Kelly Finzer is a Senior Account Director at LinkedIn and supports federal government customers across their talent lifecycle strategy. She connects with customers to understand their priorities for talent, from building awareness with potential candidates throughout the hiring process and the professional development that empowers internal mobility. Kelly listens closely to her customers to understand where their strategy is today and their vision for the future. In partnership we craft a comprehensive strategy to reach those goals.

Kelly lives in Chicago and loves running, ballet, and reading.