On June 23rd during its first-ever virtual Annual Meeting, the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) announced changes to its Board of Directors. Curt Castagna, President and CEO of Aeroplex/Aerolease Group (Long Beach, CA), was reelected to serve an additional term, as well as extending his service as Chairman by one year. Larry Wade, President of Golden Isles Aviation, has also been reelected to the Board for a second term. Clive Lowe, the Senior Vice President of Business Development for Atlantic Aviation (Arlington, VA) will continue in his appointed role as Vice Chair for one additional year.
Two Members left the Board after their terms came to an end. Dennis Fox, Senior Vice President of Flight Operations and Director of Training for Executive Jet Management, has served on the Board since June of 2017. Guy Hill, CEO of Hill Aircraft and Leasing Corporation, is leaving the Board after having served two terms, beginning in April of 2014. During his terms, Guy Hill acted as Treasurer to the Board. Finally, Don Haloburdo had left the Board following his departure from Jet Aviation.
NATA President & CEO Tim Obitts stated, “We are pleased to have Curt Castagna serve as Board Chairman for another year. The past year has held many changes for NATA and the business aviation community as a whole. During these trying times, maintaining a sense of continuity is critical to moving forward in a positive direction.”
Newly appointed to the Board for a term of three years are David Best, Senior Vice President, Jet Aviation; Joe Gibney, Chief Operating Officer, TAC Air; Josh Hochberg, President, Sonoma Jet Center; and John King, President, Solairus Aviation. Their bios and headshots are available below.
“NATA is excited to appoint these new Board members who have been great supporters of the Association for many years. Their close ties to the Association, as well as their well-rounded perspectives on the aviation business community will ensure that the Board of Directors’ input will continue to result in NATA’s ability to respond successfully to legislative and regulatory issues and help ensure the industry’s safety and success as NATA enters its 81st year of service,” Obitts concluded.
David Best, SVP U.S. Operations Jet Aviation
David Best is Senior Vice President and General Manager US Operations for Jet Aviation, responsible for the Fixed Base Operation, Aircraft Management, Staffing and Charter businesses across North America along with Business Development globally. With over twenty years industry experience he has worked across the world with experience in both the business aviation and commercial aviation sectors.
In addition to his role at Jet Aviation David serves on the Board of National Air Transportation Association and Leadership Council of the National Business Aviation Association, has also served as Vice Chairman Asian Business Aviation Association and on the Governing Board of the International Business Aviation Council. David has worked and lived in Europe, Asia and the USA throughout his business career.
Previously he served as Chief Commercial Officer based in the USA, and was Managing Director Europe, Middle East and Africa for a large FBO chain. Prior to returning to the USA he was based in Asia where he headed up the strategic development of an aviation services and aftermarket businesses in the Region.
He is a graduate of the University of Strathclyde where he earned his MBA and is a member of the Institute of Directors.
Joe Gibney, Chief Operating Officer TAC Air
Joe Gibney is the chief operating officer of TAC Air. In that role, Joe oversees the aviation interests of The Arnold Companies, which includes the 15 location TAC Air FBO chain as well as Keystone Aviation, a Salt Lake City based aircraft charter/management and MRO business with a fleet of 25 turbine aircraft. The Arnold Companies is a Dallas-based family business with interests in both the aviation and energy sectors and has been ranked by Forbes magazine as one of the top private companies in the United States.
Prior to joining TAC, Joe spent nearly 20 years at BBA Aviation, including at FBO brand Signature Flight Support and airline refueling & ground handling company Aircraft Service International Group. Joe’s career has spanned executive and operational leadership, sales, marketing, finance and M&A. He’s overseen teams of up to 2,000 employees and successfully led large, geographically disparate organizations both in the US and overseas.
Joe grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee and attended the University of Tennessee as an undergraduate. He holds an MBA from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach. Joe and his wife Patty have been married for more than 20 years and have two teenage children together. Joe is an avid runner and has competed in nearly a dozen marathons and half marathons.
Joshua E. Hochberg, President Sonoma Jet Center
Josh Hochberg has a lifelong passion for aviation. Josh owns and operates Sonoma Jet Center, a full service FBO at the Charles M. Schulz – Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa, CA, as well as Hochberg Aviation Management LLC, the operator of Carlsbad Jet Center in Carlsbad, CA. Josh is Chairman of the NATA Aviation Business Committee, Young Eagles Coordinator and Board Member for EAA Chapter 124, and founding member of the North Bay Disaster Area Response Team. He and his companies are Aviation Partners for Canine Companions for Independence.
Josh started flight training at 14, soloed on his 16th birthday, and his first job was a high school summer internship at the FAA in AFS-800. He has worked at the MITRE Corporation’s Center for Advanced Aviation System Development (CAASD), Northwest Airlines, United Airlines, and as an attorney at Reed Smith, LLP, representing manufacturers of aircraft and aircraft components.
Josh earned a BS from the George Washington University, a MS in Transportation from Northwestern University, and a JD from Southern Methodist University. He holds an ATP Certificate and has over 4,500 hours of flight experience. His Cessna 340 is his daily driver. Josh and his wife Julia have two daughters: Yael (12) and Talia (8).
John King, President Solairus Aviation
John King brings more than 30 years of sales, business, and financial management experience in a variety of fields including technology, financial services, and investment banking. Mr. King became President of Solairus Aviation is 2009 overseeing the management team, directing all aspects of sales, marketing, and operations. He also oversees the implementation of strategic business and/or operational plans, projects, programs, and systems. Prior to his role as President, King played an integral role as CFO of the former Sunset Aviation for 4 years. Additionally, King is a commercial pilot and has been involved with multiple aviation endeavors.
Mr. King graduated from the University of San Francisco in 1975 with a degree in computer science. He is married and has two grown daughters.
