NATA has named Jason Tepool, business development executive for Boeing, as chairman of its Aircraft Maintenance and Systems Technology Committee. Tepool served on the committee for two years prior to his appointment. Phil Stearns, director, sales and marketing for Stevens Aerospace and Defense Systems, will continue in his role as committee co-chair. The announcement follows a recent meeting where Tepool and Stearns outlined the near-term and long-term direction of the committee.

“Right now, it is vital that we swiftly work to determine and meet the needs of the members in responding to the challenges created by COVID-19,” states Tepool. “Longer-term, I believe addressing the skilled technical workforce shortage will be among our top priorities, ultimately a problem the entire industry has a responsibility to solve.

“Above all, the top priority for the committee is to serve as the voice of NATA's membership. To be most effective, we need to become true partners with our Part 145 members, building a trust that allows for the discovery of their true issues and enabling improvements that benefit us all. Drawing on Phil's experience and enthusiasm for serving the Part 145 community, I am confident we will achieve our mission.”

Tepool is a business development executive and aviation consultant who works with flight and maintenance operations to develop training and digital solutions to solve problems in the industry. He has been instrumental in development, partnership and acquisition of many digital solutions and training services offered by the family of Boeing companies over the past several years. He is retired from the US Air Force and is a certified FAA A&P and pilot.

Stearns, a five-year committee veteran, agrees that engaging and surveying Part 145 members to collect quality information for this membership segment will be key to the committee's success. “One of NATA's most important roles as the voice of aviation business is to serve as an effective link between the Part 145 community, OEMs and the FAA,” he explains. “I'm looking forward to working with Jason and the committee to identify and address the issues they truly value. Being an A&P technician is in Jason's DNA; he lives and breathes it. The committee will greatly benefit from his leadership.”

“The combination of Jason's technical background as an A&P and Stearns' vast experience in developing programmes for the industry and communicating its message will drive the committee, propel the association's priorities and advance the industry at large,” concludes NATA Aircraft Maintenance and Systems Technology Committee liaison Keith Deberry.