Kansas State Aviation Department Head Named As Association's New President

R. Kurt Barnhart of Kansas State University at Salina (K-State), recently assumed the University Aviation Association's (UAA) top elected position as president for 2010-11. As one of his first official duties, President Barnhart announced the election of Bruce Chase to a one-year term as president elect. Members elected to three-year terms on the Board of Trustees include: Joseph Suarez and Matt Wise as Educator trustees, and Jay Evans as a Corporate trustee.

President Kurt Barnhart is professor and head of the Aviation Department at K-State, and serves as executive director of the Applied Aviation Research Center. He holds an A.S. in Aviation Maintenance Technology from Vincennes University, a B.S. in aviation administration from Purdue University, an MBAA from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and a Ph.D. in educational administration from Indiana State University. Dr. Barnhart's research agenda is focused in aviation psychology and human factors.

President Elect Bruce Chase serves as assistant professor, assistant chief instructor, and interim safety manager at LeTourneau University, where he has taught flight for 18 years. In these roles he participates on the flight curriculum team and was instrumental in transitioning the flight training to FITS. He holds FAA Gold Seal MEI, CFI, and CFII as well as Advanced and Instrument Ground Instructor certificates. Chase also serves the local aviation community as a FAA Safety Team volunteer. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Technology from LeTourneau University and a Master's of Aeronautical Science degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Trustee Joseph Suarez is professor of Aviation, assistant chief flight instructor, and Chief Ground Instructor at the University of Dubuque. He has more than 14 years of teaching marketing, business and aviation courses at the college and university level, in addition to more than 15 years of diverse business experience in aviation management, environmental engineering and marketing. Suarez holds multiple degrees, including a Bachelor of Applied Science (Honors), Queens University; a Master of Engineering Environmental/Occupational Health and Safety, University of Toronto; and a Master of Business Administration, International Business and Marketing, York University.

Trustee Matt Wise is the director and chief flight instructor of the Tulsa Community Aviation Center, where he was formerly a student and flight instructor. He flew for various corporate flight departments for several years in Tulsa. Typed in equipment included the B-757, B-767, LR-Jet, LR-45, and CL-30. In 1997, Wise was hired by Transworld Airlines. He engineered on a B-727 and flew the MD-80, as well as international flights in the B-767. In 2001, American Airlines acquired TWA. Upon being furloughed in 2003, Wise taught at Oklahoma State University (OSU) and flew corporate aviation, accepting a position in 2005 with Tulsa Community College. Wise is scheduled to obtain his Ph.D. in education at OSU in the spring of 2011. He is a Master CFI, who enjoys teaching flight training and developing training curriculum.

Trustee Jay Evans is the director of operations at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) and the administrative director of the NBAA Certified Aviation Manager Program. He has also been the initial liaison with the NBAA Professional Development Program (PDP) since its inception in 1998. Other programs Evans deals with include training, medical certification, human factors and NBAA Committees including the Corporate Aviation Management Committee and the Flight Attendant Committee. He has worked at NBAA for more than 15 years after retiring from a career in the U.S. Air Force as a reconnaissance and tanker pilot. He has a B.S. from East Carolina University and a Master's in Public Administration from Auburn University Montgomery. He has flown more than 5,000 total hours and is an Airline Transport Pilot and CFI (single engine land) with a 707/720 type rating.

These newly elected officers and trustees join a 14-member governing board in charting the strategic direction of the Association.

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