The Boeing Center for Aviation and Aerospace Safety

Robert Sumwalt is the Executive Director of the Center. He also holds appointments of Distinguished Fellow in Aviation Safety and Associate Professor at Embry-Riddle.

Previously, Sumwalt was appointed by three U.S. presidents and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate on four occasions to serve on the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). During his 15 years as NTSB Board Member, he served as chairman for four years and a two-year stint as vice chairman. Sumwalt has five decades of aviation experience.

Additionally, Sumwalt served as a research consultant to NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS), and he has published more than 100 articles and papers about aviation safety-related issues. He holds a master's degree in Aeronautical Science, with distinction, from Embry-Riddle with concentrations in aviation/aerospace safety systems and aviation human factors.

In 2017, the University of South Carolina conferred an honorary Doctor of Science to Sumwalt. The following year, he received an honorary doctorate from Embry-Riddle.

Sarah Ochs is the director of professional programs at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University on the Daytona Beach, Florida, campus. She has served as the director for over 14 years and has represented the university for nearly two decades.

Sarah has welcomed over 1,000 professionals from over 65 countries to open enrollment and customized contract courses that cover the scope of the aviation and aerospace industry. Under Sarah’s leadership, the offerings by Professional Programs have quadrupled and increased in diversity of subject area and modalities of learning.

Sarah’s passion for hospitality, continued learning and customer service serves her well as an ambassador for the university. Sarah holds a Master of Science in Management, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Education.

Dr. Kristy Kiernan is the Associate Director and COO of the Center. She is also an Associate Professor in the College of Aviation at Embry-Riddle’s Worldwide campus, and the program coordinator for the Master of Science in Aviation Safety degree.

A former Coast Guard aviator, Dr. Kiernan was an aviation safety officer, crew resource management instructor, and chief pilot for technical issues in the Falcon 20. Her current research investigates the positive contribution of human performance to aviation safety and the safety aspects of integrating uncrewed systems into the national airspace. She is a contributor to Forbes.com in the areas of aerospace and defense and serves as the curator of the World Economic Forum Drone Transformation Map.

She holds a B.S. in Neuroscience from Brown University, a Ph.D. in Aviation from Embry-Riddle, an airline transport pilot certificate with a Falcon type-rating, and a remote pilot certificate. Until recently, she was an actively flying commercial pilot, flying the SR-22 and TBM 850.

Brian Roggow serves as Associate Dean of the College of Aviation and the department chair for Safety Science at Embry-Riddle’s Prescott Campus. He has been instrumental in developing a Safety Management System and implementing an Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) as well as a Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) program.

As Director of Safety and ASAP ERC manager, he has investigated and analyzed more than 3,500 ASAP or confidential safety reports, using HFACS, WBAT, and Microsoft Excel and Access for analyses and production of figures/reports. He also analyzed more than 250,000 flight hours of instruction from G1000 flight data using Excel and Access, producing assurance and promotion outputs for leadership and instructional staff.

Brian is also a Commercial Pilot, Certified Flight Instructor, Administrative Pilot Examiner and a FAASTeam Lead Representative, having been recognized as the 2017 FAASTeam Representative of the year for Arizona and the Western Pacific region of the FAA. He is credentialed as a Certified International Safety Manager (CISM) by the International Society of Safety Professionals (ISSP), an Advanced Aviation Safety Officer by the Transportation Safety Institute (TSI) and a Certified HFACS Professional (CHP).

Brian has been an invitational speaker for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Transportation Safety Institute (TSI) since 2013, teaching the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) to audiences that include FAA inspectors, military personnel, and private sector safety personnel. He holds an A.A.S. in Administration of Justice, a B.S. in Aeronautical Science and an M.S. in Safety Science, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Aviation.

Dr. Becky Lutte is Chair of Graduate Studies and an Associate Professor in the College of Aviation at Embry-Riddle Worldwide. She conducts research on a variety of topics, such as safety policy and sustainability, with a primary focus on aviation workforce development and the outreach, recruitment and retention of women in aviation.

She has over 25 publications in a variety of academic journals, magazines and book submissions, as well as multiple presentations. Dr. Lutte has testified before the House and Senate on topics related to the aviation workforce and women in aviation.

Dr. Lutte was appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Transportation to the FAA Women in Aviation Advisory Board, which developed recommendations and strategies for the FAA and Congress to encourage women to pursue careers in aviation. She has also served on numerous boards, including the National Aeronautic Association.

Dr. Lutte is the recipient of the University Aviation Association (UAA) Sorenson Award for outstanding achievement of excellence in aviation research and scholarship, the UAA Laursen Award for outstanding contributions to aviation education, and the Ninety-Nines (99s) 2021 International Award of Achievement for Contributions to Aviation.

She is a former commuter pilot, active general aviation pilot and aircraft owner of an RV7 and RV10 experimental homebuilt aircraft.

Dr. Flavio Mendonca is a retired officer of the Brazilian Air Force (1986-2014), where he served as a pilot and a Flight Safety Officer. For nearly 13 years, he was assigned to the Brazilian Aeronautical Accidents Investigation and Prevention Center (CENIPA), acting as Investigator-in-Charge for numerous aircraft accidents and serious incidents involving commercial and military operations. He also contributed to the development of ICAO Annex 19 – Safety Management as an advisor to the ICAO Safety Management Panel.

Dr. Mendonca holds a Ph.D. from Purdue University, a master’s degree in Aviation Safety from the University of Central Missouri and a bachelor's degree in aviation management from the Brazilian Air Force Academy. An experienced aviator with approximately 4,000 flight hours, he holds a Brazilian Airline Transport Pilot License, along with FAA Commercial Pilot, Private Pilot and Advanced Ground Instructor certifications. Dr. Mendonca is an Associate Professor and researcher in the Aeronautical Science Department at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

His research focuses on aviation safety, with expertise in fatigue in aviation management, mental health in collegiate aviation and wildlife hazard mitigation. He co-developed the Collegiate Aviation Fatigue Inventory (CAFI-II) and a fatigue training module adopted by the FAA WINGS Program. He has led studies on UAS applications in Wildlife Hazard Assessments, collaborated with the ERAU Counseling Center on mental wellness initiatives and authored over 40 peer-reviewed journal articles, several of which were co-authored with or led by undergraduate and graduate students.

A dedicated mentor, he has guided student teams to national recognition in prestigious competitions, including Finalist in the 2021 FAA Smart Airport Student Competition, First and Second Place in the 2024 UAA Graduate Student Poster Competition, and First Place in the 2024 ACRP University Design Competition. He has delivered over 100 presentations at major conferences such as the Flight Safety Foundation International Aviation Safety Summit (IASS), the USA Bird Strike Committee Conference and the International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI), frequently showcasing student-led research. His mentorship plays a central role in fostering a research-driven culture that empowers the next generation of aviation safety professionals.

Rosa Biondi serves as the Administrative Operations Lead at the Center. Over her three years with BCAAS, she has become the trusted “go-to” professional for coordinating operations and ensuring projects and initiatives move forward efficiently across Embry-Riddle.

She brings nearly 30 years of experience spanning administrative leadership and highly technical project management roles within the financial services industry. Her extensive background in operations, organization, and cross-functional coordination has made her an invaluable resource for advancing the Center’s mission and supporting its day-to-day success.

Trevor holds a joint appointment as a research associate at the Boeing Center for Aviation and Aerospace Safety and an instructor in the Department of Aeronautical Science, where he teaches aviation legislation. He’s also a member of Embry‑Riddle’s Advanced Air Mobility Research and Innovation Lab and serves as co-chair of the College of Aviation’s Mental Health Committee.

Trevor’s academic work focuses on aviation legislation, regulation, and flight safety topics. He studies and writes about the relationship between aviation safety and the law, often in the context of governing new aviation technologies.

He earned a master’s degree in aviation, with distinction, and a bachelor’s degree in aeronautics, summa cum laude, from Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University.

Dr. Shelly Lesikar deZevallos, president of West Houston Airport, started sweeping hangars at eight years old at the privately owned, public-use FAA Reliever airport that her father, Woody Lesikar, developed into one of the busiest general aviation airports in the country with the oldest operating flight school in Houston, Texas. Shelly previously worked for Cessna Aircraft Company selling and demonstrating the piston aircraft line, as well as the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, advocating and working alongside policy decision-makers supporting the general aviation industry across the southwest.

As an active pilot with over 5,000 hours of flight time and an advocate of aviation and airport safety and workforce development, she was appointed to the United States Department of Transportation Safety Oversight and Certification Advisory Committee (SOCAC) in 2019. Currently, she is a board member of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) and Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA).

She earned her Bachelor of Arts undergraduate degree from the University of Texas, her EMBA from Texas A&M University and her Doctorate in Aviation and Space Science. She volunteers and does research with the National Academy of Sciences Transportation Research Board.

Shelly, her husband — also a pilot — and her twin daughters reside in Houston, Texas.

Mr. McVenes is the former president and CEO of RTCA, a public-private partnership venue for developing consensus standards in the aviation industry. Previously, he spent a decade at The Boeing Company, where he served as director of system safety and regulatory affairs.

He has a long history with aviation safety and standards, as he has served as a member and industry co-chair of the FAA Voluntary Aviation Safety Information Sharing (VASIS) Aviation Rulemaking Committee. He holds several type ratings and has logged over 17,000 flight hours in the past 30 years.

He has been a board member of Flight Safety Foundation with the Board of Governors, and a board member of the SKYbrary Supervisory Board.

Brad Elstad is the vice president of corporate safety, security and compliance at Republic Airways. He is responsible for administrating the overall safety and compliance posture of Republic’s fleet of 233 Embraer 170/175 jets, the company’s Safety Management System (SMS) and voluntary safety programs. Brad is also responsible for Department of Transportation (DOT) reporting and customer relations at its Indianapolis corporate headquarters.

Prior to joining Republic, Brad served as the director of safety and regulatory compliance at American Airlines’ wholly owned subsidiary PSA Airlines, initially with the air carrier’s System Operations Control, and concluding as the designated Part 119 safety officer and air operator security coordinator (AOSC) responsible for the air carrier’s compliance and safety program development.

On the national level, Brad has represented the regional airline industry by serving as both Chair and Co-Chair for the Regional Airline Association’s Safety Council. He has also instructed graduate-level aviation safety coursework through Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Worldwide campus.

Brad’s commitment to the aviation industry is reflected in his 28 years’ experience in various operational and safety leadership positions with several Part 121 air carriers, including Frontier Airlines, Midwest Airlines and Mokulele Airlines.

Brad holds a commercial, multi-engine pilot certificate, aircraft dispatcher and remote pilot certifications. He received his bachelor’s degree from St. Cloud State University and his Master of Aeronautical Science (with Distinction) degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, with concentrations in aviation management and aviation safety.

As President of Flight Operations, Captain Houston Mills is responsible for ensuring safe, reliable, and operational excellence of one of the world’s largest cargo airlines.  His team oversees all  UPS Flight Operations, Crewmembers, Dispatchers, Crew Scheduling, Crew Training, Crew Logistics, Contingency, Ground Services, and Flight Operations Regulatory Compliance.

Before assuming his current role, Houston served as UPS’s Global Aviation Strategy & Public Policy Director. In that capacity, he led the company’s engagement on federal and international aviation policy, working closely with global industry partners to harmonize aviation safety standards and sustainability frameworks. He also unified aviation strategy efforts across UPS to strengthen safety, reliability, and service for the company’s expanding global network.

Houston previously spent more than a decade as UPS’s Part 119 Director of Airline Safety and Compliance, overseeing Flight, Maintenance, and Ground Support safety programs, emergency response readiness, and regulatory engagement worldwide. Under his leadership, UPS became one of the first U.S. airlines to achieve a certified Safety Management System (SMS). His additional senior leadership roles include serving as UPS International Chief Pilot and Director of Flight Training, where he led the Advanced Qualification Program (AQP) for all crewmembers.

In 2024, Houston was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to the FAA Management Advisory Council (MAC), where he is one of thirteen industry executives advising the FAA Administrator on strategy, policy, and funding priorities. He also served eight years on the FAA Advanced Aviation Advisory Committee, including as Chairman, helping shape national strategy for Advanced Air Mobility and Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) integration into the National Airspace System. Houston serves on the Airspace Defense Board of Advisors, the Board of Governors of the Flight Safety Foundation, the Cargo Airline Association Board of Directors, and the Embry‑Riddle Center for Aviation/Aerospace Safety Advisory Board. His previous advisory roles include RTCA, the IATA Operations Advisory Council, and the Airlines for America (A4A) Safety and Operations Council.

A native of Indianapolis, Houston holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Wabash College, an MBA from Webster University, and an Honorary Doctor of Science from Vaughn College of Aeronautics & Technology. He also maintains a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification.

Houston began his aviation career in 1985 as a Marine Corps officer and F/A‑18 fighter pilot. A certified Air Combat Tactics Instructor (ACTI), he served in Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Restore Hope, and Southern Watch, and has completed more than one hundred aircraft carrier landings. He has served as an FAA‑designated check airman and is currently an internationally qualified Captain on the Boeing 757/767.

Reflecting UPS’s commitment to community service, Houston has served on numerous nonprofit boards, including The Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (past Chair), Washington Aero Club, Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International, Center for Women & Families, and Hospice organizations. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees of Wabash College, ERAU Boeing Center for Aviation & Aerospace Safety Industry Advisory Board, the Board of Directors of the National Center for Families Learning, the OBAP Board of Advisors, and is President of the Marine Corps Coordinating Council of Kentucky. In 2020, he had the honor of serving as operating captain for the first U.S. COVID‑19 vaccine delivery flight.

Houston is married and the father of three, with two sons‑in‑law and one grandson. He enjoys motivational speaking, golf, and mentoring the next generation of aviation and community leaders.

As Special Risks Underwriting Manager, MC Ernst supervises the Airlines, Products & Manufacturers, Space Liability and Contingent business lines for USAIG/CAIG, covering commercial airlines, major aerospace manufacturers, government contractors, space service providers and operators, and large leasing/financial institution programs. MC is entering her seventeenth year in the business, having begun her career in Lloyds of London with the Wattles Fellowship.

Following her time in London with XL Aerospace, she relocated to New York where she moved to the brokerage side with Crystal & Company as an Account Executive, placing various lines of business including commercial airlines, government contractors, general aviation and major manufacturers. MC joined USAIG thirteen years ago and has served in various roles prior to her current one, including Assistant General Aviation Branch Manager and Airline Underwriting Manager.

She holds an MBA in Risk Management and Insurance from St. John’s University, is a Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter, a Certified Aviation Insurance Professional, and is a graduate of Vanderbilt University. MC is a member of the Airline Study Group for the International Union of Aerospace Insurers, and proudly serves on the Board of the International Aviation Womens Association (IAWA) as their VP of Events. She lives in Darien, CT with her husband and three children.

Lacey Pittman is the vice president of Global Aerospace Safety at The Boeing Company. In this role, she leads an integrated set of internal and external efforts to strengthen the safety of Boeing products throughout their lifecycles.

These efforts include Boeing’s Enterprise Safety Management System, an industry best practice for proactively managing safety risks. As the leader of this effort, Pittman works with a team to mature and expand all elements of the SMS across the company, including: establishing common safety policies and processes; advancing the safety and reporting culture; applying metrics and predictive analysis; and integrating plans for all business units in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organization and U.S. Federal Aviation Administration criteria.

Other Global Aerospace Safety activities that Pittman leads include collaborating with Boeing and industry stakeholders to execute an integrated strategy that drives operational safety throughout the global aerospace industry. This strategy includes partnering with airline customers to ensure delivery and operational readiness, improving training standards and harmonizing regulatory training guidance, maturing Global Engagement Pilot efforts, and working with Boeing teams to define horizons for future design of airplanes and airspace.

Pittman has more than 30 years of flight operational experience. Before joining Boeing, Pittman was responsible for Air Safety and Operations at Amazon Air, including the operations technology portfolio and leadership of the global network operations center. Prior to that Pittman was Head of System Operations Control and Safety at Horizon Air, leading the implementation of the airline’s Safety Management System.

Pittman began her aviation career as a pilot for AirServ International, on contract with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to provide aid and relief to developing countries throughout West Africa. She later joined the organization’s Board of Directors. Pittman continues to make a global impact as a board member for multiple charities and university groups, including Chairman at Mission Aviation Fellowship, a not-for-profit global aviation organization. Pittman is also on the board of the Experimental Aircraft Association and the Boeing Center for Aviation and Aerospace Safety at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Pittman holds an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) and type rating for the Q400 and has accumulated more than 3,500 hours of flying time. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Trinity Western University, a Master of Business Administration from Walden University, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Aviation at Liberty University.

Mike Ginter is the Senior Vice President of the AOPA Air Safety Institute, responsible for enhancing general aviation safety through engaging content, data-driven analysis and innovative safety initiatives. He assumed this role in 2024 after six years as AOPA’s Vice President of Airports and State Advocacy, where he played a key role in protecting general aviation airports by recruiting more than 1,000 volunteers into the AOPA Airport Support Network and successfully resolving more than 700 airport-related issues for members. Mike led the planning and execution of the National Celebration of General Aviation Flyover in Washington, D.C. in 2024, which celebrated 85 years of general aviation since 1939 and featured 55 general aviation aircraft flying down the National Mall.

Before joining AOPA in 2018, Mike had a distinguished 27-year career in the U.S. Navy, retiring with the rank of Captain. He amassed more than 5,300 flight hours, completed 555 carrier landings in the Lockheed S-3B Viking, undertook four deployments to the Persian Gulf, commanded a jet squadron and served as operations officer for the USS John F. Kennedy. Mike earned his private pilot certificate at 18 and has continued flying throughout his career. He previously owned a T-6 Texan and currently flies a 1972 Beechcraft A36 Bonanza and a Cessna 172, which his wife, Donna, routinely flies.

Kimberly Pyle is the founder of KPI Aviation Intelligence (KPI), which provides consulting solutions regarding strategic planning in the aviation industry. Additionally, KPI provides leadership and culture solutions for organizations and public sector agencies.

Prior to founding KPI, Kim spent over 30 years as a public servant, including two decades at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). She retired from civil service as the Executive Director of the Accident Investigation and Prevention, where she championed the integration of safety data to ensure the effectiveness of safety oversight control. Prior to that, Kim served in the FAA’s Air Traffic Organization, beginning in air traffic systems development, working as the Director of Congressional Communications, then moving into Safety, where she became the Director of Policy and Performance, and then serving as the Deputy Vice President of Safety and Technical Training.

Kim received her Master in Public Administration from the American University’s Key Executive Leadership Program, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications Theory from Hollins College.

Kim currently lives in Arlington, Virginia, with her husband, daughter and dog.

Lauren is an attorney for next-generation aerospace company, Joby Aviation, where her work focuses on aviation business, regulation, safety, and policy. Prior to joining Joby, she served as Aviation Regulatory Counsel for global UAS leader Zipline and General Counsel and Director of Safety and Regulatory Affairs for the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). Lauren's professional experience includes aviation and aerospace law, regulation and policy, manufacturing, operations, safety, training, accident and incident investigation, and workforce advocacy and outreach. Previously, Lauren was an FDA/healthcare associate counseling pharmaceutical and medical device clients and healthcare providers. Lauren received her B.A. in biology and political science from Tufts University, and her J.D. and M.A. (philosophy, bioethics) from Duke University. She is an instrument-rated commercial pilot and lives in the Washington, D.C., area with her very patient partner (also a pilot).

Captain Hoskins is the vice president of safety, security and technical affairs for Airbus Americas, Inc. He leads a diverse team responsible for the facilitation, coordination, and execution of Airbus activities and interests in North, South, Central and Latin America related to safety, security (physical/product/cyber), regulation/airworthiness-certification standards/environmental/sustainability programs, quality program, human factors, crisis management and operational matters in the Americas.

Prior to joining Airbus in 2013, Craig was the Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 119 Chief Safety Officer for JetBlue Airways that included flight, ground, cabin, occupational health, internal audit, FAA regulatory and environment. He also held the (FAR) Part 119 System Chief Pilot position that provided leadership for a Chief Pilot Team that encompassed five bases to support 2,000-plus pilots.

After a 20-year Coast Guard career that included helicopter aircrew, HC-130H Instructor Pilot and chief safety officer for the Coast Guard’s largest air station, Craig was a DC-9 First Officer and also was the technical operations human factors senior analyst at Northwest Airlines.

With 40 years of aviation experience, he is also a graduate of the U.S. Army Aviation Safety Officer Course, University of Southern California Aviation Safety Certificate Program and NASA-Ames Fatigue Countermeasures Course, and holds an Airline Transport Pilot License with type ratings in the A319/A320/A321 and L-382.  

He is a member of the Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing (ASIAS) Executive Team, industry co-chair of the Commercial Aviation Safety Team (CAST) and NextGen Advisory Committee, and a member of the Flight Safety Foundation Board of Governors.