The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) selected James Viola, currently president and CEO of Vertical Aviation International (VAI), to succeed Pete Bunce at the helm of the association. As part of a transition plan, Viola will step into his new role as GAMA president and CEO in March after the conclusion of VAI’s biggest event of the year, Verticon, while Bunce will retire in April after leading the association for nearly 20 years. In the interim, both will work closely together. Bunce had joined GAMA in April 2005 after retiring from a 26-year career with the U.S. Air Force. Viola brings regulator expertise as a former FAA official to his new role. Joining VAI in 2020, he succeeded Matt Zuccaro, who had been the long-serving president of what was then known as Helicopter Association International.

Louis C. Seno, Jr. assumed the role of executive director of the International Aircraft Dealers Association (IADA) on January 1. Seno succeeded Wayne Starling, who had led the organization since October 2018. Previously serving as chairman emeritus and special advisor to the board of Jet Support Services, Inc. (JSSI), Seno’s career has included leadership roles at Boeing Capital Corporation and GE Capital Solutions. Under Starling’s leadership, IADA expanded its influence and established itself as a leader in the business aircraft resale industry. Starling, who received the IADA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024, will continue in an advisory role to support the transition through April 2025. In addition to his role at JSSI, Seno serves on multiple boards, including GAMA and the Experimental Aircraft Association.

Mark Cooper, previously v-p and chief technology and information officer at Nav Canada, has been appointed president and CEO of the organization. Cooper worked for 18 years at Lockheed Martin as the managing director of its global aviation organization and had also served as lead partner for aviation technology at Deloitte.

Bombardier appointed Caroline Maso as its new chief human resources officer, succeeding Dan Brennan, who will retire on June 30. Maso’s previous experience includes executive positions at Pratt & Whitney Canada and at AtkinsRéalis.

Metrojet Limited, a provider of business aviation services in the Asia-Pacific region, announced the retirement of its CEO, Gary Dolski, effective January 1. Dave Yip, the company’s COO, assumed the role of acting CEO on the same date. Dolski joined Metrojet in April 2017 as managing director of aircraft management and charter and was appointed CEO later that year. Dave Yip brings more than 20 years of experience in commercial and business aviation to his new role.

Carly Anderson was appointed as chief legal officer, chief strategy officer, and general counsel at JSSI. Anderson’s prior experience includes multiple roles at The Boeing Company, having served as v-p for engineering, regulatory, and FAA compliance in the law department at Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

Private jet charter and aircraft management services provider Ventura Air Services hired Rebecca Kodesh for the position of chief operating officer. Kodesh brings more than two decades of experience in aviation, including leadership roles at XOJet and Wheels Up.

The AOPA Board of Trustees elected James N. Hauslein as chairman, succeeding William C. Trimble III, who retired at the end of 2024. Hauslein, an AOPA member since 1987, joined the board in 2012 and previously chaired the Finance and Investment Committee.

Troy Stephens was appointed as the president of private jet operator Jetport after serving as its v-p for the last year. Stephens, previously a commercial airline pilot, has also held roles such as operations manager and v-p of flight operations for some of Canada’s largest commercial airlines.

Muirhead Avionics/Ametek MRO has hired Ramey Jamil as its engineering director and Jules Roberts as a customer services manager. Jamil brings more than 15 years of experience in aircraft systems, engineering, and controls. Roberts, a qualified change management practitioner, will drive the customer service strategy at the company.

Lanny Schindelmeiser was hired as v-p of maintenance at private aviation services provider Elevate Jet. Schindelmeiser has strong experience in aviation maintenance management. The company also promoted Perry Breitenstein to v-p of operations.

Flydocs has hired Tracy Barry as the head of professional services and Remon Sweers as the director of products. Barry’s 25-plus years of experience includes leading Teledyne Controls’ Service Solutions business. Sweers previously worked for companies in the aviation industry including QOCO, Regional Jet Center, and Martinair Maintenance and Engineering.

Guardian Jet appointed William Oliveira as sales director for South America. Oliveira joins the aircraft brokerage with a breadth of business aviation experience including in customer support at Embraer Executive Jets and then at TAM Aviação Executiva, representing Cessna jets.

Corporate Angel Network (CAN) appointed Jamail Larkins as the organization’s newest ambassador. Larkins, an aviator and business aviation entrepreneur, aims to expand CAN’s impact by raising awareness about its mission and engaging with potential donors.

Cadorath promoted Brandy Cadorath to v-p of entrepreneurial operating system implementation, training, and oversight. She previously worked in accounts receivable, special processes, and agriculture divisions at the company.

Awards and Honors

Neil Harvey was recognized by the British Business and General Aviation Association with its 2024 Contribution to Industry award. Harvey serves as director of executive aviation at charter brokerage Hunt & Palmer, where he has worked for three decades.

Final Flight

Nicholas Sabatini, a long-time FAA official whose career culminated as associate administrator for aviation safety, died on November 27. He was 88. In his roles with the agency, Sabatini became an influential leader, serving as a mentor to those within the FAA as well as in the industry, NBAA said in marking his loss. NBAA credited Sabatini with helping to pioneer the concept of a “just culture” approach to safety during his time with the FAA.

“Nick Sabatini was passionate about aviation safety, with a tireless focus on understanding the root causes of accidents, so that meaningful steps can be taken to avoid similar future tragedies,” said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen.

Born in Vasto, Italy, in 1936, Sabatini emigrated to the U.S. in 1938, living in the Bronx, New York, according to his Legacy obituary information. As a young man, he served in the U.S. Army before joining the New York Police Department in August 1958, initially as a patrol officer. He later joined the mounted division and in 1966 went to the NYPD's aviation unit.

Passionate about flying, Sabatini then moved on to the U.S. Customs Drug Interdiction Air Unit in Brooklyn before embarking upon a 30-year career with the FAA in 1978. Initially serving as an operations inspector in Charleston, West Virginia, Sabatini would move into multiple roles, including director of flight standards in Washington, D.C.

In 2001, he was named associate administrator for aviation safety, managing 7,000 FAA employees that regulated more than 7,300 commercial airlines and operators. Retiring in January 2009, Sabatini served on the board of directors for JetBlue Airways, Advanced Aviation and Positioning Corp., and Wyvern Consulting. He also served on the Auburn University Aviation Management Board and Flight Safety Foundation's board of governors.

A Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award recognized his more than 50 years of flying. Sabatini had amassed more than 7,000 flight hours and had earned type ratings in the Cessna Citation I, Douglas DC-9, Embraer EMB-110, and Bell BH-20.