Master Instructors is pleased to announce that Heather McNevin of Northfield, Minnesota has received her Third accreditation as a Master Aviation Educator. Heather has been an air traffic control specialist at an air route traffic control center (ARTCC) for 16 years and holds an FAA commercial pilot certificate with DC3 and B25 type ratings, is a CFI/CFII/MEI, and has flown 60 different aircraft types in her more than 26 years as a pilot. Her career spans FBO management, aviation security, airfield operations, flight school management and airborne fire patrol. Heather has a Master of Science degree in Aeronautics through Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with dual specializations in Human Factors and Aviation/Aerospace Safety Systems. She is presently pursuing her PhD in Aerospace at the University of North Dakota and is part of a research team conducting aerospace safety research on a variety of subjects including safety management systems and safety reporting, gender issues in aviation, near midair collision events, and general aviation safety. Heather is an active FAA Safety Team Representative with the Minneapolis FSDO.
Master Instructors is pleased to announce that Michael Koelbl of Whitesboro, Texas has received the accreditation as a Master Instructor for the first time. Michael has been flying since 1984. His travels have taken him all over the EU and USA. He says, “I have come to love education as my life’s hobby and not as a career. It is a passion of mine to teach and be taught.” Welcome Michael to the Master Educator community!
Master Instructors is pleased to announce that Jeremy Walters of Temple, Texas has received his Second accreditation as a Master Instructor. Jeremy is a man of faith in God, a husband, father, patriot, and aviation enthusiast. Jeremy’s aviation journey began as a teenager in South Carolina, where he grew up. He started out washing and fueling airplanes at a small county airport (6J2) with subsequent lessons in 1997. He soloed in August 1997 and eventually earned his Private Pilot Certificate just before Christmas 2000. He put himself through college at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, earning a double major in Professional Aeronautics and Air Traffic Management while training at Part 61 schools to earn his CFI/CFII/MEI by 2003. The attacks on September 11th, 2001 inspired Jeremy to enroll in Army ROTC, accepted a scholarship, and was commissioned as an Army officer upon graduation in May 2006, and ultimately served as an Apache helicopter pilot. He is a civilian professional pilot with an active Gold Seal CFI, an Army Reserve Officer in the rank of Major, has six type ratings, and is rated in multiple category and class of aircraft. Jeremy’s passion is to share the journey and inspire others to be professionals; that is, doing the right thing when no one is watching and always maintaining an aggressive and forward-thinking “Breaking The Chain” mindset.
James Alexander of Hollywood, Maryland has received his initial accreditation as a Master Ground Instructor. Jim found his passion for aviation at a small local airshow at age 11 and has been a Private Pilot since his 17th birthday. He is a retired U.S Air Force Instructor/Evaluator Navigator, former NASA Flight Engineer and Chief of Safety at the University of Maryland UAS Research & Operations Center. He is now in his second year of teaching a full Private Pilot ground school for minority youth aspiring to be pilots and teaches aviation science courses as adjunct faculty at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, and serves as a crew resource management instructor. Jim created a free website with references and resources for general aviation pilots (https://vfraviation.wordpress.com/). His volunteer activities include Ford Trimotor operations at EAA AirVenture, FAASTeam Representative and WINGSPro, Civil Air Patrol, and Airport Advisory Board for St. Mary’s County Regional Airport (2W6). Jim has been a lifelong aviation enthusiast and enjoys being an instructor to help others on their aviation journeys. His current flying goals are to continue learning through new challenges and experiences. He recently completed his seaplane rating and is on a quest to fly as many different aircraft types as possible.