The Boeing Center for Aviation and Aerospace Safety
Advancing the Safety of All Who Fly

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 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.

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.

Dr. Ryan Wallace is an associate professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He holds an Ed.D. in Applied Education Studies (Aviation option), an M.S. in Aviation and a B.S. in Aeronautics. His research focuses on UAS safety, security, human factors and public policy. Dr. Wallace serves as the PI for federal grants valued at more than $2.1 million. He has facilitated professional training seminars for multiple federal agencies in the areas of UAS safety, operations, and counter-UAS topics. He further serves as a representative on the FAA’s Drone Safety Team (DST).

Dr. Wallace previously chaired the University Aviation Association’s UAS Committee, where he led a collaborative effort to publish the UAS Pilot’s Code, a compendium of procedures and best practices to improve UAS operational safety. He is also a former editor of the Collegiate Aviation Review International, the official scholarly journal of the University Aviation Association. He previously worked as a customer training specialist at the Boeing Company on the E-7T Airborne Early Warning & Control program. An Air Force veteran, he was a rated Air Battle Manager on the E-3 AWACS, where he accumulated more than 1,500 flight hours.

Rosa Biondi is the Administrative Operations Lead at the Center. During her two-year tenure at BCAAS, she has proven to be the “go to” person for anything and everything related to getting things done at Embry-Riddle. Her background includes nearly 30 years of experience, both administratively and in very technical project management roles in the financial services sector.

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 enrolment 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. 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. Mariateresa Sestito is a neuroscientist, clinical psychologist and FAA commercial pilot.  She now serves as the chief research scientist at the Boeing Center for Aviation and Aerospace Safety at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Dr. Sestito is a board-certified Psychologist, with a B.S. in Clinical Psychology, a M.S. in Neuropsychology and Life-Span Rehabilitation, and a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Parma, Italy.

She has more than 20 years of combined clinical neuropsychiatry and internationally conducted biomedical research experience, with an interdisciplinary focus on mind & brain and human performance.

She is an active advocate for pursuing highly innovative aerospace endeavors and for the inclusion of women and minorities in STEM and aerospace.  In addition to previous extensive work experience in the academia and many international peer-reviewed publications and technical presentations in aerospace medicine and psychophysiology, Dr. Sestito is deeply passionate about old school stick and rudder grass roots aviation and loves flying 1940s vintage taildraggers and gliders.

Crystal Fornataro is the Support Specialist for Daytona Beach Professional Programs at the Center, bringing more than five years of expertise within Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. In her role, she collaborates with the aviation industry with a strong focus on advancing safety in aerospace. Crystal’s journey at Embry-Riddle began by supporting the University President and Administration, where she effectively applied her strategic insights, exceptional hospitality skills, and unwavering commitment to excellence.

Dr. Abbott is the FAA’s chief scientific and technical advisor for Flight Deck Human Factors, with over 40 years of work on human performance and human error. She has led the integration of human engineering into FAA/international regulatory material and policies for flight guidance systems, avionics, all-weather operations, Required Navigation Performance, crew qualification, data communication and other areas. She has been involved extensively in accident, incident and other safety data analysis.

Prior to joining the FAA, Dr. Abbott worked for NASA, where she was responsible for leading analytical, simulation and flight studies with the specific objective of improving aviation safety and operational efficiency. She is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. She is also a certificated private pilot, with familiarization training in several large transport aircraft. Dr. Abbott earned her B.S. in Mathematics and Information Science from Christopher Newport College, an M.S. in Computer Science from George Washington University and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Rutgers 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.

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.

Mr. Elwell is president of Elwell & Associates, which provides aviation consulting and advocacy services. Prior to forming Elwell & Associates, he was deputy administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration. Before being appointed deputy administrator, Mr. Elwell was a senior advisor to Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao. During his tenure as deputy administrator, Elwell served as acting FAA administrator from January 2018 until August 2019. Prior to joining the FAA, Mr. Elwell was senior vice president for safety, security and operations at Airlines for America, and vice president of the Aerospace Industries Association.

Elwell was a commercial pilot for 16 years with American Airlines, flying DC-10, MD-80 and B-757/767 aircraft. Mr. Elwell earned his pilot wings at Williams Air Force Base in Arizona after graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy. He retired from military service as a Command Pilot with more than 6,000 hours combined civilian and military flight time, including combat service during Operation Desert Storm. He currently serves on several private and public boards, including Alaska Airlines Group and Asylon.

Lauren is aviation regulatory counsel for instant logistics leader Zipline. In this position, she works on aviation regulatory, safety and policy issues as Zipline continues to advance its global autonomous on-demand delivery system using UAS. Prior to joining Zipline, Lauren served as the general counsel and director of safety and regulatory affairs for the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). At GAMA, her work included representing the association’s members in issues related to safety and training, public policy, federal regulation, and state and federal litigation.

In 2018, she received the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Friend of Aviation Safety Award. She also served on the Women in Aviation Advisory Board, established under the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 to develop strategies and recommendations to encourage women to enter the field of aviation. A native of New Jersey, 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. Lauren clerked for the Honorable James A. Wynn, Jr. on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Prior to law school, she worked in clinical research. She is an active 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.

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.

Captain Mills is the vice president of flight operations and safety at UPS. He is responsible for ensuring the safe operation of UPS’s fleet of 237 jets, the quality of its worldwide Safety Management System and regulatory compliance of all airline-related activities. Before accepting his current position, Capt. Mills served as UPS’s international chief pilot, where he was responsible for international flight crews and flight operation activity, and as the UPS director of flight training, where he was responsible for the all crew member training via the UPS Advance Qualification Program.

Prior to joining UPS, Capt. Mills served in the Marine Corps as an F/A-18 fighter pilot. He was an air combat tactics instructor, a Forward Air Controller during Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm, flew in Operations Restore Hope and Southern Watch, and has more than 100 aircraft carrier landings to his credit. He serves on the FAA Advanced Aviation Committee (Chair); Flight Safety Foundation Board of Governors; Cargo Airline Association Board of Directors (Chair); RTCA Board of Advisors; IATA Safety, Flight and Ground Operations Advisory Council; and the Organization of Black Aerospace Professional Board of Advisors. He is also president of the Marine Corps Coordinating Council of Kentucky and an international qualified Captain on the Boeing 757/767.

Lacey Pittman is the vice president of Global Aerospace Safety Initiatives (GASI) at The Boeing Company. In this newly formed role, Pittman collaborates with Boeing and industry stakeholders, and leads an Integrated Product Team to improve aerospace safety through several key initiatives. 

These initiatives include 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 Commercial Airplanes and Boeing Test & Evaluation to define horizons for future design of airplanes and airspace.

Pittman has more than 20 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 managing director 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, working under 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. Currently, she is chair of the board of directors safety committee at Mission Aviation Fellowship, a not-for-profit global aviation organization.

Pittman maintains a 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 and a master’s in Business Administration from Walden University.

Bobbi Wells is Vice President of Inflight and oversees American Airline’s nearly 27,000 flight attendants and the Inflight Operations, Training and Support teams that help them care for customers around the world. Previously, Bobbi was Vice President of Safety Systems, Efficiency and Compliance, where she oversaw American's safety systems with a focus on managing risk through design, science and innovation. Before joining American in 2021, Bobbi was Vice President of Safety and Airworthiness in Air Operations at FedEx. She held a number of leadership roles during her more than 25 years at the carrier. Bobbi started her career in the U.S. Army and spent more than a decade as a transportation and logistics officer leading logistical support for 30,000 troops based in Germany.

Bobbi is Chair of the Flight Safety Foundation Board of Governors and serves on the Industry Advisory Board for the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Center for Aviation and Aerospace Safety. She is also a member of the MITRE Aviation Advisory Committee and the IATA Operations Advisory Council. Bobbi spends much of her time finding ways to support, develop and advocate for women in aviation. She is a past president of the International Aviation Women's Association and formerly served on the Department of Transportation's Women in Aviation Advisory Board. Bobbi earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Notre Dame and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Memphis. She also holds an FAA aircraft dispatcher license.