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JON R. WINTHROP
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer |
Mr. Winthrop has a Bachelor's degree in business finance and marketing from USC. He interned with IBM while earning his degree at USC and upon graduation, joined IBM as a marketing representative. During that time he managed a highly successful sales team with responsibility for all Federal, State and local government accounts in the Southern California sales region. Mr. Winthrop left IBM in 1978 to join Golden Jet Airways, an L.A.-based Learjet charter firm, as director of sales. Promoted in 1979, Mr. Winthrop was personally responsible for the development and management of the Purolator Air Courier nationwide air freight system, employing Golden Jet's fleet of Learjets as the primary source of air transportation for this system. Later that year, Mr. Winthrop moved to the Avjet Corporation as director of marketing, with responsibility for the Aircraft Management Division and all air charter programs. He left Avjet in 1980 to form The Air Group.
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ROBERT A. CHRISTY
Co-Founder and Director |
Mr. Christy earned a Master's degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Princeton University and holds Bachelor's degrees in Aeronautical Engineering and Industrial Administration as well. He is an associate member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and a member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. A Lieutenant Colonel in the Marine Corps, he flew two tours of duty in Vietnam in fighter aircraft, one as a squadron commander. After Vietnam he commanded the flight test division at Pt. Mugu NAS. He entered commercial aviation as Director of Operations for the then Tiger International subsidiary National Aircraft Leasing. He was primarily responsible for directing the BAC 1-11 program and served as chief demonstration pilot. From NAL Mr. Christy moved to Aeroamerica, Inc., a Berlin-based air carrier, where he flew as a commercial captain and training pilot. In 1976 Mr. Christy formed Golden Jet Airways in Los Angeles, managing the company's operations through 1980 as its Director of Operations and FAA check airman. Current holder of an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate, he has many ratings including helicopter, Citation, Learjet, Hawker Siddeley, Gulfstream II, III and IV and BAC 1-11. In 1980, together with Jon Winthrop, Mr. Christy formed The Air Group. |
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Samuel K.Y. Liu
Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President |
| In 2002, after a 30-year career that spanned the aviation and software industries, Mr. Liu came out of retirement to join The Air Group and, five years later, Mr. Liu has been appointed Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
Mr. Liu began his career with the Compass Financial Corporation where he served as Vice President, Controller and Treasurer. He joined TigerAir, Inc., a company involved in aircraft sales and other aviation services, in 1977. At TigerAir, he served as the Group Controller. In 1981, Mr. Liu left TigerAir to serve as Vice President and Controller at the Design Construction Company. Six years later he was named Vice President and Controller with the software company Elite Information Systems, where he would subsequently serve as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer until his retirement in 1999.
Looking ahead, Mr. Liu anticipates focusing on efficiency making automation one of his priorities. Mr. Liu brings a tremendous amount of industry experience and insight into his new leadership role as he joins The Air Group’s management team.
Mr. Liu has a Bachelor’s of Science degree from San Jose State University and a Master’s degree in Management from Golden Gate University.
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KENNETH A. COMBS
Director of Operations and Senior Vice President |
Mr. Combs graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1973 receiving his commission into the Air Force and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. After completing pilot training and a tour as an instructor pilot, he was assigned to fly the F-111 fighter bomber. From 1977 until 1994 Mr. Combs served as a fighter pilot with several units in the United States and Europe. In 1990 he deployed to Saudi Arabia and participated in Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He flew numerous combat missions and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and five Air Medals. Mr. Combs held many positions during his career culminating in his selection as squadron commander for the 494th TFS (tactical fighter squadron), and then for the 608th combat operations squadron. Ken retired from The United States Air Force in 1995 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel
Upon leaving the military, he began his civilian aviation career flying charter for a small company in North Carolina. In 1997 he joined Raytheon Travel Air and subsequently became the chief pilot. During his tenure at Travel Air the company grew to over 100 aircraft and 450 pilots. He remained the chief pilot until Travel Air was merged with Flight Options in 2002. Mr. Combs became the CFR 135 Chief Pilot for Flight Options in 2003, a position he held until joining The Air Group as Senior Vice President and Director of Flight Operations. He holds an Air Transport Pilot license with type ratings for the Beechjet, Hawker, Challenger and Embraer Legacy. |
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JOANNE FOTHERGILL
Senior Vice President, Client Services |
| Joanne’s aviation career started at the age of 16, working part time for a small charter operator, California Air Charter, located at the Burbank Airport. She also worked in the international sales department of Burbank based Aviation Power Supply, now known as Aviall. Years later she was given an opportunity to support another up and coming charter company, Spirit Aviation and from there her true desire for a career in aviation developed. Her desire to be involved with large aircraft led her to the position of Charter Sales Manager for Chapman Freeborn in Los Angeles, responsible for supplying aircraft, primarily to the music and entertainment industry. In 1996, she joined Elite Aviation as a Charter Sales Representative, and shortly thereafter was promoted to Charter Sales Manager. Joanne joined the Los Angeles office of The Air Group in 1999 as an Air Charter Travel Manager, and was quickly promoted to Supervisor of the Western Charter Sales offices. In January of 2002 she became the Vice President for the Customer Service Department. She now manages and oversees our nationwide Customer Service department. |
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JOHN ANDERSON
Senior Vice President, Director of Maintenance |
| John began his aviation career with a tour of duty in Vietnam. Serving as a crew chief on a CH 47 helicopter, John received one of the Army's highest awards, the Bronze Star for meritorious service. After returning to Southern California he entered college at Northrop University, where he earned his Airframe and Power Plant certificate. In 1974, John entered the work force as a helicopter technician for a local commercial helicopter company. In 1975, John accepted a position maintaining helicopters for Fluor Engineering. Working his way up in the flight department; John accepted many responsibilities, finally being assigned as the lead technician on Gulfstream and Boeing 727 aircraft exclusively. Since 1991, John has served as Director of Maintenance for The Air Group. Among his many accomplishments, John started The Air group's first in-house maintenance program, certifying 10 types of aircraft for our Air carrier certificate, and starting the remote based maintenance program. Additionally, John has served on several Gulfstream Aerospace maintenance/customer advisory boards. |
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