Avionics News April 2016 - 39

How did you get from
Alabama to Maryland?
It was a long trip. I started in
Alabama with Precision Avionics.
I then took a job in Sarasota,
Florida, with Manatee Avionics. I
worked there for a few years and
then moved to Connecticut and
worked for Columbia Air Services.
I enjoyed that immensely, but
the cost of living was high so I
found a job with Atlantic Aero in
Greensboro, North Carolina. It had
an engineering group working with
Honda to develop its proof-ofconcept aircraft, and I was interested in being involved. I worked
as an avionics tech, then a supervisor and then got the chance to
move into engineering design and
analysis for HondaJet and other
STC projects. I was there a few
years, and when that started winding down, I took a job at Keystone
Helicopters where I did design,
certification work and report writing for DERs on some extensive
STCs. I was offered an opportunity
to develop an avionics and engineering department almost from
scratch in Andalusia, Alabama, with
Vector Aerospace, and I jumped at
the chance. From there I went to
AeroMech, where I worked as the
engineering/certification manager
for most of the STCs we developed in-house. During my time at
AeroMech, I received my systems
and equipment DER for Part 23, 25,
27 and 29 and remain a unit member under its ODA.

How is life now as an
entrepreneur?
I love it. I love having the opportunities to make decisions. I love
that success rests on my shoulders. I
love the opportunity to pursue what
I want to pursue, what excites me. I
enjoy that I get to be involved with
an industry of people where many of
them have become good friends over
the years. That's rewarding.
And what do you like best?
I like the variety and the challenges
and not having to do the same thing
over and over. One day is not the
same as the next. That's what Heron
Aero Solutions is all about: identifying
a challenge and developing a solution
that works for your customers.
Are there other people
involved in Heron Aero
Solutions?
Yes, I have a core group of people
within the organization on which I
will build this company. They are the
people who have the same passion
and desire to develop something to
be proud. We also have many strategic partners who have the same
common goals. It is a pleasure to be
associated with them.
What do you do when
you are not working?
I generally spend time with my
wife, Tommi-Leigh, and two sons, Eric
and Ben. Eric is 16 years old and plays
on the varsity soccer team; he plays
lacrosse, and he's heavily involved in

our church youth group. Eric is a people
person. Ben is 13 and is more on the
quiet side. He likes to read and play
music. He enjoys sports but not like his
brother. Tommi-Leigh is heavily involved
in our church. Last year, she assisted in
the development of the first women's
outdoor soccer league for Frederick.
Do you have hobbies?
I like woodworking and carving.
Now that I'm in certification work and
design, there's less hands-on work than
before. All my current work is more
theoretical, so woodworking and carving are a good way to see something
tangible for my effort, and it's a good
stress relief from work. There's usually
no pressure to keep to a schedule, too.
What are your hopes
for the future?
The whole intent and purpose of
Heron Aero Solutions is to develop a
company that is product-driven. Product
development is where we want to be,
and engineering is the conduit that
opens those doors. We want to be
involved with product development, aircraft improvements, and resolving safety
concerns found through maintenance
or regulation. We work with OEMs on
ideas that they don't have the time or
budget to complete. We also want to
work with avionics manufacturers that
want to get products to market where
we can provide STC, PMA and TSO consulting services. q
To learn more about Heron Aero
Solutions, visit heronaero.com.
avionics news

april

2016

http://www.heronaero.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News April 2016