2017-AJW-215_STEM Mentoring Booklet_sd05

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Table of Contents

Youth Speed Mentoring Workshop and Presentation Moderator
Vaughn A. Turner, Federal Aviation Administration, Vice President, Technical Operations Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Keynote Speaker
Teri L. Bristol, FAA, Chief Operating Officer, Air Traffic Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Executive Panelists
Tim Arel, FAA, Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Air Traffic Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Patricia A. McNall, FAA, Principal Deputy Chief Counsel, Enforcement and Regulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Elizabeth Ray, FAA, Vice President, Mission Support Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Pamela Whitley, FAA, Deputy Assistant Administrator, NextGen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Young Professionals
Krystle Lewis, FAA, In Service Manager, Technical Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Andrea Scott, FAA, General Engineer, NextGen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Speed Mentor Biographies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 – 27

Table of Contents TranSTEM • Youth Speed Mentoring Workshop

Youth Speed Mentoring Workshop and Presentation Moderator

Vaughn A. Turner, FAA, Vice President, Technical Operations Services

Vaughn A. Turner was named the vice president of Technical Operations for the Air
Traffic Organization (ATO) in September 2012.

As vice president of Technical Operations, Turner is responsible for the delivery of
maintenance, monitoring and engineering services in the national airspace system
(NAS). He is in charge of providing spectrum and telecommunication services to
support the ATO’s service units, and worldwide flight inspection services for the
NAS and Department of Defense, including combat/contingency support. He leads a
workforce of more than 10,000 employees who ensure that more than 65,000 pieces
of equipment and systems operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, at more than
6,000 facilities.

In addition, he was appointed the role as the designated agency safety and health
official (DASHO) in May 2013. As the DASHO, he is responsible for the policy and program support of the occupational
safety and health of all FAA employees.

Previously, Turner served as the executive director and deputy vice president of Technical Operations, providing day-
to-day leadership and support to the vice president and the ATO since November 2009. In this capacity, Turner ensured
continuity of communication between field and headquarters managers and served as liaison to the vice president for
all operational matters, providing direction, planning, and management and implementation oversight.

In his 34-year federal career, he has had extensive experience leading, directing and managing Technical Operations.
Turner served as the director of Safety and Operations Support in 2008, and was responsible for more than 500
federal employees and 600 contract employees in five regions.

After joining the FAA in September 1988 as a navigational aids and communications technician at the Los Angeles
International Airport Nav/Com Sector Field Office, Turner has held progressively more responsible positions across the
FAA, serving as: area operations manager of the Golden Gate Systems Management Office in 1996; facility manager
of the Southern California Terminal Radar Approach Control Facility in 1999; assistant manager and manager of the
Golden Gate Systems Management Office in 2002; and district manager of the Oakland Air Route Traffic Control Center
in 2006. He began his federal career in 1981 with the U.S. Department of Defense.

Turner holds a bachelor’s degree in business management. His teams have been seven-time recipients of the FAA’s
Systems Management Office of the Year Award.

Presentation Moderator 1 TranSTEM • Youth Speed Mentoring Workshop

Keynote Speaker

Teri L. Bristol, FAA, Chief Operating Officer, Air Traffic Organization

As chief operating officer of the FAA’s Air Traffic Organization (ATO), Teri Bristol is
responsible for ensuring safe, efficient and secure air traffic services for 50,000
aircraft operating over approximately 30.2 million square miles every day.

In her role, Bristol provides leadership and direction for 33,000 employees providing
the organization’s core functions of Air Traffic Services, Technical and Systems
Operations, Safety Management, Technical Training, Mission Services, Management
Services, Program Management, and Flight Program Operations. She has made great
strides on behalf of the agency on labor relations and has played a key role in the
deployment and integration of NextGen capabilities, unmanned aerial systems (UAS),
and commercial space operations into daily NAS operations.

Throughout her 24-year career, Bristol has had extensive experience in leading the technically varied missions of the
ATO. Prior to being named COO in 2014, she served as deputy COO from 2012 to 2013, assuming greater responsibility
for operations domestically and for the agency’s role in international air navigation services. In previous positions,
Bristol oversaw the maintenance, monitoring and engineering services in the NAS, directed operational support and
integration services across the nation’s airspace, and was directly responsible for the daily operation of air traffic
control facilities throughout the western United States, Alaska and Hawaii.

Bristol is a member of the executive committee of the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO), as well
as CANSO’s Operations Support Champion—roles in which she represents the FAA in efforts to harmonize air traffic
policies and procedures, and develop best practices for the safe and efficient delivery of air navigation services.

Bristol represents the ATO on the FAA’s Drone Advisory Committee, is a member of the NextGen Executive Board, the
NextGen Advisory Committee (NAC), is an executive leader of the NAC’s NextGen Integration Working Group, and is an
ex-officio member of the RTCA Policy Board.

Keynote Speaker 2 TranSTEM • Youth Speed Mentoring Workshop

Executive Panelists

Timothy L. Arel, FAA,
Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Air Traffic Organization

Tim Arel was appointed as the FAA’s deputy chief operating officer of the Air Traffic
Organization (ATO) in January 2017. The ATO encompasses more than 30,000 employees
across eight service units that include: Air Traffic Services; Technical Operations Services;
System Operations Services; Safety and Technical Training; Mission Support Services;
Management Services; Flight Programs; and the Program Management Organization.

As deputy chief operating officer, Arel oversees the daily operation of the ATO and is
responsible for safe, efficient and secure air traffic operations across the entire national
airspace system. He supports and executes the vision of the administrator and chief
operating officer and provides leadership and direction through a team of vice presidents. He ensures the continued
synchronized and timely delivery of services while deploying and implementing the modernization programs of NextGen.

Arel was the vice president of Air Traffic Services from 2015 through 2016 and has served as the deputy vice president
of both Air Traffic Services and Safety and Technical Training. He held several safety leadership roles in the ATO, including
managing the Air Traffic Control Investigations Team, the Compliance Services Group, the Quality Assurance Group and the
Safety Services Group He also was the director for Safety.

Arel has a broad range of experience throughout the ATO and began his FAA career as an air traffic controller in 1989.
In System Operations he held positions as an air traffic security coordinator, program manager for national security
events and national traffic management officer at the Air Traffic Control System Command Center. He also has served
in management support positions at the New England Regional office and at headquarters in Management Services,
specializing in resource management, labor relations and training.

Arel is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and has a background in public safety, having worked as an emergency medical
technician, firefighter, 911 operator and police officer. He is a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute’s Leadership for a
Democratic Society and the Harvard John F. Kennedy School of Government’s Driving Government Performance.

Executive Panelists 3 TranSTEM • Youth Speed Mentoring Workshop

Patricia A. McNall, FAA,
Principal Deputy Chief Counsel

Patricia A. McNall became the FAA’s deputy chief counsel in June 2014. In that role,
she is responsible for assuring responsive, timely and high-quality legal work for the
FAA. She is also specifically responsible for the agency’s ethics program, including
teaching, counseling and decision-making on ethics issues.

Before that, she was the agency’s chief acquisition officer and acquisition executive
at the start of 2011 as part of the Air Traffic Organization, and then deputy assistant
administrator for Finance and Management. Earlier, she was the FAA’s assistant chief
counsel for Acquisition and Commercial Law.

In her 34-year FAA career, 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 the FAA’s William J. Hughes Technical Center, special assistant to the chief
counsel, and acting deputy director for the FAA’s Office of Acquisitions.

In 1995, 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. In 2011, she led the effort
to form a shared services organization within the FAA. She has received numerous awards, including the Presidential
Rank Award of Merit, a National Performance Review “Hammer” award from the U.S. vice president, the Federal Bar
Association’s Transportation Lawyer of the Year, the Secretary’s “Gold Medal” Award, Outstanding Attorney at the FAA
for the year, Logistics Service Award, Quality Action Team awards, and numerous special achievement awards.

In 1985, McNall earned her juris doctorate 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 master’s (1982) in economics and international relations from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced
International Relations and a bachelor’s (1979) in international relations and Asian studies from Scripps College.

Executive Panelists 4 TranSTEM • Youth Speed Mentoring Workshop

Elizabeth L. Ray, FAA,
Vice President, Mission Support Services

Elizabeth Lynn Ray is the vice president of Mission Support Services for the Air
Traffic Organization (ATO) in the FAA. Mission Support includes various FAA programs
responsible for: the rules, policies and standards for airspace structure, design and
allocation; obstruction evaluation; air traffic environmental policy; the design and
implementation of area navigation/required navigation performance procedures; the
development of air traffic procedures and standards; the production and charting of
instrument flight procedures; the development and validation of air traffic concepts
and requirements; aeronautical information management; the integration of
unmanned aircraft systems and commercial space vehicles into air traffic operations;
and the service centers in Atlanta, Dallas and Seattle. The service centers provide staff support to the directors of
operations in airspace and procedures, quality assurance, equipment installation and program management, and
business and administrative services.

Ray joined the FAA in 1984, beginning her career as an air traffic control specialist at the Atlanta Air Route Traffic Control
Center, where she held several positions including that of air traffic manager. She has held various management and
staff positions at the FAA’s Southern Region and at FAA headquarters. She was first selected as an FAA executive in
2008 as the director of System Operations Airspace and Aeronautical Information Management in the ATO. She has
been the vice president of Mission Support Services since it was established in 2010.

Ray holds a bachelor’s (with honors) in biology from Milligan College; a master’s in zoology from the University of
South Florida; and a juris doctorate (with honors) from Georgia State University College of Law. She is a member of
the Georgia Bar Association, Air Traffic Control Association and Professional Women Controllers.

Executive Panelists 5 TranSTEM • Youth Speed Mentoring Workshop

Pamela Whitley, FAA,
Deputy Assistant Administrator, NextGen

As the deputy assistant administrator for the Next Generation Air Transportation
System (NextGen), Pamela Whitley is responsible for championing the evolution of
the national airspace system (NAS). She has been involved with NextGen from its
planning stage. In her current role, she has responsibility for providing strategic
direction, as well as executive oversight, for more than 900 federal employees and
an approximately $2 billion federal budget.

Her career with the FAA began in 1993 as an electronics engineer responsible for
the development of standards for airport electrical equipment and lighting. She has
held positions in the Airway Support Facilities Division, the Office of Technology
Development, and the NextGen Integration and Implementation Office. Whitley has extensive experience working with
the Department of Transportation, the Office of Management and Budget, and Congress. Her early contributions to
NextGen helped sustain a long-term funding profile for NAS modernization. As a result, the FAA has continued to invest
in key programs and research activities that are modernizing today’s NAS.

Whitley is regarded as a dynamic leader, and throughout her career she has demonstrated the ability to lead large-
scale, complex initiatives. When asked how she was able to achieve so much, she credits her ability to combine
technical knowledge with an understanding of strategic financial management, in addition to her ability to work with
the talented people at the FAA.

Whitley has held several positions related to delivering NextGen, including serving as director of the NextGen Integration
and Implementation Office. In 2011, the NextGen organization’s responsibilities were expanded to include planning
for the entire NAS. As a result, she became responsible for providing leadership to help meet the organization’s new
goals. While Whitley has spent most of her career with the FAA, she has completed detail assignments at both the
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. Her
ability to provide strategic direction proved to be valued during both details.

Whitley is the recipient of several prestigious awards from the FAA, including a 2008 ATO Executive Council Leadership
Award, for her contribution in establishing a portfolio management framework for NextGen. She also received the FAA
Administrator’s Award for Environmental Excellence in 2005 and has been recognized for her leadership on various
technology development initiatives over the years.

A graduate of Southern University in Baton Rouge, La., Whitley earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering.
Her professional career as an electrical engineer began with the Tennessee Valley Authority; and later she served as
an engineering consultant to the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission.

In her spare time, she enjoys traveling abroad, listening to “real” jazz music and watching sports – more specifically
the New Orleans Saints and Southern University Jaguar football.

Executive Panelists 6 TranSTEM • Youth Speed Mentoring Workshop

Young Professionals

Krystle Lewis, FAA,
In Service Manager, Technical Operations Services

Krystle Lewis is an organizational development enthusiast. She started her
tenure with the FAA in the summer of 2008 after graduating from undergraduate
school. She holds a bachelor’s degree in social work and a master’s degree in
organizational development.

Prior to beginning her government career, she worked as a resource manager and
social worker helping maximum-security inmates transition back into society. Lewis
considers herself to be a change agent. When she began working at the FAA, she
started in the Diversity Office with training development and facilitation. She was
focused on helping individuals reach their full potential in their current jobs while
providing leadership development. Afterward, she moved to focusing on generating customer service work products
and packages to various organizations in the Air Traffic Organization (ATO), such as leading organizational change
efforts, management processes, hiring, recruitment planning, and organizational redesign. Lewis believes in having
transferable skills to fully optimize any role or position one may be in.

Currently, she works in ATO Technical Operations as a program manager generating policy for FAA national airspace
system operations and serving as an in-service manager for the Technical Operations interface with Commercial
Space Integration. As a millennial working in a multi-generational workforce, Lewis’ focus has been to help transition
the culture of the workforce to meet the demands of the new culture and changes while keeping the vintage heartbeat
of the agency through the products and services she generates.

Young Professionals 7 TranSTEM • Youth Speed Mentoring Workshop

Andrea Scott, FAA,
General Engineer, NextGen

Andrea Scott is a general engineer with the FAA. She has worked in the Program
Office for the Navigation Program and NextGen. Although these are two separate
departments within the FAA, Scott worked in the capacity of ensuring that she fulfills
the FAA mission, which is to “provide the safest, most efficient aerospace system in
the world.”

Before dedicating her time to the FAA, Scott volunteered at the Center for Integrated
Nanotechnologies, where she designed integrated, nano-enabled components using
up to 100 millimeter wafers, and the Air Force Research Laboratories, where she
helped with the development of early maintenance detection for airspace vehicles.

As an electrical engineer alumna from Temple University (bachelor’s degree) and an alumna from the University of
New Mexico (master’s degree), Scott has held various engineering positions with the federal government. Scott was
an electronics engineer for the U.S. Air Force, where she ensured that soldiers had reliable ground communication
devices. Scott was an electrical engineer for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and where she focused on
providing reliable electricity across the United States by writing energy policy, approving tariffs, performing weather-
grid assessments and audits.

Although Scott has an extensive engineering background, she spends her spare time tutoring and volunteering with the
Community Christian Church preschool initiative program in Maryland. Of the many children Scott has encountered,
she encourages them to go to school, work hard and know that the world is your oyster — you just have to plan for it.

Young Professionals 8 TranSTEM • Youth Speed Mentoring Workshop

Speed Mentor Biographies

Aaron Anderson

Aaron Anderson is a new FAA employee who works as a budget analyst for the National Airspace
System Integration and Support Group. A 2011 graduate of Hampton University, he is in the
beginning stages of his career and looks forward to his growth within the agency. Anderson
received a full track-and-field scholarship and isa member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.,
where he actively contributes to his community and the fraternity itself. He prides himself in
setting and attaining goals and inspired by the motto, “With a steady pace, and your head set
for the finish line, you will reach your goals.”

Eddie Ameckson

Eddie Ameckson, a civil engineer with a Bachelor of Science degree, began his career as a
transportation technician with the North Carolina Department of Transportation. He currently
possesses waste management and Six Sigma Green Belt certificates. He began his career
with the FAA as a general engineer in January 2017. Ameckson supports the Facilities and
Security Services group, where he looks forward to lending his expertise to the efforts of
terminal facilities planning, terminal facilities, en route facilities, unstaffed infrastructure
sustainment, facility security and mobile assets.

Joseph Barrow

Joseph Barrow has been with the FAA for over 30 years and is currently a program manager
working with the Obstruction Evaluation Group, which overseas any obstructions being built in
and around the nation’s airports. This work is designed to prevent any structures from interfering
with the electronics signals, such as communications, radar, navigational aids and visual aids
use by Air Traffic Services and the flying public to keep the national airspace safe in all weather
conditions.

He holds an associate degree in electronics from Chattanooga State Technical Community
College. Before joining the FAA, Barrow spent 4 1/2 years in the Air Force as a navigational aids technician. After
the Air Force, he started his FAA career as a radar/automation technician, later becoming the system performance
specialist, coordinator and System Support Center manager at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

Barrow is the proud parent of Joe Jr., Jason and Joelle. Joe Jr. is a firefighter; Jason is a car salesman; and Joelle
is a metropolitan airport police officer. He believes in treating people fairly and that if you say you’re going to do
something, you should do it. Be a man of your word.

Speed Mentors 9 TranSTEM • Youth Speed Mentoring Workshop

David Beck

David Beck is a scientist, engineer, dreamer, robotics mentor, STEM educator, entrepreneur and
aviation/space professional. At age 6, Beck was inspired by the opportunity to be an engineering
scientist, and he took upon himself the duties of encouraging others. Beck has specialized in
automotive engineering and aerospace engineering for over 20 years and possesses a strong
background in design, testing and project management engineering as it relates to structures
and durability in aerospace and automotive.

Beck graduated with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from the University of
Southern Mississippi, where he chaired science and innovative engineering teams as an underclassman. He continued
his education with a Master of Business Administration in marketing and most recently a Master of Science in
space studies and aeronautical science for his future pursuits to study space and space travel. He has an achieved
knowledge of six sigma methodology with Six Sigma Green Belt, as well being trained in all engineering design and
drafting technology software.

Beck led a team of engineers to support the Joint Strike Fighter program F-136 and many other top-tier Department
of Defense programs in the aerospace arena. Beck previously served as assistant deputy commander for the Civil Air
Patrol Joint-Base Anacostia Bowling, part of the U.S. Air Force Combined Forces. He educated young adults about the
military and the importance of science. Currently Beck serves on the 2018 Space Conference as a committee chair
member and is preparing to publish two papers before the conference in the summer of 2018.

Beck’s love of robots helps him serve as a grand judge for the International Science and Engineering Fair. He also
volunteers for other STEM activities and local science fairs, and with Mission Continues (a nonprofit helping veterans
transition into communities around the country) and the mayor’s DC Serve team. Among the various nonprofits Beck
supports, the most heart-healing are working as an ambassador for Children’s Hospital of Washington and as an
ambassador for the National Bone Marrow Foundation operated by Be The Match, saving and supporting many people
in the fight to eliminate cancer.

Gregory Burke

Gregory Burke joined the FAA in July 1992 and has held many leadership positions, including
as vice president of En Route and Oceanic Services. In this role, which he assumed in December
2010, he oversaw: the delivery of air traffic services through 23 facilities; the establishment and
maintenance of air traffic policies, standards and procedures; the deployment of the Automatic
Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast and En Route Automation Modernization systems; the air
traffic control of more than 24.6 million square miles of airspace over the ocean; the upgrades
to existing physical plants; the alignment of planning efforts to support NextGen; implementation
of major Metroplex airspace projects; the conduct of safety and quality-control reviews, audits, assessments, data
analysis and trends; an annual operating budget in excess of $1.7 billion; and the management of the Safety
Management System across the service unit.

Speed Mentors 10 TranSTEM • Youth Speed Mentoring Workshop

Before rejoining En Route and Oceanic Services as vice president, Burke served a special assignment to stand up
the Program Management Organization within the FAA. With the combining of En Route and Oceanic Services and
Terminal Services to form Air Traffic Services, Burke became the director of Concept, Validation and Requirements
within Mission Support Services. This directorate is broken into three main areas: process control, operational
concepts/validation and operational requirements. By applying its enterprise-level perspective, operational and
system engineering expertise, and project management experience, the directorate ensures that system changes to
the national airspace system are operationally sound.

Burke is a graduate from Virginia Commonwealth University and George Washington University, where he obtained
Bachelor of Science degrees in physics and electrical engineering.

Kristen G. Burnham

Kris Burnham is the vice president of the Program Management Organization (PMO) within the
FAA’s Air Traffic Organization. The PMO manages a broad range of programs, including the
deployment of communications, navigation, weather, surveillance and automation systems in
support of NextGen, as well as technology refresh of legacy infrastructure across the national
airspace system.

Over the last 23 years, Burnham has served in FAA roles spanning policy, finance, acquisitions,
and NextGen planning. Before assuming a leadership role in the PMO in 2015, she served for
several years as the FAA’s director of Investment Planning and Analysis, helping the agency to strategically balance
near-term and future capital investment needs.

Kelvin Brown

Kelvin Brown is a management and program analyst for the FAA. Working within the National
Airspace System Quality Assurance and Performance group, Brown manages the Facility
Equipment/Facility Module Program, which provides and maintains more than 5,000 system/
equipment inventories for hardware and software currently installed and/or operating within the
airspace throughout the continental United States, Hawaii other U.S. territories.

These inventories provide the FAA with part procurement information, equipment and system
maintenance schedules, which enable the agency to analyze the efficiency, cost and reliability
of equipment and services. One of these equipment inventories highlighted and prevented a safety issue, while
contributing to an FAA cost savings over $4.5 million.

Aside from the sheer joy of keeping the flying public safe, Brown enjoys spending time with his loving wife and
children. His mission of giving back through public service is continued through his involvement with community
initiatives as a member of Emmanuel Wesleyan Church in Salisbury, Md., and Habitat for Humanity. Brown holds
bachelor’s degree in resource economics from the University of Maryland at College Park.

Speed Mentors 11 TranSTEM • Youth Speed Mentoring Workshop

Ronicsa M. Chambers

Ronicsa Chambers is the manager of diversity and inclusion in Management Services. Prior to
assuming this position, Chambers spent over 15 years in aviation finance in the private and
public sectors. Chambers is a proud graduate of the Florida A&M School of Business and
Industry, where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in business administration. She obtained a
professional certificate from Johns Hopkins University in the Leadership Development Program
and then obtained her Master of Business Administration degree, also from Johns Hopkins
University. In addition to her degree, Chambers was awarded the Edward W. Stegman Award for
academic excellence for maintaining a 4.0 GPA while pursuing her master’s degree.

Her career path has included many diverse experiences, including three professional internships while pursuing her
bachelor’s degree. While an undergraduate, Chambers completed the Bloomingdales Executive Training program,
a marketing research internship at Dow Chemical and a marketing internship at Corning Glass. Upon graduation,
Chambers joined the Amoco Oil Company, where she worked in a variety of marketing and strategic planning positions
until she left to pursue an advanced degree. After receiving her master’s degree, Chambers joined US Airways in
the MBA Rotational program. This allowed MBA graduates to work in a variety of areas of the company to increase
their knowledge of the aviation industry in general and US Airways in particular. Chambers worked in a number of
departments with increasing responsibility, eventually becoming the comptroller for the Finance, Legal and Airline
Real Estate departments. This was a very dynamic environment, and after the events of Sept. 11, 2001, the employees
of US Airways had the tremendous task of restoring the health of the airline to ensure its future. In 2005, Chambers
continued her career in aviation finance but moved to the public sector at the FAA.

In addition to her professional career, Chambers is married to Capt. Darin Chambers and is blessed to parent a
wonderful nephew and an amazing daughter. She is currently the president of the Baltimore County chapter of Alpha
Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., a charter member of the Patuxent River Chapter of the Top Ladies of Distinction, and a
member of the Junior League of Annapolis, Bishop McNamara High School Parent Club and Reid Temple African
Methodist Episcopal Church.

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Shabiki Clarke

Shabiki Clarke is a federal financial manager for the FAA, where she focuses on formulation,
execution and justification of the federal budget for the Air Traffic Organization (ATO). Clarke’s
responsibilities include the coordination of the ATO Technical Operations, Operations Support/
Second Level Engineering budget and finances of $208 million in operational funding, $14.9
million in facilities and equipment, and $434,000 in travel funds, as well as financial actions
with the Operations Review Board, Office of Budget and Finance, Comptroller’s Office. She
provides monthly analysis for budget and finance presentations to the deputy vice president,
director and deputy director, and group managers.

Clarke is currently working on her bachelor’s degree in business administration with a minor in forensics at the
University of Maryland at University College. As a native-born from Guyana, South America, Clarke migrated with her
family to the United States in February 1982. Staying grounded in her native and American cultures has provided her
the open-mindedness to understand and accept diversity and change. Identifying this at an early age allowed her the
opportunity to pursue her passion for volunteering.

Clarke is involved with the Guyanese Assisting in Development effort that has a mission of assisting the less fortunate
children to a better education in Guyana. She is also the president of the board of directors for the Potomac Place
Condominiums, where she helps to ensure the community stays viable as the historic Washington, D.C, waterfront
neighborhood changes. She is also a member of the National Montford Point Marine Association, Inc., Quantico
Chapter 32 Ladies Auxiliary, where she serves as both a national and local officer, preserving the history of the
Montford Point Marines.

Shashunga Clayton

Shashunga Clayton is the director of Outreach and Education at the U.S. Department of
Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). She started with FMCSA
in 2007, and her office is responsible for informing and educating diverse groups of stakeholders
whose engagement is key to reducing crashes, injuries and fatalities involving large trucks and
buses. She has a proven track record of creating, carrying out, and managing communications
and outreach programs that effectively promote commercial vehicle safety and consumer
protection.

Clayton has nearly two decades of experience in public affairs and communications, including the private sector
and federal service. She began her career at International Paper in 1996 and later transitioned to public service at
the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1999. She received her bachelor’s degree from Florida A&M University and is
currently the treasurer of the Federally Employed Women Organization’s Women on the Move chapter. She resides in
Woodbridge, Va., with her two children, Eric and Ashley.

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Anthony Coggins

Anthony Coggins is an engineer in the FAA Acquisition Policy and Business Services
Organization. Coggins supports the Joint Resources Council Secretariat in promoting effective
and efficient use of the FAA Acquisition Management System’s investment decision-making
process. Additionally, he supports the FAA Earned Value Management Focal Point to ensure
agency investment compliance with policies and guidelines. Coggins has a Master of Business
Administration and 25 years of FAA experience in the management and acquisition of
government electronic systems, including all phases of project/program lifecycle management.

P. Cornell Collie

P. Cornell Collie joined the FAA in November 2000 as an environmental protection specialist in
Washington, D.C., where he was responsible for managing, planning, coordinating and providing
technical expertise for hazardous materials and for occupational safety and health. By 2003 he
was selected to manage the FAA’s entire Environmental Cleanup Program, with annual funding
of over $20 million. Collie consistently demonstrates outstanding management skills, and the
desire and ability to accept new challenges and details when the opportunities arise.

Before working for the FAA, he was employed by the Water and Sewer Authority, where he
managed all architectural/engineering construction to install, maintain, and repair water and sewer projects with
a budget of $12.1 million. Following this effort, he began supporting the FAA through the National Airspace System
Integrated Support Contract, where he provided critical assistance in connection with the FAA’s 21 air route traffic
control centers and two center radar approach control facilities. By 1999 he began supporting the FAA more directly
through Horne Engineering Services as a project manager for environmental compliance/senior engineer lead.

Collie holds a Bachelor of Arts in architecture, a Bachelor of Science in engineering and a Master of Science in
engineering. He has received numerous awards, is involved in many volunteer experiences and has various professional
affiliations. Currently, Collie is the manager of the Configuration Management Group in the Air Traffic Control Facilities
and Engineering Services Directorate.

Speed Mentors 14 TranSTEM • Youth Speed Mentoring Workshop

Valerie Cook

Valerie Cook is a career federal employee who is currently the training communications liaison
in the Safety and Technical Training organization. She serves as a representative for the
Employee Engagement Workgroup that involves employees in developing solutions identified in
the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey. Prior to this position, Cook was the project manager for
both local and national technical training developments for the following program areas:
Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health, Technical Operations Safety Action Program,
Voluntary Safety Reporting Program, Aeronautical Information Management Modernization,
Alaskan Satellite Telecommunications Infrastructure Equipment, and Terminal Automation
Systems. In this role, Cook was responsible for ensuring the proficiency of the airway transportation system specialist
workforce by developing and monitoring training during the planning stages of new equipment deployment into the
national airspace system.

Cook brings strong communications, planning, implementation and project management skills, as well as an analytical
and quantitative mindset to build, improve and implement communications programs. She is a 2010 graduate of the
American University’s Executive Leadership Program and a 2007 U.S. Department of Agriculture Executive Leadership
Program graduate. She holds an associate’s from Northern Virginia Community College. Cook is happily married to
John Cook Sr., and they are the proud parents of five children, Christopher, Joshua, Tempest, John Jr. and Taylor. Cook
enjoys spending quality time with her family and friends during frequent outings and vacations. She is a member of
Grace Church in Dumfries, Va., and enjoys ice and roller skating and giving back to the community.

Rhonda M. Dews

Rhonda M. Dews currently serves as the deputy director of civil rights in the Federal Railroad
Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). Of her 34 years of federal service,
26 have been in the civil rights arena. Throughout her tenure, Dews has been responsible for
most aspects of the programs, such as compliance, complaints, accessibility, affirmative
employment, special emphasis, student programs, diversity, mentoring, outreach, environmental
justice and small, disadvantaged businesses. She’s participated in numerous departmental and
interagency initiatives and task forces, including playing a leadership role in the establishment of
DOT’s IdeaHub Office, a departmental program to address innovation and employee engagement.

An avid believer of lifelong learning, she has a bachelor’s degree in biology from Bowie State University and has
certifications as an equal employment opportunity counselor, life coach, facilitator and fitness instructor. Dews is
currently enrolled in the Executive Leadership Certificate Program at American University.

Dews is passionate about accessibility and fairness for all, as well as being a catalyst for positive change, contributing
toward individuals becoming whole and well, and serving her community. This is further evidenced with one of her
favorite mottos, “Mission First, People Always.” In addition to enjoying and living life fully with family and friends, she
is an avid sports fan, including of the Washington Redskins.

Speed Mentors 15 TranSTEM • Youth Speed Mentoring Workshop

Camille Gaffney

Camille Gaffney is an employee relations specialist at the FAA. She has over seven years
of experience in employee relations advising management on all facets of employee
conduct, discipline and performance management. In addition, she served over a year in
the Third Party Services Division as a labor relations specialist, handling national and
headquarters grievances, processing representation petitions and representing the FAA at
arbitration and hearings.

Before joining the FAA, Gaffney was a legal aid attorney for the Land of Lincoln Legal
Assistance Foundation in Champaign, Ill. As an attorney there, she represented clients on all matters of family law.

Gaffney has a Bachelor of Arts in English and African diaspora studies from Tulane University and a juris doctorate
from the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. In addition, she has a certificate in human resources from
eCornell. Gaffney is a licensed attorney in Illinois and Washington, D.C. In her free time, she enjoys traveling,
hiking, cooking and spending time with her husband Nicholas, daughter Madeleine and son Benjamin.

Gemechu Gelgelu

Gemechu (Geme) Gelgelu joined the FAA in 2009 and currently works in the Airspace Policy
group. He served as the acting manager for the Airspace and Rules Team within the Airspace
Services Directorate. Gelgelu is also the project manager for the unmanned aircraft systems
Pathfinder Focus Area Two, Extended Visual Line of Sight.

Gelgelu served as a trusted advisor to the Airspace Policy Group Manager on all aspects of
airspace operations, developments, rules and regulations, and UAS. He previously worked for
four years as a safety engineer for Air Traffic Safety Oversight Services, where he provided
Safety Management System services overseeing the Air Traffic Organization. Gelgelu obtained a bachelor’s degree in
mathematics from the University of Minnesota, with a sub-plan of electrical and computer engineering, and a master’s
degree from the University of Minnesota in environmental health and safety.

Speed Mentors 16 TranSTEM • Youth Speed Mentoring Workshop

Elayne Gomes-Battle

Elayne Gomes-Battle is a management and program analyst for the FAA’s Management Services
Employee Development Group and is currently a member of the Training and Development
Infrastructure Team. She joined the FAA in 2001, working as a contract specialist for the
Acquisitions division.

She joined the Employee Development Group in 2009 and currently serves as: the Leadership
and Career Development Partnership Program’s lead; a career advisor for the Career Services
Center; an upstream recruiting career development lead; and a faculty lead for the Program for
Emerging Leaders under the FAA’s Human Development Group.

Gomes-Battle is a graduate of Northeastern University in Boston, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in business
administration, with a concentration in management.

Deidre Hayes

Deidre (Dee Dee) Hayes has supported the FAA for 15 years. She double-majored in business
management and accounting and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of
Maryland at College Park. The majority of Hayes’ career consisted of supporting the FAA in the
field of budget, procurement and, most recently, program management.

She also spent a significant amount of time supporting the Department of Homeland Security.
There, she honed her skills in the area of contract and portfolio management. Currently, she
supports the national airspace system integration through the In-service Terminal Surveillance
group and has taken a support role as an in-service manager. Hayes constantly strives to live under the tenant to
always be an asset and never be a liability to any organization she serves.

Carrie Higgins

Carrie Higgins has been with the FAA for three years and has a combined federal service of over
20 years. She holds an associate degree in computer information systems. She is currently the
team manager for the National Enterprise Operations’ Program Control Team in Operational
Programs. In her current position, Higgins is responsible for budget, staffing, training and
contract administration. Higgins has been married for 22 years to her high school sweetheart,
Kevin, and is the proud and adoring mother of Kaitlyn and Hailey. Kaitlyn just finished her first
year of college at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Va., and Hailey is a
sophomore in high school. Higgins believes that to be a great leader, you need compassion, a positive attitude, a
desire to make a difference and a commitment to always put forth your best effort.

Speed Mentors 17 TranSTEM • Youth Speed Mentoring Workshop

Valerie J. Howard

From a young age, Valerie Howard has had a love for aviation. She learned about airplanes by
watching her father, a paratrooper in the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, parachute out of C-130
aircraft at Fort Bragg, N.C. In addition to being a paratrooper, Howard’s father was a combat
engineer, and his influence led Howard to become a civil engineer.

While in college, Howard obtained a job with an engineering firm in Charlotte, N.C. It was there
that she designed the fuel farm and maintenance building for the Concord Regional Airport.
Howard enjoyed airport design, and she was hooked.

Howard began her career with the FAA in 2001 as a resident engineer for navigational aid projects. This allowed her
to work in the airport environment that she loved. Within a year, Howard was designing navigational aids as well.
Currently, she is the manager of a small team of engineers in the National Engineering Support Group, Comm/NAV/
Infrastructure Team. Howard’s team helps solve technical problems, evaluate new systems and contribute to the
working of the national airspace system, ensuring families and loved ones arrive safely at their destinations.

Before coming to the FAA, Howard worked for the Boeing Company and obtained her private pilot’s license, which
helped her to understand the pilot’s side of the aviation equation. Howard also has a Master of Business Administration
degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Fla.

John Lopresti

John Lopresti is the manager of the Enterprise Operations Group, which consists of personnel
in Atlanta; Atlantic City, N.J; Oklahoma City; Salt Lake City; San Diego; and Warrenton, Va. The
teams are responsible for the 24/7 operation and maintenance of systems providing the aviation
industry and public with satellite navigation, flight plans, weather reports, notices to airmen and
traffic flow management information.

Lopresti began his career in aviation as a military radar technician. With the FAA, he was hired
in Boston as a radar and automation technician. He continued in maintenance control at the
regional and national levels, eventually managing the daily operation of the national airspace system infrastructure
at the FAA Air Traffic Control System Command Center in Warrenton. Lopresti has worked in the areas of information
security, special teams, safety management and infrastructure operations.

Speed Mentors 18 TranSTEM • Youth Speed Mentoring Workshop

Lisbeth L. Mack

Lisbeth (Beth) Mack serves as the vice president of Management Services, providing
administrative support to all Air Traffic Organization (ATO) service units, enabling them to focus
on their core operational missions.

Mack served as the deputy vice president before being promoted to Vice President. Prior to
moving to Management Services, she was director of policy and performance for Safety and
Technical Training, where she was responsible for the ATO’s Safety Management System, Safety
Performance and Analytics, and Audits and Assessments groups. She was previously group
manager of Safety Programs. She joined the FAA in June 2009 as the manager of the Air Traffic Safety Action Program.

Mack holds a bachelor’s degree in retailing/communications from the Honors College at Michigan State University,
where she graduated with high honors. She is also a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute. While at the FAA, she
received the 2010 ATO Safety Vice President Award for Excellence, the 2013 Transportation Secretary’s Group Safety
Award, and the 2015 Administrator’s Strategic Initiatives Award for Risk-Based Decision-Making.

Thembi Ndlovu-Hickey

Thembi Ndlovu-Hickey has been with the FAA for 25 years. She is currently the manager of both
the Navigation/Communication and Surveillance/Weather Support teams. She joined the FAA in
1991, working as a navigational aids technician at the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky
International Airport. She later worked as an automation technician and then as the Automated
Data System Support Center coordinator at Denver Air Route Traffic Control Center before
coming to FAA headquarters in 2002.

Ndlovu- Hickey has worked in various positions at headquarters, including an in-service
review manager for the acquisition management of the Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System, for the
Office of International Aviation supporting the Safe Skies for Africa Presidential Initiative, Terminal Planning Systems
Engineering supporting NextGen, and for the Terminal Planning Organization as the terminal service area lead for the
Western Service Area. Ndlovu-Hickey has a bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University and an Master of Business
Administration from the University of Phoenix.

Speed Mentors 19 TranSTEM • Youth Speed Mentoring Workshop

Brian Peters

Brian Peters is the acting deputy director for the Operations Support directorate within Technical
Operations Services at the FAA. His work is focused on national airspace system (NAS)
operations, providing collaborative operational management and coordination of NAS
maintenance policy, maintenance requirements, operation performance measurement, and
spectrum and second-level engineering support at the national level. As acting deputy director,
Peters provides leadership and managerial oversight to approximately 900 employees, both
federal and contract. He is responsible for the management, direction, planning, and operational
maintenance and restoration support for NAS performance crucial to accomplishing the agency’s
goals and objectives. Regarded by many as one who exhibits excellent leadership and technical skills, Peters also is
known for his willingness to take responsibility for unique challenges and for finding ways to get the job done.

With a combined 22 years of FAA leadership skills and technical expertise, Peters has held several management
positions. He began his career with the FAA in December 1994 as a computer scientist providing second-level
engineering support to the voice-switching and control system.

Keisha Reed-Crockett

Keisha Reed-Crockett has been with the FAA for over 20 years. Throughout her career, Reed-
Crockett has led high-performing teams to conduct a wide range of financial, planning and
acquisition functions. In her current position, Reed-Crockett serves as the program control lead
for the Decision Support Systems Group in the Program Management Organization. She is
responsible for planning, executing, monitoring and controlling key financial, planning and
acquisition functions related to program management, acquisition management and business
strategy initiatives.

Reed-Crockett is a recent graduate from the Program for Emerging Leaders. Embracing the core values of leadership,
innovation and growth, she received an award from the FAA administrator for her outstanding leadership skills
throughout the 18-month program. Reed-Crockett is most fulfilled when helping people grow professionally. As a
passionate leader, she believes in constant process improvement, and strives hard to lead in a manner that best fits
changing priorities and needs as the FAA and the country move into the next generation of air traffic.

Reed-Crockett holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in government and international politics from George Mason University
(cum laude) and received her paralegal certification from George Washington University. She also spent a semester
studying abroad at Oxford University and is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. In her leisure time, Reed-
Crockett enjoys coaching softball, running, hiking and traveling the world with her husband, Michael.

Speed Mentors 20 TranSTEM • Youth Speed Mentoring Workshop

Kathy Simays

Kathy Simays has been with the FAA for over 25 years and is currently the senior advisor for
Technical Operations Services, where she provides advice, guidance and recommendations on
a wide range of technical services to the vice president to ensure that the organization functions
with the greatest efficiency and effectiveness.

Simays holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from George Mason University. She
began her FAA career as a computer specialist in the Aircraft Certification Service and since has
worked in the Office of Information Technology, Terminal Air Traffic Operations and Technical
Operations. She has held positions in Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth and Washington, D.C. She is a graduate of the federal
government’s Graduate School Women’s Executive Leadership Program.

Simays is a fan of the Texas Rangers. She and her significant other, Dan, enjoy living in Warrenton, Va., with their dog
and cat when they are not traveling and visiting new places.

Ed Tatem

At a young age, Ed Tatem enjoyed drawing and creating music, and he discovered a love for
math. Math lured him into the engineering profession. Tatem started with the FAA in 1987 as a
civil engineer. In 1996, he went to Seoul, South Korea, to consult the Korean Airport Construction
Authority to build the Incheon International Airport. Tatem focused on developing navigational
aids designs and requirements.

Tatem has been a field and design engineer for systems under navaids, surveillance, air traffic
control towers and terminal radar approach control facilities. He is now the senior advisor within
FAA Mission Support Services. Tatem has been in the aviation field for more than 28 years and holds a bachelor’s
degree in civil engineering from Pratt Institute and a Master of Business Administration from Kennesaw State University.

Speed Mentors 21 TranSTEM • Youth Speed Mentoring Workshop

Carmen Y. Taylor

As director of employee relations, Carmen Taylor leads the FAA in the development,
implementation and administration of corporate personnel policies regarding conduct, discipline,
performance and other employee relations issues. Taylor has 21 years of federal service, with
20 of those serving in various positions within FAA Human Resources, including as employee
assistance program manager, Labor and Employee Relations Branch manager, and acting
service area manager. During this time, she has worked with every line of business on all facets
of labor and employee relations.

Before joining the FAA, Taylor was a supervisor and counselor in the private sector. She is a devoted advocate of
mediation and has been a certified mediator for 21 years. In this capacity, she has volunteered with a local Federal
Executive Board, police department and domestic relations court division.

Taylor holds a Master of Arts degree in counseling from Webster University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology
from the University of Missouri at Kansas City. In her free time, Taylor enjoys traveling, swimming, golfing and serving
the community with her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Kim L. Taylor

Kim L. Taylor has been with the FAA for more than 32 years. Taylor has held several leadership
positions within the FAA in the disciplines of research and development, second-level
engineering, acquisitions management, strategic planning, requirements development, and
lifecycle management. She is currently the group manager of the National Airspace System
Integration and Support for the Technical Operations Services directorate, where she is
responsible for logistics supply support of airspace equipment and services, maintenance
policies, non-federal equipment, maintenance requirements, maintenance lifecycle, and
maintenance acquisitions requirements.

Taylor also has been the director of the Federal Women’s Program at the William J. Hughes Technical Center, and
has supported the technical youth programs and mentoring programs. She believes in the four agreements by Don
Ruiz and practices them in her leadership style, as well as in her personal life: “Be impeccable with your word;
don’t take anything personally; don’t make assumptions; always do your best!” She holds a bachelor’s degree in
computer science from Central State University and a master’s degree in aviation management from Embry-Riddle
Aeronautical University.

Speed Mentors 22 TranSTEM • Youth Speed Mentoring Workshop

Raymond Towles

Raymond Towles became the FAA’s Office of Finance and Management’s deputy assistant
administrator for Regions and Center Operations in October 2012. Supporting the agency’s
horizontal integration efforts, he oversees three service areas made up of nine regional offices.
His responsibilities also include providing government, Department of Transportation, and FAA-
wide services in the areas of corporate outreach, emergency readiness, real and personal
property management, facilities management, and infrastructure support. He also oversees
centralized national airspace system logistics support, repair and overhaul, technical training
delivery, and financial management and information systems shared services.

Prior to joining the FAA, he held several management positions with Trans World Airlines and Ozark Airlines. He holds
a degree in aircraft maintenance engineering from Parks College of Aeronautical Engineering at Saint Louis University,
and an airframe and power plant certificate.

Dawn Tucker-Thomas

Dawn Tucker-Thomas currently serves as a grants manager with the Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Research and Technology in the Department of Transportation (DOT). She oversees
several federally funded transportation research grants administered to institutes of higher
education, federally funded research laboratories and the National Academy of Science. This
position requires her to provide technical assistance and advice on project/program
implementation and explanations of programmatic requirements, regulations, guidelines and
the federal acquisition process. Additionally, she supports the DOT’s civil rights program to help
minority-serving institutions to participate in federal grant programs.

Tucker-Thomas has worked in the transportation industry for more than 20 years in both the public and private sectors.
Previous positions required her to oversee airport/air carrier security and operations, develop transportation rules and
regulations, support multi-modal development of the DOT’s research activities, conduct transportation research studies
to help better understand major transportation issues, and conduct long-range transportation planning and impact
analyses. Tucker-Thomas received an undergraduate degree in airway science, a graduate degree in transportation
planning and a law degree. Born and raised in Harrisburg, Pa., she presently resides in Northern Virginia.

Speed Mentors 23 TranSTEM • Youth Speed Mentoring Workshop

Cheryl Veney

Cheryl Veney joined the FAA as a technician in the Navigation/Communication Unit at the
Fairbanks Sector Field Office in Alaska. She was the first African-American female technician to
work at that facility office. She quickly progressed from an airway facility specialist position to
a training proficiency development specialist. From her start in the field through promotion to
team lead, her record is one built on success after success. She received multiple exceptional
performance awards for her outstanding work.

Her service at the local field office put her in a position where she was recruited to join
the Technical Operations Services organization as a management and program analyst in the Training Division
at FAA headquarters. In this role, Veney provided technical expertise and gave strategic advice on key Technical
Operations issues regarding current operations and research and development initiatives that had an effect
across the national airspace system.

Veney has held several positions, including: team lead and program analyst of the Training Team; supervisory
program manager of the Training Division; Navigation and Landing Support in-service manager; team lead for the
Communication, Navigation and Landing Team; team lead for NAS Quality Assurance and Performance; and manager
of the NAS Quality Control and Performance Group. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table,
especially when it comes to corporate knowledge on legacy systems. In her 35-plus-year federal career, Veney has
used her extensive experience in leading and managing Technical Operations programs.

In her current position as manager of the NAS Quality Control and Performance Group, she is responsible for the
assessment and recording of the state of the NAS. She has been instrumental in mentoring newcomers to the FAA and
is recognized for her work with youth in the local communities. Veney believes that you must always maintain your
integrity, keep your spirit strong and never lose focus on your goals for career success. This has been the foundation
of her work philosophy for her entire FAA career.

Speed Mentors 24 TranSTEM • Youth Speed Mentoring Workshop

Joe Walker

Joe Walker started working for the FAA in 1987 as an electronics engineer in the Central
Region. He worked in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska, and later managed a team of
employees that installed aviation equipment all over the region. Walker became a manager
of a system service center that maintained automation equipment and radar equipment at
the Kansas City International Airport and other locations. He also has worked with a team
that established operations control centers throughout the country and was a service
delivery specialist at the Mid-States Operations Control Center in Olathe, Kan.

Walker then moved across the country to serve as National Operations Division manager, and he managed the
National Operations Control Center in its former location in Herndon, Va. He later became a manager in many
different positions at FAA headquarters and is the current the NAS Policy and Services Planning Team manager.

Joe Walker is a native Texan, born at Lackland Air Force Base. He started elementary school in Italy and graduated
from Memorial High School in San Antonio, Texas. He went to Tarkio College on a football scholarship and played
for two years. Later, he transferred to Kansas State University to acquire a bachelor’s degree in electrical
engineering. After working in FAA management for 10 years, Walker acquired a Master of Business Administration
from Baker University.

Samuel Waters

Samuel Waters is the in-service manager for the National Airspace System Information Security
Group. Previously, Waters worked at the Washington Air Route Traffic Control Center as an airway
transportation system specialist, where he served with the inter-facility Data Communications
Service Support Center as a journeyman watch-stander. His primary duties required skillsets and
certifications in radio communications, and a wide array of FAA communications and data systems,
in addition to rating as an expert climber.

As a 27-year employee of Verizon Communications, Waters was introduced to FAA concepts and
standards of operation during one of his last assignments as the senior service manager for maintenance and installation
of local and inter-exchange access services supplied to the FAA by MCI/WorldCom. In his present role, Waters oversees the
lifecycle progression and sustainment of Technical Operations’ en route oceanic programs and services.

Waters is a native of Maryland’s Eastern Shore and graduated from Morgan State University in Baltimore with a bachelor’s
degree. He has acquired numerous technical and management certifications from both private industry and the FAA.
Waters has resided in Bowie, Md., for most of his working career with his wife of 39 years, who started her government
service at NASA’s Wallops Island Space Center. Their mutual hobbies and passions include gardening, music and travel.
Sam is also an avid history buff, model builder, and art and memorabilia collector. Sam and his wife are proud parents of a
34-year-old son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter who constantly broaden their horizons and provide tremendous joy
and support in meeting life’s challenges.

Speed Mentors 25 TranSTEM • Youth Speed Mentoring Workshop

Cheryl West-Freeman

Cheryl West-Freeman received a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Howard University
and is a registered professional engineer in Virginia. After graduation, she worked as a structural
design engineer at Boeing Helicopter Company in Philadelphia,, then at Daniel, Mann, Johnson
and Mendenhall, an architectural/engineering design firm in Washington, D.C. In 1992, she
continued her career at the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s Office of
Hazardous Materials Safety in the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

West-Freeman worked as an engineer in the Engineering and Research Division until she was
promoted to chief of the Engineering Branch in July 2013. The Engineering Branch provides technical expertise needed
to develop domestic and international standards for the design, manufacturing and testing of packaging (drums,
cylinders, tanks, etc.) that is used to transport hazardous materials by all modes (air, vessel, highway and rail). Since
2012, West-Freeman has been president of the DOT’s Women on the Move chapter ofFederally Employed Women
(FEW). She currently serves on the FEW DC Metro Region Board of Directors as the membership coordinator. West-
Freeman is also a member of the Troop Committee of Boy Scout Troop 403 in Bowie, Md., where she resides with family.

Jeffrey S. Wood

Jeffrey S. Wood is the FAA acting deputy director of Flight Program Operations. In this role,
he is responsible for supporting the Flight Program executive in all matters related to FAA
aircraft and flight program operations, including: safety, policy and standards, operations,
training, maintenance, administrative services, financial and business management,
acquisition, reporting, regulatory compliance, and other internal and external requirements.

Since joining the FAA in 1989 as an aircraft technician at FAA Hangar 6, Wood has progressed
through varying flight program management and leadership positions. He has a broad
range of experience in aircraft maintenance management within the FAA and currently serves as the director of
maintenance for the Flight Program Operations organization. He is responsible for the airworthiness of the FAA
fleet of 46 aircraft, as well as airworthiness standards for all leased and rented aircraft. He is the maintenance
focal point for the four primary missions conducted by Flight Program Operations: aviation safety training, flight
inspection, research and development support, and transportation.

Wood has more than 30 years of technical and management experience in the aviation industry, working with
airlines, corporate aviation operators and light aircraft. He holds a private pilot certificate and a mechanic airframe
and power plant with inspection authorization endorsement. Wood holds a Bachelor of Science in professional
aeronautics, with a minor in aviation safety from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Speed Mentors 26 TranSTEM • Youth Speed Mentoring Workshop

Patrick Xantus

Patrick Xantus is vice president of General Infomatics, Inc., a professional services company
focused on acquisition and program support, knowledge management, and business support
solutions. He brings more than 20 years of experience in the areas of systems development
and integration, program management, and management consulting for government and
private industry. Since General Infomatics, Inc., was founded in 2005, the company has
worked with numerous federal agencies to help create greater efficiency, effectiveness and
productivity. Xantus currently oversees all business operations, including federal government
customers such as the Department of Defense, Department of Transportation, Department
of Veterans Affairs, and Department of Health and Human Services.

At the completion of a dual degree program, he earned a bachelor’s in physical science from St. John’s
University and a bachelor’s in electrical engineering from Polytechnic Institute of New York University. Among
his accomplishments, Xantus is a certified project management professional and he co-wrote an article entitled
“Computer System for Collection of Quality-Assurance Data,” published in the National Aeronautical and Space
Administration (NASA) Tech Brief.

Speed Mentors 27 TranSTEM • Youth Speed Mentoring Workshop

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