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Invitational Staff |
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![Robert [Hoot] Gibson, Captain USN (retired)](images/about_staff_hoot.jpg) |
Robert "Hoot" Gibson, Captain USN (retired) - Invitational Ambassador
Robert "Hoot" Gibson, Captain USN (retired) joined the National Aviation Heritage Invitational as the first official Ambassador on December 21, 2004. Gibson is highly distinguished in the aerospace industry. Having graduated from the California Polytechnic State University in 1969, with a B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering, Gibson served in the US Navy as a Test and Fighter pilot. He is a graduate of the highly acclaimed US Navy Fighter Weapons School, "Top Gun", and served combat missions in Southeast Asia. Gibson was an Astronaut and Space Shuttle Commander between 1978 and 1995. He flew 5 successful missions with satellites, DOD payloads, and Science Laboratories, commanding four of them. Gibson has logged more than 11,000 hours flight time in more than 50 types of civilian and military aircraft, of which more than 9000 hours are jet and rocket powered. Amongst other recognitions, Gibson performed the first ever docking with Russian "Mir" Space Station, participated in the investigations following the Space Shuttle Challenger accident and is a recipient of numerous NASA awards and military decorations. Gibson currently is a commercial airline pilot for Southwest Airlines, is married to Astronaut Margaret Rhea Seddon, M.D., and a proud farther of four. For a complete look at Gibson's impressive CV, click here.
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Ken Perich - Executive Director
Ken Perich became Vice President - Market Development for Airlines Division of Rolls-Royce North America in December 2000. In this capacity, Ken is responsible for the market development team and sales activities within North America, Latin America and the Caribbean. In addition he is responsible for all aspects of Airline Marketing including major events. Ken joined Rolls-Royce North America in 1988 and prior to his current appointment Ken held the positions of Customer Business Executive and Director- Airline Marketing. During his career with Rolls-Royce, he has been responsible for over $6 Billion in revenue. He has also held sales, marketing and management positions with AAR, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation and Quasar Data Products.
Ken holds a Commercial pilot's license with Single Engine Land, Single Engine Sea, Multi-engine Land, Multi-engine Sea and Instrument ratings. In addition, he holds type ratings in Cessna Citations and Lear Jets, which qualify him to fly over 11 different models of corporate aircraft. Ken also completed Boeing's flight training program on the 757/767 series of aircraft.
He is a Trustee of the National Aviation Hall of Fame, a founding member and the Executive Director of the National Aviation Heritage Invitational, which was established by Rolls-Royce, The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, the National Aviation Hall of Fame and the Reno Air Racing Foundation, to promote the preservation of aviation history. |
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Ron Kaplan - Deputy Director
Ron Kaplan is one of the National Aviation Heritage Invitational’s original founders. At that time he was serving as Development Director of the National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF), and thus served a vital role in coordinating the participation of NAHF enshrinees in NAHI from the start.
Ron’s career in preserving America’s aviation heritage is extensive and varied. From 1994-1998, he was the self-employed founder of Warbird Aviation Art, specializing in hand-painted flight jackets and nose-art replicated on scrap aircraft skin and actual aircraft. Among his clients were Air & Space Magazine, the Smithsonian Air & Space Society, Memphis Belle Memorial Association, Miss America P-51 Air Racing Team, NIKE, and others. A member of the USAF Art Program, one of Ron’s jackets is on permanent display by the USAF at its Pentagon headquarters.
Since 1996, Ron has been a contributing editor to Flight Journal Magazine, and his writing and award-winning photography has appeared in numerous other aviation publications. While at the NAHF, Ron directed its annual enshrinement, known as “the Oscar Night of Aviation,” and founded the acclaimed Reel Stuff Film Festival of Aviation. Having served as the NAHF’s Executive Director since 2005, Ron left the organization in 2009 and currently serves as a consultant to aviation media and museums.
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Lorraine Rodman - Director
Lorraine Rodman, Events Manager Airlines and Corporate Aircraft for Rolls-Royce North America, joined the company in 1992 in the Product Support division. She moved into Marketing in 1995, which subsequently integrated into the Customer Business Unit in a senior administrative role that led to her current position. Lorraine is responsible for managing and planning customer events, industry meetings and dinners, corporate outings and
trade shows for North America.
Lorraine is a member of Meeting Planners International, International Society of Event Specialists, National Aviation Hall of Fame and serves on the Board of Directors for ECHO, Inc. (Every Citizen Has Opportunities). |
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Alan Hoeweler - Eastern Region Coordinator
Alan Hoeweler has been an aviation enthusiast since his childhood, but admits he could never afford the luxury of owning an aircraft until his lifestyle caught up with his desires.
Now, Alan is a proud owner of two WACO bi-planes, a 1940 UPF-7 and a 1927 Model 10T (Taperwing). Alan holds a current Private Pilot license and has logged a little over 1000 hours in mostly tail wheel aircraft including Super Decathlons, Cessna 195s and open cockpit WACOs. One of Alan's family businesses is HGI Air, a Cessna Citation charter company.
Alan has been working with the National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) in Dayton, OH for about 5 years, currently serving on the board as Vice-President of Enshrinement and Media. Through the NAHF, Alan has had the opportunity to meet with many famous and notorious living aviators. He also serves on the board of his home base at Moraine Airpark, which constantly alerts him of today's challenges to the aviation fraternity. Being the National Aviation Heritage Invitational Coordinator of the Eastern Region, Alan is responsible for all sections of the event regarding ground operations at the Dayton Air Show.
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Colin Powers - Chief Judge
I retired in 1997 after a 35 year career with Hewlett Packard as a mechanical engineer and engineering manager. After retirement, I volunteered at the Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville Oregon, working on the Spruce Goose. I became their Director of Restoration in 2004 and retired in 2009. I currently do consulting work for the museum.
My interest in aviation began as a small boy during WW ll. I obtained my private pilot’s license in 1961 and currently have over 2,000 hours. I built a BD-4 which I flew for 17 years .I restored a Cessna 195 which won Champion Custom Classic at Oshkosh in 1995. My next restoration project was a Piper L-4H, which won the Military trophy in Reno 2003 and then the Heritage Invitational Trophy in 2005 and Reserve Grand Champion Warbird at Oshkosh in 2007. This aircraft is now part of the Evergreen Aviation Museum collection. I also have won both the Silver wrench award and the Gold wrench award at Oshkosh with the L-4.
I’ve been involved in judging aircraft at various fly-ins and air shows in the Northwest for the last twenty years. I’m currently Chief Judge at the Madras Air Show in Oregon. For the past five years, I have been one of the Heritage Invitational judges held in Reno and will be Chief Judge 2010. I also will be judging warbirds at Oshkosh this year.
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