Chris Baur is the President of Hughes Aerospace Corporation, providing Technical Services to major aerospace manufacturers, government and industry.  Chris has been involved with PBN implementation projects globally, involving RNAV RNP, RNP AR, GBAS/GLS and WAAS LPV programs.   He is a retired military/government aviator, who served in the Army, Coast Guard, Air Force (ANG) and US Customs Service, and is also an experienced captain and test pilot at a major US Airline.  A dual-rated ATP who possesses type ratings in the B737, B757/767, B777 as well as other business, rotary-wing aircraft, along with flight instructor and dispatcher ratings.  His helicopter background includes flying the longest oceanic rescue mission in history, flown in a USAF HH-60G Pavehawk, (without the aid of PBN). 

Captain Joseph D. Burns is the Managing Director of Technology and Flight Test at United Airlines.  At United, he previously held positions as Managing Director – Flight Standards, FAA Certificate Director of Operations, Director – Flight Standards, Director – Technology, Chief Pilot – FFDO Program, Manager – Automation Systems, Pilot Instructor on both the A320/319 and B-727 fleets, served as ALPA LEC Safety Chairman, and has flown A-320/319, B-737, and B-727 in line operations for UA.  He is currently flying Captain on the A319/320.  He is type-rated in A320, A319, B-727, DHC-8, BE-1900 and BE300 aircraft.

Previous to United, Joe was the Director of Operations and Chief Pilot for USAir Express/Stateswest Airlines, a BAE-146 Pilot for USAir, B-727 Instructor and Pilot for Braniff Airlines, and Metroliner Pilot for Air Midwest.

He is currently on the Executive Advisory Board for Position, Navigation, and Time (GPS); an Advisory Board Member for the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR/UCAR); Board Member for EMS Technologies (NASDAQ:ELMG), Member of the NextGen Advisory Council Subcommittee; Board Member for Optical Detection Systems, Inc, Board Member and is the Chairman of the Board of ATN Systems, Inc, Chairman of the Board for Agile Defense, LLC,  and Board Member for Sensurion, LLC.  Additionally he is Chairman Emeritus for the ATA Air Traffic Control Council, Chairman Emeritus of the ATA Airline Operations Committee, former Vice-Chairman of the Airborne Internet Consortium, and former Board Member of the FAA’s Free Flight Steering Committee.  Captain Burns was also a Board Member for AirDat, LLC - a Loeb and Holmes Capital Partners joint venture.

His engineering experience includes President of Inertia Technology, developing AWOS and Flight Sensor Systems, Chief Pilot and systems engineer for Coffeen, Fricke, and Associates (Lenexa, KS), Chief Systems Engineer for Ericsson, Inc’s Fiber Optic Network Communications Division (Overland Park, KS), and Engineering Manager for Sprint’s Telenet/UniNet Division.

He holds an MBA in Management from the Miami University School of Business and a BS in Aeronautics/Aeronautical Engineering from Miami University.  Joe also holds multiple patents in Communications, Security, and Sensor Technology.

Dr. John Cavolowsky is the director of the Airspace Systems Program Office at NASA Headquarters, which develops concepts, capabilities and technologies for high-capacity, efficient and safe airspace and airportal systems. Previously he was deputy program director, providing strategic management of technical product across multiple projects within the program, and supporting the Joint Planning and Development Office in the ongoing development of the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen).

Cavolowsky has also been associate program manager for the Airspace Systems Program, and the project manager for the Human Measures and Performance Project. He began his career at NASA Ames in 1989 as a research and development project manager in hypersonic propulsion and thermal protection systems for spacecraft reentry. Cavolowsky also served as a technical manager for aerospace programs in the Office of the Center Director at Ames.

He received the Gene Zara Award for outstanding contributions as a national team member to the National Aerospace Plane program, as well as a number of agency achievement awards. He has published more than 25 technical papers. Cavolowsky has a bachelor’s of science degree in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and master’s and doctoral degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of California at Berkeley.

Mr. Church has extensive experience and current involvement in all facets of Air Traffic Control Operations, Airspace Management and Security, Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance aviation-related activities. Extensive relationship and work with federal agencies including the Federal Aviation Administration, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Transportation Security Administration and Research and Special Projects Administration.

Mr. Church has guided Aviation Management Associates through a broad range of aviation issues related to the FAA, NASA and TSA including: airports; security; airspace; air traffic control; flight standards; research, engineering, development and logistics; budget; and legislative affairs.

Gary's major activities have included membership on the FAA Aviation System Capacity Task Force, FAA Air Traffic Control Procedures Advisory Committee, participation in the Airport Operators Council International's Airport Capacity and Delay Reduction Task Force, participation in National and Regional FAA sponsored Think Tank Forums, and FAA National Airspace Review and membership on selected RTCA Special Committees, including SC155, Future Communication, Navigation and Surveillance Requirements and Task Force 2: Digital Data Link.

Prior too establishing Aviation management Associates, Inc. in 1984 he was Manager of Air Traffic Control with industry trade association representing all major airline interests in air traffic control and related matters with the FAA. Additionally, served as airline spokesperson and representative in government, private and public forums concerning air traffic control and related technical, procedural and policy issues. Major activities included coordination and implementation of the air traffic controller's strike contingency plans between the FAA and the airline industry, participation in the Air Traffic Control Association's Terminal Control Area Requirements Review, participation in thirty-two of forty-four public National Airspace Review Task Groups and participation in FAA's Human Factors Workshops. In addition, Mr. Church worked extensively with air traffic control procedures in both domestic and international environment. Responsible for developing, coordinating, and implementing a wide range of air traffic control procedure initiatives on behalf of the airline industry in terminal, en-route, and oceanic areas affecting the safety, capacity, and efficiency of national and international air transportation.

Before joining ATA Gary was employed as an air traffic control specialist at the Indianapolis Air Route Traffic Control Center and involved in a wide range of air traffic control responsibilities including: development and coordination of procedures, equipment and airspace matters; incident analysis; facility management techniques to insure proper facility performance; development of training programs; and computer system supervision of facility automation configuration and performance. He was detailed as a radar instructor in 1977 to develop a dynamic simulation training capability, program and procedures for instructing air traffic control students in a simulated air traffic control environment. In addition he was selected to serve as Facility Area Office Specialist in 1978 to develop and coordinate air traffic control procedures and airspace matter between FAA en-route and terminal facilities, as well as coordinate these issues with affected military organizations and personnel. Further, responsibilities included developing equipment initialization, transition, and implementation planning and procedures for equipment (i.e., Direct Access Radar Channel). Also accomplished first new and extensive rewrite of Indianapolis Air Route Traffic Control Center Facility Operations Procedures Manual. Participated FAA systems integration working group supporting of Electronic Tabular Display Subsystem (ETABS) planned as electronic flight strips. Developed a communications course in 1979 to instruct developmental controllers in the use, capabilities, and limitations of FAA communication equipment.

Mr. Church's education experience includes: FAA Instrument Flight Rating, Washington DC (1981); Indiana University, Bloomington, Ind. (1971-1977) Major fields of study included physics and economics; University of Evansville, Evansville Ind. (1967-1970) Major fields of study included physics and industrial engineering with related concentration in personnel supervision matters; FAA Private Pilot, Anchorage, Alaska (1969); University of California, Davis/Berkeley, Calif. (1965-1966) Major fields of study included physics and economics.

Mr. Church's organizational membership includes: Air Traffic Control Association; Alexandria, Virginia where he served as Chairman 1995 ATCA Convention, Technical Chairman 1992 ATCA Convention, Technical Co-chairman 1987 ATCA Convention, Technical Co-chairman 1988 ATCA Convention and Member of Awards and Scholarship Committees; Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics (now RTCA), Washington, D.C.; Aero Club of Washington, Washington, D.C, Trustee in 1992; Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Florida, Member of University Research Advisory Council and Chairman Airway Sciences Research Advisory Committee; National Aeronautics Association; Washington, D.C.; Experimental Aircraft Association; Federal Aviation Administration Aviation System Capacity Task Force; Center for Applied Human Factors in Aviation; Orlando, Florida Member of Advisory Board Group; University Aviation Association; Opelika, Alabama; Human Factors Society; Santa Monica, California; National Aviation Club; Washington, D.C.; Indianapolis Council of Federal Agencies; Indianapolis,

Publications and Awards include the following: Flight Safety Foundation Bulletin; Article: "Air Traffic Control Communication Concerns"; Air Traffic Control Association; Letter of Commendation; Flight Safety Foundation Bulletin; Article: "The FAA NOTAM System"; Air Traffic Control Association; Letter of Commendation; Article: "The Changing Challenge for Air Traffic Control"; Air Traffic Control Association; Article: "A Look at Runway Occupancy"; Air Traffic Control Association; Technical Writer of the Year Award; Encyclopedia Britannica; Contributing Editor on Aviation; Air Traffic Control Association; Article: "ATC: The Human Element"; Federal Aviation Administration; Letter of Commendation; Letter of Appreciation; Indianapolis Area United Way Combined Federal Campaign; Outstanding Achievement Award; Federal Aviation Administration; Letter of Commendation; United States Jaycees; Outstanding Achievement Award; Indiana State Jaycees; Outstanding Achievement Award; Brownsburg Jaycees; Jaycee of the Year; and Federal Aviation Administration; Letter of Commendation; Letter of Appreciation

Sarah Dalton is currently the Director, Airspace and Technology for Alaska Airlines. She leads a team of engineers and pilots to implement flight deck improvements and flight procedures that increase the safety and efficiency of flight operations.  Her 27 years in the Aviation industry includes airline, airport management and FAA experience.  She currently serves on the RTCA’s Integrated Capabilities Working Group, the ATA’s Airline Operations Committee and the FAA’s Performance-Based Navigation Aviation Rulemaking Committee.

Sarah is a Certified Member of American Association of Airport Executives and a private pilot.  She has a Bachelor of Science in Human Factors Engineering from Tufts University, Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from University of Washington, and a Masters Degree in Public Administration from University of Montana. 

Michael Garvin was appointed Executive Director of the NextGen Institute in January 2011.  He is an experienced pilot and has over 20 years of experience in airline operations management. 

Mr. Garvin most recently served as the Vice President of Flight Operations for Pinnacle Airlines, where he was recognized throughout the industry for his expertise in labor relations, financial management, and specifically as a leader in NextGen Air Transportation System (NextGen) development and implementation in the National Air Space system.  Under Mr. Garvin’s leadership, both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recognized Pinnacle’s Flight Operations department for its leadership role in safety culture development.  During this time Pinnacle was also recognized for its pioneering efforts in optimizing airspace use and coordination.  Prior to his role as Vice President, Mr. Garvin was also the Director of Flight Operations at Pinnacle, where he managed pilot operations, hiring, and training during the fastest growth in the history of any regional airline.  Additionally, he has served as Director of Flight Operations and Acting General Manager for Skyway Airlines, where he led efforts to launch the world’s first 32-passenger regional jets into revenue service. 

Mr. Garvin was an active member of RTCA’s Air Traffic Management Advisory Committee (ATMAC) since 2006, and was an original member of the NextGen Advisory Committee Sub Committee (NACSC).

Mr. Garvin is an Intelligence Officer in the Wisconsin Air National Guard and has been deployed numerous times in support of the Global War on Terror.  He earned a BS in Mathematics from the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater, and an MBA with an emphasis in finance from the Katz Graduate School of Business, University of Pittsburgh.  His technical publications include a chapter on service delivery from a regional airline perspective in the Handbook of Airline Marketing, and a chapter on strategic shifts in the regional airline industry in the Handbook of Airline Operations.

Mr. Hampton is the Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Aviation Audits and Special Programs.   He is responsible for managing reviews of a wide range of FAA programs, including the Next Generation Air Transportation System.    Mr. Hampton has over 20 years experience in evaluating FAA safety, capacity, and air traffic control modernization programs.  He received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from American University. 

Debby Kirkman currently co-chairs the RTCA NextGen Advisory Committee’s Business Case and Performance Metrics Working Group with Ed Lohr, of Delta Air Lines.  At MITRE, she serves in an integration role, looking across performance and policy analyses that impact the success of NextGen.  Debby also served as part of the Task Force 5 leadership team and co-led the establishment of an evaluation methodology and the subsequent assessment of mid-term capabilities under consideration by the Task Force. She brings a broad understanding of NextGen implementation strategy and stakeholder perspectives from her previous NextGen work, including portfolio management and prioritization analyses, analysis of key policy and research needs, development of the NextGen operational concept for air traffic management, and her interactions with the aviation community through a number of past RTCA efforts. Prior to joining MITRE in 1984, she worked at Bell Laboratories developing communications and office automation software.  She holds an MSEE from Stanford University and a BSEE from the University of Virginia.

Ed Lohr, Director of Fleet Strategy & Analysis, has been at Delta for 10-years including roles in Network Planning, Finance, Corporate Forecasting, and Strategic Planning.  Prior experience includes customer support at Rolls-Royce and GE Aircraft Engines, and finance positions at Northwest Airlines and DHL Airways.

Ed's educational background includes an MBA from Oakland University, MS from Chapman University, and a BS from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.  A veteran of the US Air Force, Ed is a licensed private pilot and A&P mechanic.

As Chief of the Integrated Infrastructure Management Section (IIM), Macka is responsible for communications, navigation, surveillance and aeronautical information management at the Headquarters of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).  He is personally tasked with putting the international enabling provisions in place for programs such as NextGen and SESAR.

He is focusing on harmonization between the major programs and distilling the international interoperability requirements for presentation to the international aviation community at the Twelfth Air Navigation Conference (AN Conf/12) in Montréal, Canada from 19 to 30 November this year.

Ms. McNall became the FAA’s Chief Acquisition Officer and acquisition executive at the start of 2011.  Before that she was the FAA’s Assistant Chief Counsel for Acquisition and Commercial Law.  In her 28-year FAA career, Ms. McNall’s principal practice has been in the area of Government contracts, but she has served in various other positions, including Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for Policy, Planning and International Aviation, Deputy Assistant Chief Counsel for FAA’s Technical Center, Special Assistant to the Chief Counsel, and acting Deputy Director for the FAA’s Office of Acquisitions.  In 1995, Ms. McNall worked with a Blue Ribbon Panel of acquisition experts and attorneys to create a new acquisition management system for the FAA.  In late 1993, she served as Co-Chair of the Budget and Finance Working Group as part of the Department of Transportation’s initiative to create an Air Traffic Control Corporation.  She has received numerous awards including a National Performance Review “Hammer” award from the Vice-President, the Federal Bar Association’s Transportation Lawyer of the Year, the Secretary’s “Gold Medal” award, Outstanding Attorney at FAA for the year, Logistics Service Award, Quality Action Team awards, and numerous Special Achievement Awards.

In 1985, Ms. McNall earned her J.D. from George Washington University.  In 1982 she studied law, foreign trade and Chinese language through a Columbia University program held at the Shanghai Law Institute.  She also holds a M.A. (1982) in Economics and International Relations from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Relations, and a B.A. (1979) in International Relations and Asian Studies from Scripps College.

Captain Brian Townsend, U S Airways, leads the airline’s NextGen initiatives and regional airspace activities. Through his efforts, the airline has become a recognized leader in the development and successful implementation of performance-based operations resulting in optimized and integrated procedures in many areas of the NAS.  Most recently, he was instrumental in partnering the airline with the FAA’s SBS Office for early adoption of ADS-B applications and operations in Philadelphia and is supporting the recently formed ADS-B In Aviation Rulemaking Committee.

Captain Townsend has worked closely with the FAA’s Air Traffic, Safety and Flight Standards operations and has collaborated with other carriers, general and business aviation, and the military in his efforts to move NextGen from concept to implementation.  As a former air safety representative for the Air Line Pilots Association for ten years, Brian served as the Chairman of the National Airspace System Modernization Team and Vice Chairman of the Air Traffic Services Group. His committee work encompassed Performance-Based Operations, RNAV-RNP Procedures and Charting, Data Communications, Unmanned Aircraft Systems, ADS-B, Environmental Issues and a host of other areas and modernization activities.  He more recently helped pioneer the Optimization of Airspace and Procedures for Metroplex (OAPM) as an Industry Representative on the Prototype DC Metroplex Study Team and continues to support that vital effort.  The OAPM process is changing the way airspace and procedures will be developed throughout the NAS.  Captain Townsend also serves as a member of the ADS-B In Aviation Rulemaking Committee, FAA/ATA CNS Task Force, and various RTCA working groups.

Brian has been a professional pilot for over thirty years, flying a variety of transport and general aviation aircraft.  He devoted seven years to general aviation as a professional flight instructor and fixed-base/airport operations manager. He also flew business aviation operations as a member of the Flight Department of a Fortune 50 company prior to joining the ranks of a major airline.

Employed with US Airways (formerly America West) since 1990, he has flown the De Havilland Dash 8, B-737, and is currently a captain on the Airbus A319/320/321.

As director of the Integrated Systems Research Program Office, Ed Waggoner is responsible for the overall planning, management and evaluation of the directorate’s efforts to conduct integrated, system-level research on promising vehicle and operational technologies in a relevant environment that meet energy, environmental and mobility objectives.  In addition, he supports the associate administrator in a broad range of mission directorate activities, including strategic and program planning; budget development; program review and evaluation; and external coordination.

Previously he was on assignment to the Joint Planning and Development Office in Washington, DC, where he served as director of the Interagency Architecture and Engineering Division responsible for technical leadership in the development of the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) Enterprise Architecture, Concept of Operations, and Integrated Work Plan. While on this assignment, he served as a co-author of the Mobility chapter for the National Aeronautics R&D Plan.

Waggoner began his NASA career in 1982 as a researcher in the theoretical aerodynamics discipline at NASA’s Langley Research Center. He eventually held management positions in Langley’s transonic and subsonic aerodynamics branches responsible for planning and supervision of applied computational and experimental research directed at developing aerodynamics technology for advanced civil and military vehicles.

Prior to NASA, Waggoner worked as a researcher and project engineer with Vought Corporation in Dallas, Texas, where he worked on advanced wind tunnel testing techniques and performed foundational work in the emerging field of computational fluid dynamics.

He has been awarded several NASA Group Achievement Awards and NASA Special Act or Service Awards and has authored or coauthored 44 NASA technical papers, journal articles and conference publications on computational and experimental aerodynamics, and advanced airspace systems concepts. He is an associate fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Waggoner received a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from Auburn University, a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Southern Methodist University, and master’s and doctoral degrees in engineering management from George Washington University.