Our Practitioner Experts — The Aspect Group

MEET THE TEAM

We’re practitioners with critical experience and insight into aviation, regulation, operations, and technology.

In addition to the experts and partners featured below, we maintain access to a broad network of experienced operators, regulators, and technical specialists who are engaged selectively based on the needs of each engagement.

Jim Barry

Founder of Celerity05 and former CEO of PASSUR Aerospace; senior aviation technology executive and U.S. Marine Corps veteran with deep expertise in aviation intelligence and technology commercialization.

Tony Krug

Former Senior Vice President at United Airlines; 30+ year career in airline finance, fleet planning, and investor relations with extensive experience in aircraft transactions.

Lorne Cass

Former Senior Director of Air Traffic Management at United Airlines; expert in ATC, airspace operations, and NextGen implementation with over 30 years of aviation experience.

Mike Hertzendorf

Former Managing Director at Delta Air Lines; airline revenue management and network strategy executive with expertise in commercial aviation transformation.

Jill Surdek

Former Vice President of Flight Services at American Airlines; airline operations and labor relations executive with deep expertise in crew management and frontline workforce strategy.

Mike Whitaker

Former FAA Administrator; 40+ year aviation career spanning United Airlines, FAA, and ICAO with deep expertise in safety regulation, airspace modernization, and international aviation policy.

Bridget Blaise-Shamai

Former Vice President of Loyalty at American Airlines; expert in airline loyalty programs, customer experience strategy, and revenue optimization.

Dave Dickson

Former FAA Administrator and Delta Air Lines executive; aviation safety and regulatory expert with extensive experience in airline operations and government leadership.

Mark Hopkins

Former Vice President of Air Traffic Management at United Airlines; expert in ATC operations, NextGen implementation, and airspace modernization with 30+ years of experience.

Tom White

Former Vice President of Operations at United Airlines; airline operations executive with expertise in ATC, dispatch, crew scheduling, and system operations management.

Mike Lewis

Former Chief Commercial Officer at American Airlines and Frontier Airlines; expert in airline revenue management, network planning, and commercial strategy.

Peter Bowler

Former President and CEO of Mesaba Airlines; airline operations executive with deep expertise in regional aviation, safety, and fleet management.

Charles Duncan

Former Chief Operating Officer at American Airlines; airline operations and technology executive with deep expertise in large-scale carrier management and transformation.

Ray Johns

Former Executive Director of Aviation at the Metropolitan Airports Commission; airport operations and infrastructure expert with deep experience in large hub airport management.

John Illson

45-year aviation safety executive with 18,000+ flight hours; former safety leader at IATA, ICAO, Uber, Supernal, and the FAA; specialist in international standards and risk-based oversight.

Will Messenger

Former Managing Director at Delta Air Lines; deep expertise in airline operations, network strategy, and advanced air mobility commercialization.

Tim Campbell

Former Chief Operating Officer at Spirit Airlines; airline operations executive with expertise in low-cost carrier strategy, fleet planning, and operational efficiency.

Craig Fuller

Founder and CEO of FreightWaves and FLYING magazine; aviation media entrepreneur and freight technology expert with deep insight into aviation markets and data analytics.

Leo Prusak

Former Chief Information Officer at American Airlines; airline technology executive with deep expertise in digital transformation, IT infrastructure, and aviation systems modernization.