Symposium Presenters

---

Dr. Tony Kern is the CEO of Convergent Knowledge Solutions, a small veteran owned firm formed and dedicated to reducing human error in high risk environments. Tony is one of the world’s leading authorities on human performance and the author of five books on the subject, including Redefining Airmanship, Flight Discipline, and Darker Shades of Blue: The Rogue Pilot. Dr. Kern is an internationally recognized expert in the field of applied human factors and performance improvement, and has lectured on the subjects in Mexico, Japan, Argentina, Australia, Canada and Russia. Tony has deep operational roots as a Command Pilot and Flight Examiner in the B-1B bomber, as well as senior staff and leadership experience, including service as the Chair of the Air Force Human Factors Steering Group and Director and Professor of Military History at the USAF Academy. Upon retirement from the Air Force in June of 2000, Dr. Kern served as the National Aviation Director for the U.S. Forest Service, where he directed the largest non-military government aviation program in the world in support of federal wildland fire suppression. He is a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute and Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program. He has appeared frequently on talk radio and TV, including segments on the Discovery Channel, NBC Nightly News and 48 Hours with Dan Rather. Dr Kern has received multiple awards for his work, including the Flight Safety Foundation Distinguished Service Award (2003) for Aviation Leadership and the Aviation Week and Space Technology Laurel Award (2002) for Outstanding Achievement in Government and Military Aviation. Tony holds Masters Degrees in Public Administration and Military History as well as the Doctorate in Higher Education, specializing in human factors training design. He enjoys hunting, fishing, boating and flying. He lives with his wife and two sons in Stafford, Virginia.

---

Mr. John M. Allen is the Deputy Director of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Flight Standards Service.  In this capacity, he assists the Director in leading over 4,800 aviation safety inspectors, program specialists and administrative staff in the certification, safety oversight, and development of standards and policy for the aviation community.  He has been with the FAA for over 15 years in various offices, primarily around the Washington D.C. area.

In addition, Mr. Allen is a Brigadier General with the Air Force Reserve.  He has held various command positions during his 30-year active duty and reserve military career to include vice wing commander and squadron commander. 

Mr. Allen received his Bachelor of Science degree in computer and information sciences from the University of Florida and a Masters of Science degree in aeronautical technology from Arizona State. He has over 4,800 flying hours; most of it obtained flying the military C-141 for 20 years and as an Air Force instructor pilot in the T-37. In addition, he has an Air Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate with ratings in the A-320 and L-300 (C-141).

Mr. Allen has been involved with the improvement and application of Crew Resource Management both in the FAA and U.S. Air Force.  In the FAA, he was one of two Aviation Safety Inspectors assigned to the Headquarters’ FAA Advanced Qualification Program (AQP) Branch that is responsible for the initial development of AQP at the major airlines.  AQP provided the airlines with a means to tailor their training and checking programs to accommodate CRM and evaluate CRM competence.  As a C-141 airlift squadron commander, vice-wing commander and examiner pilot, Brig. Gen. Allen led the transition of aircrews from the “round-dial” avionics of the C-141B to the all glass/FMS/TCAS/TAWS C-141C.   This transition culminated the C-141 wing successfully completing several missions (the first he personally commanded) to transport Afghanistan detainees non-stop from Turkey to Guantanamo, Cuba; a 15-hour mission with 2 aerial refuelings.

---

Bob Hedges is currently a First Officer on the Boeing 767-400 with a major airline. He has approximately 12,000 hours of flying time, and holds ATP-ASMEL, CFI, and FE certificates, as well as type ratings on the A-320, B-727, B-747-4[00], B-757, B-767, DC-9, and L-1011 aircraft. He has also flown the B-737. His professional flying career began in the US Air Force, where he flew the C-9A, ultimately becoming Chief Instructor Pilot for the program at Scott AFB, Illinois. After leaving the USAF, he began his airline flying career. He was furloughed for approximately four years, during which time he became an Instructor Pilot on the A-320, B-727, B-747-400, B-757, DC-9, and MD-80 series aircraft and FAA Training Center Evaluator/ Designated Examiner for the A-320. He has an extensive background in curriculum development in both the military and under FAR 121, including Advanced Qualification Program (AQP) startup.

Mr. Hedges has an undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, and a Master of Aeronautical Science degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He will complete his Graduate Safety Certificate from Embry-Riddle in 2007. His specialties include Crew Resource Management (CRM), Threat and Error Management (TEM), and System Safety Management and Administration in the aerospace, chemical processing, and commercial nuclear power industries.

---

Katie Hetherington is currently a First Officer on the Boeing 737 with a major airline. She holds ATP-AMEL, and CFI certificates, and has type ratings on the B-737, B-747-4[00], B-757, B-767, BE-1900, and EMB-120 aircraft. She has previously flown as a Captain for United Express on the BE-1900 and EMB-120. During five years of furlough, Katie worked as an FAA Air Carrier Inspector at the Northwest Airlines Certificate Management Office (CMO) where she was the Assistant Aircrew Program Manager on the B-757 and B-747-400 aircraft, maintaining currency and conducting numerous certification activities in both types. At the FAA she was the Great Lakes region Subject Matter Expert (SME) on Threat and Error Management (TEM), and oversaw the Advanced Qualification Program (AQP) at NWA.

Ms. Hetherington has an undergraduate degree in Aviation Management from the University of North Dakota, and a Master of Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. She will complete her Graduate Safety Certificate from Embry-Riddle in 2007. Her professional specialties include regulatory oversight, curriculum development, Crew Resource Management (CRM), Threat and Error Management (TEM), and aerospace System Safety management.

---

John P. Young is currently a professor in the Department of Aviation Technology at Purdue University. His classroom instruction has included courses in commercial and instrument pilot lectures, human factors, crew resource management, and transport category aircraft systems and operations. In addition, he has provided leadership oversight to the advanced flight simulation program. Previously he was employed as a flight crewmember for Braniff International Airlines.  Professor Young’s scholarly and research interests include CRM, aviation human factors, and advanced flight deck training methodologies for collegiate aviation. He is currently serving as an educator trustee on the University Aviation Association (UAA) board of directors and has recently been elected to serve as president of that organization for 2007-2008.