TIMOTHY R. OBITTS serves as the Executive Vice President of Operations and Business, General Counsel, for the National Air Transportation Association (NATA). In this role Mr. Obitts oversees the day-to-day operation of NATA and also serves as its general counsel.
Prior to joining NATA in November 2014, Obitts served as the managing partner of Gammon & Grange, P.C., a national practice law firm specializing in nonprofit and communications law, and also co-chaired its litigation practice.
Obitts earned a Juris Doctorate, cum laude, from California Western School of Law and a Bachelor’s Degree, double major Philosophy and History, from Gordon College, where he also was named All-New England in Tennis, NAIA. Obitts is licensed to practice law in California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, and Virginia, as well as numerous federal and appellate courts, and the U.S Supreme Court. Obitts co-founded several nonprofit organizations and serves on several nonprofit boards.
PETER (PETE) BUNCE is the President and CEO of GAMA, which has North American headquarters in Washington, D.C. and European/Middle East headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. He and the GAMA staff travel worldwide engaging regulators, policymakers, and elected officials to promote general aviation and advance the interests of GAMA’s global membership of more than 100 airframe, avionics, engine, and component manufacturers, as well as the world’s leading business aviation maintenance, repair, and overall companies. Pete retired from the United States Air Force in March 2005, with his last assignment as the Director of the Air Force Congressional Budget and Appropriations Liaison. During his 26-year Air Force career, Pete flew F-15s and A-10s, while commanding several large operational fighter units.
A Wisconsin native, Pete learned to fly as a teenager in the skies over southern Wisconsin. He entered the Air Force in 1979 as an honor graduate of the United States Air Force Academy. He received his master’s degree in International Affairs from Troy University in 1988 and was an International Affairs Fellow at Harvard University in 1996-97.
Pete is an active pilot with more than 7,000 hours in military fighter and training aircraft as well as civil piston, turboprop, and business jet aircraft. He holds an FAA airline transport certificate and seaplane rating, and serves on the board of directors of the Recreational Aviation Foundation, Veterans Airlift Command, the U.S. Air Force Academy Falcon Foundation, America’s Warrior Partnership, and the Air Care Alliance. Pete is also a member of both the FAA’s NextGen Advisory Committee and MITRE Corporation’s Aviation Advisory Committee.
In May 2015, Pete organized the Arsenal of Democracy World War II Victory Flyover the U.S. Capitol Mall. More than 50 warbirds flew down Independence Avenue, commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Allies Victory in Europe.
Pete was named the 2007 Aviation Industry Leader of the Year by the Living Legends of Aviation. In December 2009, he was awarded the ICAS Sword of Excellence, the air show industry’s premier annual award. In January 2010, he was inducted as one of the 70 Living Legends of Aviation. Pete and his wife Patty reside in Arlington, Virginia, and have six children.
Click HERE to download Peter's Power Point presentation.
2018_il_aviation_conference_attendee_list.xlsx
A Wisconsin native, Pete learned to fly as a teenager in the skies over southern Wisconsin. He entered the Air Force in 1979 as an honor graduate of the United States Air Force Academy. He received his master’s degree in International Affairs from Troy University in 1988 and was an International Affairs Fellow at Harvard University in 1996-97.
Pete is an active pilot with more than 7,000 hours in military fighter and training aircraft as well as civil piston, turboprop, and business jet aircraft. He holds an FAA airline transport certificate and seaplane rating, and serves on the board of directors of the Recreational Aviation Foundation, Veterans Airlift Command, the U.S. Air Force Academy Falcon Foundation, America’s Warrior Partnership, and the Air Care Alliance. Pete is also a member of both the FAA’s NextGen Advisory Committee and MITRE Corporation’s Aviation Advisory Committee.
In May 2015, Pete organized the Arsenal of Democracy World War II Victory Flyover the U.S. Capitol Mall. More than 50 warbirds flew down Independence Avenue, commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Allies Victory in Europe.
Pete was named the 2007 Aviation Industry Leader of the Year by the Living Legends of Aviation. In December 2009, he was awarded the ICAS Sword of Excellence, the air show industry’s premier annual award. In January 2010, he was inducted as one of the 70 Living Legends of Aviation. Pete and his wife Patty reside in Arlington, Virginia, and have six children.
Click HERE to download Peter's Power Point presentation.
2018_il_aviation_conference_attendee_list.xlsx
GREG VAIL has over 36 years of experience in the general aviation industry, his interest in aviation started in his early 20s, when several friends earned their private pilot's license. During that time, he became good friends with an airplane and helicopter pilot who purchased a small avionics shop in Bloomington, Illinois.
Prior to his life in aviation, Vail worked for six years in restaurant management. He left the profession and moved to Bloomington in 1980 to manage Bloomington Avionics. Then in January 2012, Vail moved to Flightstar in Savoy, Illinois.
Founded in 1978, Flightstar is an aviation service organization located at the University of Illinois-Willard Airport. With more than 100,000 square feet of office and hangar space, the company offers a wide range of services, including a full-service FBO, airline and MRO; avionics sales with installation and repair; and worldwide executive jet charter with full aircraft management services.
An active member in the Aircraft Electronics Association, Vail served on the association's Strategic Planning Committee before being elected to the board of directors in 2005. In addition, he served as chairman of the Government Affairs and Regulatory Committee, and he spearheaded the AEA's Ambassador Program to promote better communications between member companies and the FAA's Flight Standards District Offices.
A former vice chairman of the AEA board of directors, Vail was elected chairman in 2010 and served in that role until 2013. An industry veteran, Vail has served on a number of advisory boards for various manufacturers, and he is a licensed single-engine pilot with instrument endorsement.
REBECCA MACPHERSON is the new Regional Administrator for the Great Lakes Region. She was appointed on January 8, 2018. Prior to rejoining the FAA, Rebecca worked as a transportation attorney, first as of counsel at Jones Day and then as the principal at Rebecca B. MacPherson, Attorney at Law, PLLC. Her previous FAA experience was as the Assistant Chief Counsel for Regulations from 2004 to 2013, where she was deeply involved in aviation policy and regulation. Prior to joining the FAA, Rebecca was a regulatory attorney at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and a trial attorney at the U.S. Maritime Administration. Her alma maters are Tulane School of Law and Loyola University.
Linda Schumm joined the IDOT Division of Aeronautics as Bureau Chief of Aviation Safety and Education in 2010. She oversees airport inspections, aviation safety programs, and pilot and aircraft registration. Linda is also responsible for safety and education outreach programs provided by the Division of Aeronautics. She has been active in the IDOT UAS program since its inception.
Linda attended Illinois State University where she earned Bachelor’s degrees in Computer science and Marketing and a Masters of Business Administration. Linda has a broad background of aviation experience ranging from aircraft sales to running a flight school to competing in air races. Linda holds an Airline Transport Pilot certificate as well as various flight instructor certificates. She also holds a Remote Pilot in Command (UAS pilot) certificate.
Linda attended Illinois State University where she earned Bachelor’s degrees in Computer science and Marketing and a Masters of Business Administration. Linda has a broad background of aviation experience ranging from aircraft sales to running a flight school to competing in air races. Linda holds an Airline Transport Pilot certificate as well as various flight instructor certificates. She also holds a Remote Pilot in Command (UAS pilot) certificate.