Norman Mineta

Norman Mineta, the 14th secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), resigned his position, effective last month. Deputy Secretary Maria Cino has been named the acting DOT head. The nearly 60,000-employee agency, which includes FAA, controls a $61.6-billion budget. Mineta helped guide the creation of the Transportation Security Administration, established in late 2001 and transferred to the Department of Homeland Security in March 2003. He also is a former U.S. secretary of Commerce and vice president of Lockheed Martin. Visit www.dot.gov.

Lee Pucker

The SDR Forum, an industry association dedicated to software defined radio systems, has appointed Lee Pucker as chief technology officer (CTO). His responsibilities include: serving as a technical authority on Forum activities; coordinating activities with committee chairs; helping to plan the Forum’s annual technical conference, as well as meetings and workshops; and performing liaison and outreach functions. Pucker is CTO at Spectrum Signal Processing Inc. Visit www.sdrforum.org.

Phil Straub

Garmin International has promoted Phil Straub to director of engineering for aviation. He reports to Cliff Pemble, vice president of engineering for the company. Straub will oversee all aviation engineering activities, including design, software, program management and flight operations, as well as aircraft and systems certification. He joined Garmin in 1993 and has helped develop aviation products, such as the GNS 430, GNS 530 and G1000. Visit www.garmin.com.

Kenneth Bean

Aculight Corp. of Bothell, Wash., has named Kenneth Bean as director of manufacturing operations. He comes from BBP Inc., where he was founder and president of that company, which specializes in head-up display (HUD) systems. Bean also is a member of the American Electronics Association. Visit www.aculight.com.

Bob Candler

Landmark Aviation has named Bob Candler as vice president and general manager of its maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) operation in Springfield, Ill. The Springfield MRO provides avionics modifications and upgrades, as well as fixed base operation (FBO) and aircraft maintenance services. Candler was formerly with Bombardier Business Aircraft, working as director of operations for the company’s service centers in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and Denver. Visit www.landmarkaviation.com.

Chris Hamilton

Chris Hamilton has joined Proxy Aviation Systems Inc. as executive vice president and chief financial officer. He will work with Proxy’s CEO, Don Ryan, to guide strategy and growth for the company. Based in Germantown, Md., Proxy is a manufacturer of unmanned aircraft systems. Hamilton comes from Thales Communications, where he was senior vice president and chief financial officer. Visit www.proxyaviation.com.

Rob Monahan

Nylok Corp. has promoted Rob Monahan to product applications engineer. He joined the company in 1997 and was previously quality assurance manager at the company’s headquarters in Macomb, Mich. Visit www.nylok.com.

Jack Hess

Lincoln, Mass.-based Avidyne Corp. has appointed Jack Hess as original equipment manufacturer (OEM) sales manager. He will be based at the company’s facility in Columbus, Ohio. Hess comes from L-3 Communications Avionics Systems, where he worked in management positions overseeing key OEM activities. Hess is an instrument rated pilot with experience in both general aviation and military avionics systems. Visit www.avidyne.com.

David Potter

Avionics, maintenance and interiors provider, Thunder Aviation, has hired David Potter as vice president of aircraft sales. He comes from Sabreliner Corp., where he was director of aircraft sales for business jets in the United States, Mexico, South America and Europe. Chesterfield, Mo.-based Thunder Aviation also is a fixed base operator. Visit www.thunderaviation.com.

Doug Brantner

Raytheon Aircraft Services (RAS) has promoted Doug Brantner to vice president of the company. He is responsible for 10 RAS fixed base operations in the United States and Mexico. Brantner reports to Randy Groom, president of global service and support. Visit www.raytheonaircraft.com.

Michael O’Leary

Midcoast Aviation has appointed Michael O’Leary as avionics sales manager. O’Leary, who is chairman of the board of the Aircraft Electronics Association, comes from JetCorp, where he held the same position. Visit www.midcoastaviation.com.

AEA Lifetime Award

The Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA) has given its 2006 Lifetime Achievement Award to John Winter, who has worked in the aviation industry since the 1950s. Winter helped develop one of the first ARC autopilots for general aviation while serving as chief engineer at Aviation Instrument Manufacturing Corp. (AIM) in the early 1960s. In 1980 he purchased Mid-Continent Instruments of Wichita, Kan., and helped expand that company to its present size of 170 employees. Winter also served as AEA’s regional director, then treasurer, from 1994 to 2000. Visit www.aea.net.

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