2025 Seminar Program Schedule
The Alaska Airmen partner with the Alaska Aviation Safety Foundation to host a full weekend of free educational seminars for the public. Be part of a safer, better educated flying community by participating in this event.
Speaker Bios
Prince Dalal, National Weather Service Alaska Aviation
Weather Unit and Anchorage Volcanic Ash Advisory Center
Prince is a Meteorologist at the Alaska Aviation Weather Unit andAnchorage Volcanic Ash Advisory Center. I moved to Alaska in Summer 2024 and have enjoyed my time here so far. I enjoy playing sports and staying outdoors as much as I can. I look forward to meeting and learning from aviation professionals during the gathering.
John Davis, Experimental Aircraft Association
John Davis is an A&P, IA and Australian LAME who has built and flown 3 Vans RV type aircraft and is currently completing another. He was a long term Alaskan resident employed as a
747 Flight Engineer by Japan Airlines prior to moving to
Arizona. He has worked as a DAR certifying Experiment
Amateur Built type aircraft and as an FAA Maintenance Inspector at the Anchorage FSDO. He is an EAA Life Member and volunteers each year as an Experimental Amateur Built Judge at Oshkosh Airventure in Wisconsin.
Kari DeFreest, Recreational Aviation Foundation
Kari DeFreest lives in Ketchikan, Alaska. Kari has enjoyed flying over the years when an opportunity presented itself. She also enjoys spending time outdoors camping, hiking, and kayaking. Her enjoyment of both aviation and the great outdoors merged in an unexpected way when she met and married her husband, Jeff, a pilot. Together they own a Cessna 180H on straight floats that frequently takes them on wilderness adventures along with their canine sidekick, Magneto. On these adventures, Kari serves as navigator and ramp rat while Jeff is the pilot in command. As an Ambassador for the Recreational Aviation Foundation (the RAF), Kari advocates to preserve and protect backcountry aviation access to airstrips and remote lake cabins. These, and other resources, provide opportunities for dispersed recreation and also serve as a safety net for the aviation community across Alaska. And, if you are lucky, you just might get to enjoy a home-cooked meal with other RAF volunteers on a project where Kari is the camp manager!
Marcell Dionne, MD, Federal Aviation Administration
Dr. Dionne has served as Alaska’s FAA Regional Flight Surgeon since January 2015. He is certified by the American Board of Preventive Medicine in Aerospace Medicine and Occupational Medicine, and has over 30 years of experience in aerospace medicine. Prior to joining the FAA, Dr. Dionne was the Director of Medical Services at Fairweather, LLC in Anchorage, and an occupational medicine consultant for companies operating in the natural resources industry in Alaska.
Dr. Dionne graduated from the University of Maine with a BA in Chemistry, and from Tufts University with a Doctorate in Medicine. He completed a residency in Family Medicine and was in practice as a family physician and Aviation Medical Examiner until he was commissioned in the U. S. Air Force and received his flight surgeon rating. He is a licensed private pilot and has logged over 800 hours in a variety of USAF aircraft. Dr. Dionne retired from the Air Force as Chief Flight Surgeon in the rank of Colonel after 21 years of active military service, and moved to Palmer, Alaska with his family in 2013.
David Kochevar, National Weather Service Alaska Aviation Weather Unit and Anchorage Volcanic Ash Advisory Center
David Kochevar is the Warning Coordination Meteorologist at the Alaska Aviation Weather Unit (AAWU) and Anchorage Volcanic Ash Advisory Center. David has spent his entire career in Alaska with the NWS, and has over 15 years of Alaska aviation weather experience from Anchorage Center, the Anchorage Weather Forecast Office, and as the Alaska Regional Aviation Meteorologist.
Rick Henry, Experimental Aircraft Association
Rick built a Bushby Mustang II amateur-built experimental airplane and has flown it 1,100 hours since 1998. It has flown to 49 US states, including six trips from Memphis, TN to Alaska, to eight Canadian provinces and to the Bahamas a few times.
Rick is a 23,400 hour pilot, Young Eagles volunteer, retired
FedEx MD-11 captain, A&P Mechanic with Inspection
Authorization, 50-year Gold Seal Certificated Flight Instructor and former Master CFI.
Rick’s website about building his Mustang II is at:
http://experimentalairplane.com.
Amy L. Hoover, PhD, Central Washington University
Dr. Amy Hoover is the 2022 National Flight Instructor of the year. She has been flying commercially and teaching backcountry flying for 35 years. Hoover holds a Ph.D. in Education and is a Professor of Aviation at Central Washington
University. She has over 7,500 hours of flight time, approximately 2/3 of it as a charter pilot and backcountry instructor in central Idaho, and is the primary author of the ASA book Mountain, Canyon, and Backcountry Flying which has sold over 9,000 copies since publication in 2019. Hoover has given more than 250 presentations on a variety of topics throughout the U.S. and has authored more than 30 professional articles and manuals on aviation human factors, single pilot resource management, instructional methodologies, canyon weather, and mountain/backcountry flying tips.
Steven McCaughey, Seaplane Pilots Association
Steve McCaughey has been the Executive Director of the
Seaplane Pilots Association and the Seaplane Pilots Foundation since 2011, and comes from a highly diverse background in aviation. Known for his unquenchable thirst for everything related to flying - his aviation adventures have taken him everywhere from Alaska to Australia; and everywhere in between. Steve is currently the owner operator of an amphibious float equipped Piper Super Cub and a Cessna 120 taildragger. He has time in over 60 different types of seaplanes, holds a multi sea rating and an ultra rare type rating in the HU-16 Grumman Albatross.
He served with the US Air Force Special Operations Command working on electronic warfare systems on the amazing AC-130
Gunship, and has spent the majority of his time flying “Strangebirds” meaning tailwheel, seaplanes, aerobatic aircraft, warbirds and the like.
Since arriving at the Seaplane Pilots Association in 2011 he has been instrumental in creating a Seaplane Rating Scholarship program, has worked tirelessly advocating for the water flying community with organizations such as the Alaska Airmen’s Association, AOPA, EAA and the Recreational Aviation Foundation to preserve and protect seaplane access across the country while conducting over 50 seaplane safety seminars and workshops each year.
Jim McClay, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
Jim joined AOPA in August of 2020 and serves as Director, Regulatory Affairs, focusing on Airspace, Air Traffic, Security and Emerging Technology. Prior to joining AOPA, he spent over 13 years as part of NBAA's Air Traffic Services team at the FAA Air Traffic Control System Command Center. He also has experience as an airline dispatcher and as a scheduler for a Fortune 500 corporate flight department. He has a degree in Marketing from Liberty University and is an instrument-rated private pilot.
Jennifer Moninski, BWI Aviation Insurance Agency, Inc.
Jennifer Moninski is BWI Aviation Insurance’s Alaska Project Manager. She is a highly skilled aviation insurance risk manager located at the Lake Hood Airport in Anchorage, Alaska, year-round. With 16 years of experience in the insurance industry, Jennifer has a deep understanding of the complexities of aviation insurance and is dedicated to helping her clients mitigate risk and protect their assets. She is an expert at providing tailored insurance solutions to meet the unique needs of her clients and is highly regarded for her exceptional customer service and attention to detail. Her excellent connections within the insurance community allow her to grow the services and opportunities for pilots in Alaska.
John Ockenfels, Flying Rotarian
John has been piloting small aircraft for almost 50 years. Along with Peter Teahen, he is half owner of the 1977 Cessna T210 that together they flew around the world to raise funds to eradicate Polio. He also owns and maintains a WWII PT17 Stearman, and has been the proud owner of several WWII warbirds. John attended the University of Iowa before serving in the United States Air Force from 1972 to 1976. John, now retired, spent his career working with his brothers in their family business, City Carton Recycling, based in Iowa City, Iowa, where he served as President then CEO. He is a founding member of the Iowa City, Iowa A.M. Rotary Club, serving as President in 1998-99. He served as District Governor for
Rotary District 6000 during the 2014 - 2015 Rotary year. In
2002, John traveled to India to take part in a National Polio
Immunization Day event and the International Polio
Eradication Summit, in Mumbai. He has served on many District, Zone, and International Rotary committees over many years. John is a member of the International Fellowship of Flying Rotarians and serves as the North Central Chair for the
Americas Region. He is also an adjunct member of the EAviation worldwide Club. In 2021, John was recognized as 1 of
3 Rotarians, worldwide, to receive The Rotary Foundation’s Service award for a Polio Free World. In 2023, John was recognized with Rotary’s highest individual honor, The Service Above Self Award. John and his wife Deb have been active community and Rotary volunteers for many years.
Yasmina Platt, Rusty Pilots Presenter, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
Yasmina Platt knew she wanted to become a pilot since flying, as a child, in airliners between the beautiful Canary Islands and mainland Spain. She moved to the United States 20 years ago to achieve her dream. Obtaining her private pilot certificate while in High School, Ms. Platt is an active pilot and flight instructor, rated in single and multi-engine airplanes, seaplanes, and helicopters. Yasmina also holds a B.S. in Professional Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical
University (ERAU) and a M.S. in Transportation Planning and Management from Texas Southern University (TSU). In addition to teaching Rusty Pilot seminars, Yasmina plans, designs, and develops aviation infrastructure and writes a bimonthly column for the Midwest Flyer Magazine. She is based in Houston, Texas with her husband Jared, an airline pilot and GA supporter, although they can also be found often traveling the country in their motorhome.
Darren Pleasance, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
Darren Pleasance is president and chief executive officer of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA)—the largest aviation community in the world representing hundreds of thousands of pilots. Pleasance has over 8,000 flight hours in more than 80 different types of aircraft ranging from simple trainers to business jets to vintage warbirds, including a P-51 Mustang. Early in his career he flew as a corporate pilot, working for celebrities such as John Travolta before going on to fly charters in the Alaskan bush. He left professional aviation to pursue a career in business, but he never stopped flying. Today he owns and operates a Piper Meridian, a Vans RV-6, and a SeaRey floatplane while maintaining currency as a certificated flight instructor.
Prior to joining AOPA on January 1, 2025, Pleasance led Cisco's Acceleration Center, an organization formed to accelerate the success of mission-critical aspects of Cisco's business transformation. Prior to Cisco, he led global customer acquisitions for Google and served as a partner in consulting firm McKinsey & Co.'s high tech sector and marketing and sales practice. Throughout his business career, Pleasance has remained active in aviation, serving for many years on the board of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA).
Pleasance holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical
Engineering degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and an MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management
Captain Brian Schiff, The Proficient Pilot
Brian Schiff is a seasoned captain for a major US airline with a deep-seated passion for general aviation. Over his career, he has accumulated an impressive 21,000 hours of flight time across a wide range of aircraft and has flown over 100 different types.
As an esteemed member of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI), Brian’s expertise and experience have earned him the distinction of being an active 40-year Gold Seal flight instructor and FAA Safety Team Representative. Possessing multiple flight instructor ratings, he is known for his exceptional ability to simplify complex procedures and concepts while maintaining a contagious enthusiasm for aviation and teaching.
Furthermore, Brian has been an FAA-designated examiner, allowing him to conduct examinations of pilots. He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and his Master of Science in Aviation Safety from the University of Central Missouri.
Brian is a highly respected figure in the aviation community and is sought after for his engaging and informative seminars on aviation safety and techniques. He is passionate about educating students and professional pilots and is committed to upholding the highest standards of aviation instruction and promoting aviation safety.
David Swartz, (Retired) Federal Aviation Administration
Dr. Dave Swartz recently retired from the FAA and has been involved in aviation since he was very young, getting his first pilot license before his driver’s license. Dave completed a BS in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Kansas and went on to work on a startup canard pusher turboprop called the OMAC, in research and development at Piper, followed by Boeing. He studied fatigue, fracture mechanics, and material science and completed masters and doctorate degrees at the University of Utah while teaching, running a consulting engineering business, and skiing.
After completing his PhD research, Dave started at the FAA working with the Lancair type certificate program, and became a Metallurgy and Composites Technical Specialist, developing policy, addressing manufacturing issues, and working with the composites team on various special projects including the Commercial Airplane Composite Repair Committee, the Lycoming Crankshaft Special Certification Review Team, the Space Shuttle Columbia accident investigation, and the American Airlines 587 accident. Dave returned to Alaska in 2003 as a Senior Engineer, and in 2021 he became a Continued Operational Safety Technical Advisor, overseeing general aviation issues for the FAA nationally. Dave is an active pilot and spends much of his time working in his hangar at the Birchwood airport. Dave has an abiding love of aviation and a passion for aviation safety worldwide.
Peter Teahen, Flying Rotarian
Peter is an experienced pilot and has been piloting small aircraft for over 51 years. He is a member of the Cedar Rapids West Rotary Club and of the International Fellowship of Flying
Rotarians. Peter is a Funeral Director and President of Teahen Funeral Home in Cedar Rapids. He is an author, mental health professional, firefighter and EMT, and serves on the faculty of the University of Iowa. Peter is the founder of the Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival. He was awarded the designation of Diplomate from the National Center for Crisis Management and the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress. Peter has served globally in leadership roles on seventy-five major disasters including the September 11th World Trade Center attack, Hurricane Katrina, Indonesian Tsunami in 2004, the Haiti Earthquake in 2010 and the Genocide in the Darfur Region of Sudan in 2007. He is recognized for his work on aviation disasters, critical incident stress management, and the psycho-social impact of disasters. Peter is the recipient of numerous international and national awards of distinction that includes the National American Legion Auxiliary: National Public Spirit Award. Previous recipients include Ronald
Reagan, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Ann Landers, and Dr. Robert Schuller. In 2024, Peter was recognized with Rotary’s highest individual honor, The Service Above Self Award. Peter was also recognized as 1 of 9 Rotarians, worldwide, to receive The Rotary Foundation’s Service Award for a Polio Free World. Peter and his wife Janet have been active community volunteers for many years.
Adam White, Alaska Airmen’s Association
Adam White is the Government Affairs Advocate for the Alaska Airmen’s Association. He grew up in Georgia, where his first real job as a kid was washing and refueling airplanes at the local airport, within a short time he was a mechanic’s apprentice and flying whenever he could. Adam came to Alaska in 1995 after earning a BS in Aviation Technology from LeTourneau University where he also earned his pilot and mechanic certificates. He holds CFII, Multi, and Seaplane ratings, and is an Itinerant Pastor flying his Maule M7 throughout the Interior visiting homesteads, fish camps and villages. Adam is actively involved in the aviation community of Fairbanks and the Interior, he lives in Nenana with his wife and is the father of three adult daughters.
Steve Williams, Acme Cub Training and Maintenance
With over 17,500 hours of flight time experience, Steve has an ATP rating in Multi-Engine Land with Type Ratings for CE500 and LR- Jet. He is a Gold Star Flight Instructor in Single and
Multi-Engine Instrument Aircraft, and an Instrument Ground
Instructor. In addition to owning and flying light twins, Beaver, Cessna, and Piper aircraft he has given instruction in nearly every model of single engine aircraft on floats and most Bush aircraft on Bushwheels. Additionally, Williams is an FAA Certified Airframe & Powerplant mechanic with Inspection Authorization.
Bernie Willis, Experimental Aircraft Association
Bernie was raised around aviation as his father worked for
Kelly Johnson at the Lockheed Skunk works. Retired now from
Alaska Airlines after 30,000 plus flight hours, 13 years in the Alaska bush from PAKT (Ketchikan) to PABR (Utqiagvik), including 7 years based on St Lawrence Island in the Bering Sea. He maintains A&P/AI and CFII certificates. He is building a Hatz biplane with a Verner radial engine from scratch.