Air Commodore David Manning

Air Commodore David (known as Manners) was educated in the Republic of Ireland and the Royal Air Force College Cranwell (graduating in August 1990). A command pilot, he has amassed over 3200 hours flying predominately C-130K, C-130J and C-17 aircraft in the low level and strategic air mobility roles respectively. He has flown on operations in the Balkans, Sierra Leone, Afghanistan, Iraq and in support of Operations in Libya. He commanded Number 99 Squadron (C-17) between September 2010 and July 2012 during surge tasking for Operations HERRICK and ELLAMY. He was appointed Aide de Camp to Her Majesty the Queen and commanded Royal Air Force Northolt from July 2015 to July 2017. Operational ground tours include Operation TELIC where he commanded the Operations Squadron in Basrah Air Base (2007) and Deputy Air Component Commander for Operations KIPION/SHADER (2018/19).

Staff tours have included Urgent Operational Requirements Staff Officer for all Royal Air Force capabilities, Personal Staff Officer to the Deputy Commander in Chief Strike Command (2004 to 2007) and SO1 Strategic Mobility in the Equipment Logistic Support Capability Area of the Ministry of Defence (July 2008 to March 2010). On promotion to Group Captain in 2012 he assumed the appointment of the Headquarters Number 2 Group Senior Operator with responsibility for providing operating risk to life advice on 26 different air platforms and 14 different aerial delivery vehicles to the Operating Duty Holder (Air Officer Commanding Number 2 Group). Following completion of the Higher Command and Staff Course (HCSC) 2014, he remained on the Staff as Assistant Director Warfare with responsibility for delivering the Operational Art and Campaigning Phase for HCSC 2015. He graduated from the Royal College of Defence Studies in 2018. On promotion to Air Commodore in June 2019 he assumed the role of Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Commandant of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom. He took up his new role as the Air Mobility Force Commander and Air Officer Air Mobility with effect 23 October 2020.

A graduate of the Higher Command and Staff Course 14, Royal College of Defence Studies 18, he has a Masters of Art in Defence Studies from King’s College London, is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute, a double alumnus of the Windsor Leadership Trust, a Freeman of the City of London and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Coopers. Married to Rachel (née Fryer) since 1993, they have 2 daughters, Libby and Emily. His main sport is triathlon (sprint, olympic and half iron man distances), is learning to play the guitar and he enjoys reading books on military history and strategy.

Brigadier General Alessandro De Lorenzo

Gen. Alessandro DE LORENZO was born in Naples the 17 December 1969. He joined the Italian Air Force academy in 1989 with the LEONE IV class graduating in 1993 with a degree in aeronautical science. Actual assignment is Wing commander of the 46th Air Brigade in Pisa. project.
After graduating as Military Pilot in 1994 at the Euro Nato Joint Jet Pilot Training (ENJJPT) in Sheppard AFB he was assigned at the 9° Squadron 4° Wing Grosseto AFB where he became Combat Ready Pilot on the F104-ASA All Weather Interceptor. In 1998 Gen. De Lorenzo was assigned at The Reparto Sperimentale di Volo (RSV), Italian Official test Center, and sent to Patuxent River NAS to attend the USN TPS class. In 1999 graduated as Experimental Test Pilot was in charge of several programs including C130-J, C27-J, ATR72-MP, Boeing KC767. In 2009 he has commanded the 311th test squadron of the RSV. In 2011 was deployed in Herat Afghanistan where he was the Wing Commander of the Joint Air Task Force. From 2011 to 2015 was responsible at the IV Department of the Air Staff “procurement” were he is the deputy chief of the II office responsible for all manned air vehicles. From 2015 to 2017 was appointed as Wing Commander of the Italian Official Test Center RSV in Pratica di Mare AFB. From 2017 to 2019 was assistant of the 4th department of the Secretariat of the Defense, were he was responsible for the procurement of the Italian flying assets, and national Program Manager of the Euro Male program. From 2019 to 2020 was responsible of the ground support assets in the Logistic Command of the Italian Air Force.
Gen. De Lorenzo has more than 4500 Flying hours in more than 60 different flying machine including JET Heavy’s and Helicopters. He is been the display pilot of the G222 (season 2002, 2003 and 2006) F104-ASAM (season 2004) and C27-J (Season 2005).

Brigadier General Fabrice Feola

1993: Pilot on C160 Transall at Transport Squadron 1/61 Touraine, BA 123 Orléans-Bricy.
1996: Pilot instructor on C160 Transall at the 00-340 Transport Crew Training Center, BA 101 Toulouse-Francazal.
1999: Chief of pilots on C160 Transall at Transport Squadron 1/64 Béarn, BA 105 Evreux-Fauville.
2001: Promotion Commander of the Special Officer Training Course, BA 701 Salon-de-Provence.
2002: Commander of the “Commandant Jean-serge Longy” promotion from the Air School, BA 701 Salon-de-Provence.
2004: Education of the Joint Defense College at the Istituto superiore di stato maggiore interforze, Rome Italy.
2005: Head of the standardization and control division, then second in command and commander of the 00-340 transport crews training center, BA 101 Toulouse-Francazal.
2008: Drafting officer, projection-mobility-support section at the Air Force Headquarters Planning Office.
2010: Drafting officer and deputy to the head of the forces equipment section in the plans, programming and evaluation division of the armed forces staff.
2013: Commander of the 105 air base, commander of the Evreux Defense Base and departmental military delegate of Eure.
March - May 2014: Commander of the Niamey Air Detachment - Operation Serval.
2015: Head of the Air Force Staff Organization Office.
2017: Assistant to the Director of Protection of Defense Facilities, Resources and Activities.
2018: Head of the program coherence officers of the armed forces staff.
2019: Assistant to the Deputy Head of Activity of the Air Force Staff and General Overseas and Foreign
2021: Commander of the Air Support and Projection Brigade
 

Decorations:

• Officer of the Legion of Honor
• Officer of the National Order of Merit
• Aeronautics medal
• Combatant's cross
• Overseas medal clip Chad and Sahel
• National Defense Medal
• Nation recognition title
• Commemorative medal clip Former Yugoslavia
   

Colonel Barrett Golden

Col. Barrett W. Golden serves as the Commandant of the Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center (AATTC) at the 139th Airlift Wing, Rosecrans Air National Guard Base, St. Joseph, Mo. Colonel Golden is a California native, graduated from Apple Valley High School in 1995 and Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Science. The Colonel also earned a Master of Science degree in Military Operational Arts and Sciences from Air University, Maxwell AFB AL in 2012.
Colonel Golden began his service in 1999 with the Air National Guard. He attended Air Force Basic Training at Lackland AFB and Command Post Controller technical school at Keesler AFB. He then returned to an assignment with the 146th Airlift Wing as a traditional guardsman. Colonel Golden was selected in 2001 to attend Undergraduate Pilot Training. He received his commission from the Air National Guard Academy of Military Science, Knoxville, Tennessee in 2001, followed by Undergraduate Pilot Training at Columbus AFB, Columbus, Mississippi and initial C-130E training at Little Rock AFB, Arkansas. Upon completion, Colonel Golden returned to the 146th Airlift Wing where he performed pilot duties aboard the Lockheed C-130 as a traditional guardsman.
Colonel Golden began a full time Air National Guard career when hired as an air technician in 2009 into the Chief of Tactics position, 115th Airlift Squadron. Over the years, he rose to the rating of evaluator pilot in the C-130J aircraft. He has deployed on numerous worldwide missions in times of peace and war. In 2010, Colonel Golden deployed as the Chief of Tactics for C-130 operations, 455 AEW, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.
In 2011, Col Golden began a tour at the Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center (AATTC), 139th Airlift Wing, St. Joseph, MO as an Active Guard Reserve in the United States Air Forces Reserves. He held a program manager position in the Advanced Tactics Aircrew Course, Assistant Director of Operations for the Development Division and Director of Operations for the Training Division within the
AATTC. In 2019, Col Golden took command of the 139th Airlift Wing’s Operations Support Squadron and switched back to the Air National Guard. In 2020, Col Golden returned to the AATTC in the role of Vice Commandant.

Colonel Federico Merola

Col. Federico Merola was born in Latina, Italy, on 27th September 1974.
He joined the Italian Air Force Academy in 1992, where he graduated in 1996 with a degree in Aeronautical Science.
He was then assigned to Sheppard AFB, Texas, where he completed his flight training at the Euro NATO Joint Jet pilot Training (ENJJPT) in 1997.
His first operational assignment was the 46th Airlift Brigade, 2nd Airlift Squadron in Pisa, Italy, where he initially flew the Italian version of the C-27, the G222. After two years, he was sent to Lockheed Martin in Marietta, Georgia, to attend the factory training on the C130J, he then flew to Italy the first aircraft for the Italian Air Force in August 2000. During this time, he also flew in the Ex-Yugoslavia and Kosovo operations performing air lift and medevac missions.
From 2001 to 2002, Col. Merola returned to the Air Force Academy to be part of a select team of officers responsible for the formation, training and the education of Cadets.
From 2002 until 2010, he was part of the 31st Wing in Rome, Ciampino, 306th Special Transport Squadron. Flying the Dassault Falcon 50 and Airbus 319CJ aircrafts he took part in numerous VIP State flights, supported many government representatives, the Italian President of Republic and the Pope. Furthermore, he conducted hospital flights in support of Italian citizens needing emergency medical assistance around the globe.
As Instructor and Evaluator pilot, he moved to the 31st Wing Aircrew Training Center where he served as Chief of the Standardization and Chief of A319 and F50 Training Section, being responsible for the aircraft and simulator training programs on both lines.
In 2011 Col. Merola, joined the NATO Early Warning & Control Force E3A Component in Geilenkirchen (Germany) where he served into Squadron 3 for almost two years, taking part to the Operations OAA and OUP. He then moved to Training Wing, since Jan 2013 where he first served as Instructor and Evaluator Pilot and then as Aircrew Training Squadron Commander responsible for the initial training of all NATO crew members assigned to the E-3A Component.
Returned from Germany in 2015 he attended the 126th Senior Course at the NATO Defense College in Rome.
In 2016 and 2017 he attended the course for Public Affairs for International Students and the Joint Senior Public Affairs Course at the Defense Information School in Ft. Meade, Maryland, USA, the Joint American school which prepares and qualifies the Public Affairs Officers and the 10th Course of International journalism at the Institute for Global Studies in Rome and the course “NATO Senior Official Strategic Communications Familiarisation”, at the NATO SCHOOL in OBERAMMERGAU (Germany).
On the same period, he moved to the Air Force HQ in Rome as deputy Chief of the Public Information Office, until November 2016 when he was then assigned to the General Defense Staff as deputy Chief of the Public Information Office.
In the period august 2018 – February 2020 he was then appointed as Chief of Public Affairs at the General Office of the Air Force Chief of Staff and, at the same time, deputy of the 5th Department of Air Force HQ.
His decorations include the NATO Operation EX JUGOSLAVIA, NATO Medal KOSOVO, Commemoration Cross IRAQ, NATO Medal Operation AFGHANISTAN ASSIST and the NATO Medal Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR.
Col. Merola flew over 4900 hours, mainly on multi-crew multi-engine airframes, and e is qualified on eleven different airplanes.

Colonel Gene A. Jacobus

Col Gene A. Jacobus is the Commander, 100th Air Refueling Wing, Royal Air Force Mildenhall, United
Kingdom, supporting four U.S. Air Force major command flying programs and more than 16,800 military, civilian, dependent, and retiree personnel. With 15 KC-135 aircraft, the wing is the only permanently assigned air refueling operation in the European theater.
Prior to assuming his current position, Col Jacobus served as the Vice Commander, 92nd Air Refueling Wing, Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, where he assisted the Wing Commander in leading installation activities and assigned functions, providing support for 17 associate units, and daily operations of 63 KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft performing refueling, airlift, and aeromedical evacuation missions.
Col Jacobus was commissioned through Air Force ROTC at Florida State University in 2000. He began his flying career at Charleston AFB, South Carolina, and has primarily flown the KC-135R/T and C-17. He has commanded at the squadron level and has experience in air refueling, airlift, air operations center, and contingency response operations.
 

Colonel Jeffrey T. Menasco

Colonel Jeffrey T. Menasco is the Deputy Director of Operations, Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. He is responsible for policy and procedures for worldwide air operations and transportation functions while organizing, training and equipping the forces assigned to the Command. These functions include airfield
operations, Civil Reserve Air Fleet, Command and Control, combat/nuclear/current operations, operational requirements, aeromedical evacuation, tactics and training, and standardization programs.
Colonel Menasco earned his commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps from California State University Sacramento in 1994. He began his career as an Intelligence Officer in the 510th Fighter Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy, during the Balkan campaigns. He then completed pilot training at Corpus Christi NAS, Texas and has extensive overseas flying and operations experience. He has served in a multitude of operational and staff capacities at the wing, Headquarters Air Force and Combatant Command levels. His previous command positions include the 36th Airlift Squadron, Yokota AB, Japan, 86th Operations Group, Ramstein AB, Germany and 317th Airlift Wing, Dyess AFB, TX. He is a Command Pilot with over 3,000 flying hours in the T-37, T-44, C-21, C-37, C-40 and C130E/H/J aircraft with combat time over Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Colonel Jurgen Van der Biezen

Colonel Jurgen van der Biezen started his Air Force career in 1981. After graduating from pilot training in 1985, he flew the NF-5 and F-16 and was assigned as squadron commander and Deputy Base Commander Airbase Volkel.

In 2011, he switched to the Air Transport domain. He was assigned twice to the European Air Transport Command as Head OPS and Functional Division. As of 10 July 2019, he is assigned as the first Commander Multinational MRTT Unit.

Col van der Biezen accumulated some 2,200 hours in the F-16 with a grand total of 4200 flying hours. During summer 2019, he converted to the A330 MRTT.

Colonel Sean Finnan

Col Sean M. Finnan is the commander, 86th Operations Group, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. He commands one of the most busy and diverse operations groups in the Air Force, with assets that provide the European and African theatres with DV airlift, aeromedical evacuation support, combat-ready air transportation, and rapidly deployable equipment, supplies, and people. The 86th Operations Group consists of five squadrons, including an Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron and a geographically-separated Air Base Squadron, and is home to more than 600 active-duty, Reserve, Department of Defense and local national Airmen. The group operates C-21A, C-37A and C-130J aircraft.

Col Finnan entered the Air Force in 1998 as a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy. His first assignment was as a Professional Development Instructor and Football Coach at the USAF Academy Preparatory School. Following undergraduate pilot training and C-130 training, Col Finnan was assigned to the 517th Airlift Squadron as a Tactics Officer and Central Scheduler. In 2005, he was assigned to the 61st Airlift Squadron, where he served as a Flight Commander and Chief of Standardization/Evaluation. He graduated from the USAF Weapons School and in April 2008, he was assigned as Assistant Director of Operations in the 29th Weapons Squadron. In October 2008, he served at the Pentagon in the Directorate of Special Programs, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition). Following training in the C-130J, he was assigned as the Director of Operations and then the Commander, 86th Operations Support Squadron. He also flew as an Instructor Pilot with the 37th Airlift Squadron. He then served as the Executive Officer to the Commander, United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa.

Prior to his current assignment, Col Finnan was a Senior Developmental Education Student at the U.S. Naval War College, Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island. He is a command pilot with more than 3,100 hours and has served in AETC, PACAF, AMC, ACC, and USAFE.

Group Captain Simon Blackwell

Born in 1973, Group Captain Simon Blackwell joined the RAF in 1994 via a University Bursary at Southampton studying Aeronautics and Astronautics. Posted to 101 Squadron at RAF Brize Norton in 1997 to fly the VC10 in the AAR role, he completed back-to-back co-pilot and captain tours until 2004. In that time, he took part in operations over Kosovo in 1999 (Op ENGADINE) operating with Tornado GR1s from RAF Bruggen, Afghanistan in 2001 (Op ORACLE) and multiple detachments over Iraq (Op DESERT FOX, Op BOLTON and Ops NORTERN/SOUTHERN WATCH) including Op TELIC in 2003 where he led the first operational VC10 sortie. In 2004 he was posted to the 2 Gp Integrated Operations and Tasking Cell at RAF Brize Norton into the Air-to-Air Refuelling Coordination (AARC) Cell responsible for planning and delivering Defence’s AAR deployments.

Thereafter, he was promoted to Squadron Leader (2006) and posted back to 101 Squadron as Flight Commander Plans, again flying the VC10 in the AT and AAR roles. A short tour followed in Kabul, Afghanistan at HQ ISAF as the ISAF Special Ops Forces Air Director from Feb – May 2009. After his op tour he was posted to the Capability Sponsor in MOD where he was responsible for pan-Defence Aircrew Systems. This period saw the publication of the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review. In the immediate wake of the Nimrod Review, he was also charged with improving Aviation Safety across the Capability Sponsor in the lead up to the formation of the MAA.

Promoted to Wing Commander (2011), he completed the Advanced Command and Staff Course (ACSC) at the Joint Services Command and Staff College at Shrivenham alongside a Masters degree in Defence Studies, specialising in Political Islam. Following ACSC, he was posted to Air Operations at HQ Air Command in the A5 Division. Initially responsible for Strat Planning (operational input into the RAF Command Plan) and deployed Air infrastructure developments, including Al-Minhad AB (UAE), he was subsequently appointed A5 Chief of Staff. Following a deployment to Iraq in 2015, he was selected to command Number 10 Squadron operating the Voyager at RAF Brize Norton from Jan 2016 until May 2018. He was subsequently selected to be Personal Staff Officer to Deputy Commander Capability at RAF High Wycombe. Promoted to Group Captain in Apr 19, he was Deputy Head of the RAF’s Rapid Capability Office responsible for a number of innovative projects for the RAF.

In Jul 20 he moved to his current role as the inaugural Commander Air Wing RAF Brize Norton where he is the Aviation Delivery Duty Holder for all 2 Gp assets at both Brize Norton and Northolt.

Married to Nicky, they have three young children; Ella, Annabel and Edward. Living in Worcestershire, he is a keen DIY enthusiast and spends much of his time with his family, walking the dogs and tinkering with a long-running kit-car project.

Group Captain Stuart Gregory

Group Captain Stuart Gregory is a British Royal Air Force Logistician with 25 years of expeditionary, operational experience. Since August 2019 he has been the Director of the Movement Coordination Centre Europe, which is a military multi-national body based out of Eindhoven Air Base in the Netherlands. The Movement Coordination Centre Europe is a broker for military transportation which is best described as Nation A wanting to deploy passengers, cargo or even a Brigade and Nation B offering to do the work. The MCCE is very active in US DEFENDER series deployments and has a high focus on Africa resupply.

Lieutenant Colonel Luiz Fernando Rezende Ferraz

The Lieutenant Colonel Aviator Ferraz was born in Brazil and joined the Brazilian Air Force in 1996. During his career, he has qualified as an operational pilot in attack, airlift, reconnaissance and airborne early warning and control, having gained experience in the AT-26, AT-27, E-99, R-99 and KC-390. In addition, he also has been qualified as airborne chief controller and intelligence analyst. Academically, has the Command and Staff Course and has carried out 03 specializations, including: Master in Business Administration in Competitive Intelligence, Master in Business Administration in Public Management and Master in Business Administration in Strategic Planning and Management. Among the functions performed during the military career, the most relevant are the following: Commander of the 1st Wing of the 2nd / 6th Aviation Group; Commander of the 4th / 1st Command and Control Group; Chairman of the KC-390 Aircraft Implementation Task Force at the FAB and Squadron Leader of 1° Transport Troop Group. He currently holds the position of Wing 2 Chief of Staff, the wing responsible for developing the doctrine and integrating the KC-390 aircraft into the Brazilian Air Force.

Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Bryce Dibble

Lieutenant Colonel Matthew B. Dibble is the Chief, Airlift Coordination Center (ALCC) and Deputy, Senior National Representative (SNR), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Allied Air Command Deployable Air Command and Control Center (DACCC), Poggio Renatico, Italy. In these roles, he directs NATO support including combat airlift, air refueling, aeromedical evacuation, noncombatant evacuation operations (NEO), distinguished visitor (DV) and humanitarian aid missions. He leads 28 Joint and International officers in the Air Mobility Division for the Combined Forces Air Component Commander in Command and Control of NATO air transport and support operations.

Lieutenant Colonel Dibble began his Air Force career by attending basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas in March of 1993. Upon completion of basic training, he was assigned to Charleston Air Force Base, SC where he stayed until 2002 as a Utilities Systems Journeyman. Lieutenant Colonel Dibble received his commission as a graduate of Charleston Southern University, Detachment 772, in May 2002. He earned a Master of Business Administration from Touro University International in 2009 and a Master of Military Operational Art and Science from the Air University in 2016.

Lieutenant Colonel Dibble has served in a variety of operational assignments throughout his career. He has served as the Deputy Commander, 92d Operations Group; Commander, 384th Air Refueling Squadron; Assistant Director of Operations, 92nd Air Refueling Squadron; Chief, Mobility, Bomber, Attaché Colonel Assignments, Air Force Colonel Management Office, Pentagon, Washington D.C.; Executive Officer to the Chief, Office of the Defense Representative-Pakistan; Chief Executive Officer, 92d Air Refueling Wing; Group Executive Officer, Director of Staff, 62d Airlift Wing, Joint Base Lewis-McChord; Squadron Executive Officer, Chief Scheduler, Chief of Long Range Mission Planning and Assistant Flight Commander, 436 Airlift Wing.

Lieutenant Colonel Dibble is a command pilot, having logged more than 4,600 hours in the C-5A/B/AMP Galaxy, C-17A Globemaster, KC-135R/T Stratotanker, T-1A Jayhawk, and T-37B Tweet. He currently lives in Ferrara, Italy and is married to the former Candie Mynatt with his four daughters Kelsey, Madelyn, Sophia, and Ava.

Lieutenant Colonel Mikael Tormalm

Lieutenant Colonel Mikael Tormalm is the Commander of the Heavy Airlift Squadron (HAS) of the Heavy Airlift Wing
(HAW), HDF Pápa Air Base, Hungary. The HAS is the world’s first and only multinational C-17 Squadron.
Lieutenant Colonel Tormalm, from Stockholm, Sweden, entered service in the Swedish Air Force 1994, and graduated as a Fighter
pilot in 1997. His first assignment was to the legendary 213th Fighter squadron at the 21st Fighter Wing in Luleå, where he flew
all versions of the SAAB 37 Viggen fighter until 2005, when he converted to the SAAB 39 Gripen fighter. After completing his
assignment as Fighter pilot, Lieutenant Colonel Tormalm served as Instructor at the Swedish Air Force Pilot Training School,
specializing in tactical flying training.

Lieutenant Colonel Mikael Tormalm has also been assigned to the Swedish Armed Forces Headquarters for three years, where
he was responsible for procurement and training of pilots for the SAAB 39 Gripen system.

Lieutenant Colonel Tormalm joined the Heavy Airlift Wing in 2014, and his most recent position has been as Director of Operations at the Heavy Airlift Squadron. With assuming the position as Commander of the Heavy Airlift Squadron, Lieutenant Colonel Tormalm will be the first Swede to command a multinational flying squadron. He is also the first Swedish C-17 Instructor Pilot, with 2,000 flying hours
in the C-17 and a total of 4,000 flying hours.

Lieutenant Colonel Tormalm have studied Aeronautical engineering and holds a Civil Flight Certificate, CPL and ATPL.

In his spare time Lieutenant Colonel Mikael Tormalm enjoys traveling, good food and wine, motorcycles and fast cars. He is married to Susanne and have two daughters, Emma and Juni.

Lieutenant Colonel Phillip A. Summers

Lieutenant Colonel Phillip A. Summers, is the Plans Staff Officer for NATO’s Airlift Coordination Center. Lt Col Summers is directly responsible for coordinating and planning intra-theater airlift for NATO contingency operations. During peacetime, he facilitates the process and procedural development of airlift planning with the Joint Logistics Support Group and Air Command’s A4. Lt Col Summers is also responsible for teaching strategy and airlift operations for NATO’s Initial Functional Joint Force Air Component Training (IFJT).

Lt Col Summers commissioned through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Clemson University after graduation in 2006. Lt Col Summers has performed flying missions in all regions of the world including the Americas, Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa and the Pacific islands. He has held various unit leadership positions including Flight Commander, Chief of Squadron Safety, Assistant Operations Officer, Group Evaluations Officer, and Wing Executive Officer.

Lt Col Summers is a senior pilot with more than 2,600 hours in the C-130E/H, C-5M, T-44A, and T-34C. His operational experience includes multiple deployments to Ali Al Salem AB, Kuwait and Bagram AB, Afghanistan. He has served in major USAF operations including ENDURING FREEDOM, NEW DAWN, INHERENT RESOLVE, and FREEDOM’S SENTINEL.
 

Major General Andreas Schick

General Schick joined the German Air Force in 1980. After earning his wings as a jet pilot in 1985 he was a pilot, instructor pilot and squadron leader in the Fighter Wing 71 “Richthofen” for a period of eleven years. Subsequent to his military career, he fulfilled various command staff posts and took on several leadership assignments in the German Air Force, including an international posting at SHAPE.
In 2007, he became Base Commander of the Fighter Wing 73 "Steinhoff" in Laage, during which time he was also deployed at ISAF HQ, Kabul as a CJ3 Air and Senior National Representative.
From 2013 to 2014, he assumed the position of Branch Head Military Policy and Strategy formulation/ CHoD Representation in International Organizations at the Ministry of Defence, followed by the position of Director Flying Operations at the Air Force Forces Command in Cologne. He was promoted to Brigadier General in December 2015, where he was also deployed to operation “Counter Daesh” in Incirlik as the first Commander of the DEU Contingent. He held the position as Chief of Staff at the European Air Transport Command in Eindhoven Airbase from 2017-2020 and assumed the role of commander of the EATC in September 2020.

Major General Pedro Alexandre E. Salvada

Major General Pedro Alexandre Entradas Salvada is currently Director of the Weapons Systems and Maintenance Directorate, for which he was designated in December 2020.
He was born in Beja, Portugal, in January 1966.
Completed his masters degree in Mechanical Engineering (Energy branch) from Lisbon University, Instituto Superior Técnico. Also completed a masters degree in Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, in USA.
He began his officer career in the Portuguese Air Force, in 1990. After concluding the military and technical training at the Air Force Academy he was stationed at the Weapon System Maintenance Directorate, where he served from 1995 to 2001 performing several engineering roles at the Quality and Engineering Department.
Between 1994 and 1997 was a teacher in the Air Force Academy, teaching Aerodynamics, Thermodynamics, Operational Investigation, and Propulsion Systems.
Between 2004 and 2007 he held the position of Portugal “Senior Country Representative”, representing the Portuguese Air Force at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, USA.
In 2006 he was granted as an Aeronautical Engineering Specialist by the Order of Engineers.
In 2007 returned to the Weapon System Maintenance Directorate where he served as the F-16 Weapons System Manager, Engineering/Modification Coordinator for the F-16/MLU program, Head of Quality and Deputy Director.
In 2010 be was appointed Portuguese National Representative for the “Operational and Logistics Requirements” Sub Committee of the F-16 Multinational Fighter Program, position he held until 2017.
In 2013 he was appointed as F-16 Sale Program Manager, becoming the Head of the Program in March 2019.
After being promoted to Brigadier General in December 2018 he was nominated Director of the Engineering and Programs Directorate until December 2020.
He has several praises and medals, including an “Emblem of Honor” from the Romanian Air Force.
Major General Pedro Salvada is married and has two boys.
 

Mr Dan Gray

Mr Didier Vernet

Didier Vernet is in charge of Military Affairs at Airbus Defence & Space in Madrid (Spain).
Graduated from the French Air Force Academy in Salon de Provence in 1978, he has served in the French Air Force as pilot of Jaguar fighters then KC-135 tankers. He commanded the Air-to-Air Refuelling Squadron in Istres Air Force Base and served in staffs in the Air Force and in the French Ministry of Defence in relation with Operations and Strategic Transport. As a pilot, Didier flew 4000 hours and participated in operations in Africa, in the Gulf War and in ex-Yugoslavia.
In 2007, he retired from the French Air Force and joined the aircraft manufacturer EADS CASA, now AIRBUS, as customer marketing director. He has been leading the A400M Marketing team before being in charge of Military Affairs in Airbus Defence & Space.

Mr Dominic Lyons

Dominic (Dom) Lyons is currently Fixed Wing Sales & Marketing Lead for Boeing Defence UK (BDUK). In this role he is responsible for leading business growth across current and future fixed wing platforms. Dom joined BDUK in December 2017 as Business Development Lead for P-8A Poseidon.
Prior to that Dom spent 4 years with Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group initially as Marketing Executive and then becoming Marketing Director in January 2016, with responsibility for developing key strategic relationships for the company.
Dom joined Marshall ADG from Rolls-Royce where he spent 23 years in a variety of roles. Following a Rolls-Royce sponsorship through University he started his career in Engineering. This led to a secondment to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in North Carolina where he provided technical support to the USMC Harrier fleet both at home and on overseas deployments.
Following his return to the UK in 2001, Dom then provided support to the UK Joint Force Harrier fleets at RAF Wittering and RAF Cottesmore. This period saw Dom on-board ship as he supported the entry into service of the GR7/9A Harrier.
In 2004 Dom was appointed Customer Executive Fixed Wing Support at RAF Wyton working with the MoD Project Teams. During this period he worked closely with the MoD on the transition to availability contracts for engine support, including a secondment to the MoD transformation team.
He returned to Rolls-Royce Bristol in 2009 as Vice President UK Combat, responsible for engine support for the UK Harrier, Tornado, Typhoon, and Hawk aircraft fleets. A move to the Civil Engines business saw Dom become a Sales Director in Rolls-Royce Derby. During this period he was responsible for sales campaigns for Trent engines and long term support contracts adding around $9bn to the order book.
Married to Sarah, a head teacher, they live in Rutland, and have 3 grown up children.
In his spare time Dominic enjoys cycling, running, walking Monty (his black Labrador) and skiing.

Mr Donald Turnbull

Don Turnbull was born and educated in the West of Scotland and graduated from the Royal Air Force College Cranwell in 1985. He served 31 years in the RAF as a pilot and has just under 5000 hrs on the C130K, C130J and as a Qualified Flying Instructor with Central Flying School. He has flown on operations in the Falkland Islands, Gulf War 1, the Balkans, Somalia, Pakistan, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Following nearly 14 years of continuous flying tours, Don was posted to the fledgling UK Joint Helicopter Command in 2000 to work on the development of training for 16 Air Assault Brigade and the development of the Joint Air Manoeuvre capability. Following a 6 month operational detachment to Pakistan in 2002, where he commanded Forward Mounting Base (South) in Karachi, he was posted to the UK Ministry of Defence where the focus was the capability development of the RAF Air Transport and Air-to-Air Refuelling fleets and the development of support to Airborne Forces. He then attended Advanced Staff College in India before returning to take command of No XXIV Sqn RAF. This was followed by a further tour in the UK MoD on International Relations, which involved the development of the RAF International Security Cooperation Strategy and the conduct of global Airman-to-Airman staff talks. Don was then selected to be the UK Defence Attaché to Sweden and Finland (2010-2013), which involved the development of opportunities for training, support on operations and support to the UK defence industry. He then moved to NATO Allied Command Transformation – Staff Element Europe to work on the NATO Defence Planning Process (NDPP) before joining the International Staff (IS) in NATO HQ in 2015. In his role in Aerospace Capabilities in IS-Defence Investment Don has managed the NATO Air Force Armaments Group (NAFAG) and the Joint Capability Group on Vertical Lift. This broad portfolio covers the capability development of weapon effectiveness and interoperability; network enabled weapons; Electronic Warfare and Defensive Aids; Air Mobility, including Air Drop and Support to Special Forces; Joint ISR; and Joint All Domain C2. Special projects have included Distributed Synthetic Training (DST), the Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC), Precision Air Drop (PAD), NATO Flying Training Europe (NFTE), ATM-CNS Performance Equivalence, Rapid Air Mobility (RAM) and the capability development of AAR.

Don has a BSc Computer Science (1984) and an MSc (1st Class) in Defence & Strategic Studies from the University of Madras (2005). He is a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute (FCMI) and the Institute of Leadership and Management (FInstLM), and he works as a volunteer for the RAF Charitable Trust where one of his roles is manager of the Concours d’Elegance competition at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT). He has also completed charity bike rides in support of the Royal British Legion, including the Prudential London Ride 100 and the RBL London to Paris. Other interest include sailing, tennis, music, cooking, wine and sabrage.

Mr Juan Bethancourt

Mr Laurent Donnet

Laurent Donnet is working as a freelance aviation expert consultant since November 2016 at AviDonn Consulting and still a colonel at the Belgian Air Force Reserve.
He joined the Royal Military Academy in 1985 and graduated as a military pilot in 1990. He served on F-16 from 1991 until 2007 and totalizes 2100 flying hours on the type, including 120 war missions. He flew during the first weeks of Operation Allied Force in 1999 over Kosovo and was the first commander of the initial Belgian F-16 detachment in Afghanistan in 2005.
After his operational assignments, he attended Staff College in Paris and worked at the Belgian Joint Headquarters’ Strategy Department in the Capabilities Development Branch as air expert and advisor to the Chief of Defence. He subsequently joined the European Defence Agency (EDA) in April 2009 in the Capabilty Development Directorate and stayed until October 2016. First, as Project Officer in Deployability where he tackled strategic air and sea lift issues, then as Programme Manager for Airlift and AAR. He was in charge of several ventures, out of which EDA’s European Air Transport Fleet partnership signed in 2011 by twenty Member States. He led the multinational C27J and C295 projects as well as AAR initiatives like one dealing with A400M aerial refuelling role equipment and another one regarding AAR clearances and certification. In 2012, he initiated an AAR project that resulted into the now well-known Multinational MRTT Fleet Programme. He was also the EDA expert for Jet Pilot Training providing inputs for the Advanced European Jet Pilot Training (AEJPT) Programme hosted by the EDA from 2008 to 2012.

Mr Paul Page

Paul is an experienced aerospace professional, with +20 years of multiple roles in all sectors of the industry (commercial and defense), ranging from account management, customer support, engineering and sales. In his current role of Technical Sales Director, he is responsible for sales enablement of Honeywell’s military Beyond Visual Line of Sight SATCOM communications solutions for the EMEA and APAC regions. He has an Executive MBA in Aviation Management, is a Chartered Engineer with a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering. He has two kids and is a passionate Rugby Union coach.

Mr Philippe Martou

Philippe Martou totalled more than 5000 hours on the C130 and flew in many Peace Keeping and Peace Enforcement Operations including The Gulf War in 1991, Bosnia in 1993, Rwanda in 1994, Zaire in 1996 and Kosovo in 1999. He also acquired extensive experience flying in Humanitarian Airlift and Airdrop missions in Somalia between 1991 and 1998, South Sudan between 1992 and 1999, Kenya 1995 - 1996 and Angola 1996.

Philippe joined the United Nations World Food Programme as Chief Air Transport Officer in DRC in 2001, was then transferred to Afghanistan in 2002, to Pakistan in 2005 before going to UNWFP HQ in January 2006 as Deputy Chief of Aviation Services and deployed to many sudden onset Emergencies such as the 2004 Tsunami, the 2006 Lebanon war, different Emergencies in Pakistan - Earthquake & flood response, Myanmar Nargis Emergency, Haiti Earthquake, the Philippines cyclone responses, Kenya floods and others. He did a two year duty in Baghdad, followed by an additional two years in Nyala, Darfur, after which he spent three years in Eastern Congo/DRC as Coordinator and Head of Area Office.

Philippe Martou took up his duties as Director WFP Aviation Services on 01 June 2019, after serving from May 2017 as Chief of the Preparedness Branch within the Emergency Preparedness & Support Response Division (OSE).

Mr Roberto Guerrero

Mr. Roberto I. Guerrero, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Operational Energy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Installations, and Environment, Washington, D.C. Mr. Guerrero is responsible for providing oversight and direction for all matters pertaining to the formulation, review, and execution of plans, policies, and programs for the effective and efficient use of the Air Force’s $5 billion Operational Energy Bill in support of its global mission.

Mr. Guerrero earned his commission as an ensign in the Navy through Aviation Officer Candidate School in 1988 and received his wings as a Naval Aviator in 1989. He held assignments in Florida, California, Virginia and Texas, culminating his Navy career in 1999 as an Operations Officer and Flight Instructor in the T-34C. In 2000, Mr. Guerrero was selected for interservice transfer to the Air Force. He qualified on the E-3 AWACS and held assignments in Oklahoma and Okinawa, Japan, where he commanded the 961st Airborne Air Control Squadron. He later served at the Air Force Safety
Center as a Division Chief and concluded his military career as the center's Vice Commander. During his military service, he participated in OperationsDEEP FREEZE, KOREAN CONTINGENCY, NOBLE EAGLE, and flew 24 combat missions over Afghanistan during Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. He was a Command Pilot with more than 4,100 flight hours, including more than 350 combat hours.

Mr. Guerrero entered the civil service in 2010 where he served as Deputy Chief of Safety, U.S. Air Force, and Executive Director, Air Force Safety Center, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico. Following this tour of duty, he was Director of Staff, Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command, Robins AFB, Georgia.

Mr Simon Johns

Simon Johns was educated at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. He has served as an infantry officer in the British and Australian Armies in a wide range of appointments, and on operations around the world. He is a graduate of the UK Joint Services Command and Staff College and holds a Masters Degree in Defence Studies.
Simon has extensive experience on the equipment procurement staff across a range of capabilities. These include the procurement and sustainment of IT systems, soldier modernisation programmes, and mounted and dismounted combat systems.
Before joining Embraer, Simon worked for Lockheed Martin as the business development lead for a range of armoured vehicle opportunities. He was also responsible for growing the Ground-Based Air Defence C4i portfolio worldwide.
Simon is now responsible for promoting Embraer’s portfolio across Europe and Africa. This includes the C-390 Millennium Multi-Mission Tactical Airlifter; the A-29 Super Tucano Light Attack & Advanced Trainer; and the C4i, Cyber, Space, Sensor and IT technologies offered by Embraer’s subsidiaries; Visiona, Tempest and ATech.

Mr Stefano Porreca

After achieving a master degree in Aeronautic Engineering, he began his career in the Leonardo Aircraft Division Engineering department in 1998, as a specialist in hydraulic equipment primarily involved in the Eurofighter and AMX programs.
In the following years he continued working in the Engineering department, first (2000 to 2001) in the Flight Mechanics office, contributing to the development of the Eurofighter autopilot, and later (2002 to 2003) in the Avionics office, as the responsible for the development and qualification activities of the new displays to be integrated in the Tornado aircraft in the frame of the Display System Upgrade program.
In 2004 he became Chief Engineer, in charge of coordinating all the Leonardo Aircraft Division Engineering department activities relevant to the ATR Special Versions aircraft program. In this role, he supervised all phases of the Side Looking Airborne Radar integration on the Italian Coast Guard ATR 42 MP aircraft, including design, installation, testing, certification and delivery.
Since 2006 he is responsible for all Special Versions aircraft in the Sales Engineering function of the Marketing and Sales department. In this role, he provides technical support to all marketing and sales activities. Main tasks include presentation to potential Customers of Leonardo Aircraft special versions solutions, Customers’ requirements analysis, aircraft configuration definition and tailoring, preparation of technical documentation in the frame of commercial offers and participation to negotiations with Customers and Partners.
In 2009 he achieved the Project Management Professional® certification.

Mr Tony Toner

Mrs Sadia Malick-Jones

Ms Indra Duivenvoorde

Indra is director of Government Services for Europe and Israel within International Government and Defence, Boeing Global Services. She is responsible for the growth and execution of international defense business in this region, and is based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Indra joined Boeing in 2003 and has served in a wide variety of roles across business development, sales, international strategic partnerships and program execution for the company’s manufacturing and services divisions within commercial and defense.
Prior to joining International Government and Defence, Indra served as director of salesfor Boeing Commercial Airplanes with responsibility for Central Europe, Spain and Portugal.
In 2017, Indra served as a senior program manager, Vertical Lift programs for Boeing Global Services in the Netherlands, establishing performance-based logistic support on AH-64 Apache and CH-47 Chinook helicopters for the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) resulting into increased operational availability and affordability. She also successfully established a Boeing phase maintenance organization and obtained Military Airworthiness Regulations (MAR-145) accreditation for Apache and Chinook at Logistic Center Woensdrecht (LCW). As the Boeing LCW Site Lead, Indra collaborated
with the RNLAF and the Dutch industry to identify opportunities to enhance Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) capabilities in the region.
In 2010, she joined the International Strategic Partnerships organization as a project  manager across Europe. In this role she was responsible for expanding the Boeing footprint in markets across Europe by successfully implementing industrial participation programs and building alliances and partnerships to enable future growth in both existing and new markets.
Indra began her career supporting Chinook programs and sales campaigns (e.g. F/A18, KC-46, Rotorcraft, UAVs) through Boeing’s Global Support Network, as well as the company’s International Support Systems organization.
Indra graduated from the University of The Hague with a BSc in European Studies in 2003 and is currently an Executive MBA Candidate at the Erasmus University of Rotterdam.

Pre-Conference Networking Reception (19:15-20:45, 29th November)

Wing Commander Andy McIntyre

Wing Commander Andy McIntyre joined the RAF in October 2000 having read Computer Science at the University of Hull and completed Elementary Flying Training with Yorkshire Universities Air Squadron. Following Initial Officer Training and completion of flying training in 2003, McIntyre was assigned to the C-17 and 99 Sqn as a co-pilot. An Operational Conversion Unit in Altus AFB, Oklahoma preceded an extremely busy tour conducted largely in support of Operations TELIC and HERRICK but included worldwide Air Transport tasks to Australia, South America and Africa and an emergency mission to the Kamchatka Peninsula to aid the UK rescue of a stricken Russian submarine in 2005.
Having achieved captaincy in June 2006, McIntyre was selected for instructional duties on the Tucano T1 on 207(R) Sqn, RAF Linton-On-Ouse later that year. He returned to 99 Sqn in February 2010 having achieved A2 QFI and IRE qualifications and gained valuable experience in the wide variety of disciplines delivered to students undertaking Basic Fast Jet Flying Training.
McIntyre promoted to Squadron Leader in May 2012 and remained on 99 Sqn as the 2IC. Over the next two years McIntyre continued to both undertake and supervise operational tasking in support of Op HERRICK, most notably in conducting extended crew duty ‘daytrips’ to Afghanistan, Op PABBAY missions and routine moves of passengers and freight along the airbridge. He also deployed into Bamako, Mali as an augmentee with the UK Joint Forces Headquarters (JFHQ) in January 2013 at the outset of Op NEWCOMBE. After Flight Command, McIntyre was assigned to Career Management (Air Manning) as the Desk Officer to 380 squadron leader Air Mobility, CFS, Rotary and ISTAR aircrew.
On promotion to Wing Commander in August 2016, McIntyre undertook Advanced Command and Staff College and an MA in defence Studies at the Defence Academy, Shrivenham before returning to the staff environment as SO1 J3 Air within JFHQ at Northwood HQ. The role involved high threat and readiness training for Operational Liaison and Reconnaissance Team Leader duties and included deployments to the Caribbean (Op RUMAN) and to Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, and the wider Gulf to assist those British Embassies with crisis contingency planning from a Defence perspective.
McIntyre completed an A400M OCU alongside Senior officer courses on the C-130 and C-17 in preparation for his current role as OC XXIV Squadron, which is charged with delivering through life training to aircrew and engineers on those three frontline platforms. He is married to Sam with whom he enjoys ‘enabling’ their two daughters’ busy social schedule. Any spare time is devoted to running, where he has so far completed four of the six Abbott World Marathon Majors.