Meet Our Team

Dan Boedigheimer is the CEO and a founding partner in Advanced Aircrew Academy. He manages our team of subject matter experts, courseware developers, editors, and graphic artists to produce and deliver the eLearning module content.

Dan has held positions as an FAA Aircraft Program Designee, Pilot Proficiency Examiner, Check Airman, Instructor Pilot, Flight Standards Manager, and Training Manager for Part 135 Air Carriers. He holds an Airline Transport Pilot certificate with over 5000 hours of flight experience in business jets.

Dr. Boedigheimer holds a bachelor’s degree in Aviation Management from Minnesota State University, a master’s degree in Aviation Safety from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, and a Ph.D. in Aerospace Science from North Central University. He is a member of the Delta Mu Delta Academic Honor Society.

Dan is the safety leadership working group lead in the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Safety Committee, the International Business Aviation Council’s IS-BAO Standards Board training subject matter expert, and a reviewer for the Embry Riddle Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research.

Dan is a Human Factors Lead Facilitator and consultant for Convergent Performance. In addition to speaking at Bombardier’s Safety Standdown, Flight Safety Foundation’s Business Aviation Safety Summit, Air Charter Safety Symposium, Aviation Human Factors and SMS Conference, NBAA BACE and regional forums, Global Aerospace SM4 Aviation Safety Seminars, and Aviation Week’s Fatigue Management Forum; Dr. Boedigheimer has authored two books, UC Systems and UE Systems, describing the complete systems components of the Beech 1900 Airliner.

William Hattler is a founding partner of Advanced Aircrew Academy. As General Manager, William handles the daily operations including sales and marketing.

He holds an ATP Certificate with approximately 11,000 hours of flying experience that include remote service to the far reaches of the Alaskan bush, corporate and aeromedical transport in King Airs and Beechjets, and international operations in Embraer Legacy aircraft. He has also served as an Instructor Pilot, Ground Instructor, and Check Airman over the years.

Mr. Hattler is a graduate of the Florida Institute of Technology with a B.S. in Aviation Management. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, he is fully bilingual and able to instruct in two languages.

Jim Weaver is Vice President of Operations and IS-BAO Auditor at Advanced Aircrew Academy. He is the International Business Aviation Council’s (IBAC) International Standard Support Services Affiliate (I3SA) representative for subject matter training for Advanced Aircrew Academy. He brings vast experience in aviation education and managing business aviation aircraft to our team.

Jim's roles while serving in the Navy included leadership positions in aircraft operations, safety, maintenance, and training, including tours as flight instructor in TA-4J and F-14A aircraft. He led operational test and evaluation of Navy and Marine Corps F-14 and F/A-18 aircraft and weapon systems and oversaw procurement of F/A-18 fleets for two European air forces. Jim is a graduate of Navy Fighter Weapons School (Topgun).

Jim then spent 14 years as a pilot and manager in business aviation where he held positions as Director of Operations, Manager of Aircrew Training, Ground Instructor, and Pilot-in-Command for Flight Options as well as test, demo, and delivery pilot for Nextant Aerospace. Jim holds an Airline Transport Pilot certificate with over 5000 hours of flight experience along with a Flight Instructor certificate.

Jim is a Director with the Arizona Business Aviation Association (AZBAA) and IS-BAO subject matter expert for the NBAA Safety Committee, Safety Leadership working group.

Jim holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of New Mexico and an MBA in Information Systems from National University. He completed post-masters coursework in Management of Engineering and Technology at Northcentral University.

Erika is the Director of Instructional Design for Advanced Aircrew Academy and, since she lives at 8,700 feet in the foothills near Denver, she is also the SME for mountain and high altitude flight environments. She holds an ATP with 6,000 hours, most of that time as captain in a Boeing 727-200 and CE500 series aircraft. She has international flight experience in a Gulfstream and performed the FAA proving runs for a Falcon 20 Part 135 certification. To round out the experiences, she has had the pleasure of experiencing hypoxia in an altitude chamber.

Before going to the airlines, Erika flew for the Red Cross and then spent 12 years in the charter and business aviation sector as a pilot, dispatcher, and maintenance/avionics coordinator. She spent many sleepless nights flying 24/7 air ambulance in the harsh winters of the Midwest and is also hazmat trained and qualified.

Erika holds a bachelor's degree in International Business and Economics from the University of Denver. She is also an aviation professor at Metropolitan State University in Denver, specializing in aircraft systems and propulsion. She is the author of "A Chick in  the Cockpit" and her professional pilot columns can be found in seven national aviation magazines.

Anna has been a Courseware Developer with Advanced Aircrew Academy since 2011. Her subjects of expertise include OSHA, ADS-B, CPDLC, and International Procedures - ICAO Phraseology.

Born in New York, New York and raised on a farm in upstate New York, Anna Kozak's interests and accomplishments have been as diverse as her early beginnings. After graduation from SUNY Delhi and Tennessee Technological Universities, Anna became involved in several positions before ultimately serving as the Surgery Nurse Supervisor for the Small Animal Veterinary Clinic at Cornell University. It was in this position that Anna's deep love of life and well-honed scientific skills became a perfect match.

This match continued for several years until Anna took her first introductory aircraft flight. That fortunate circumstance guided Anna's path to her roles as Flight Instructor, Designated Examiner, and eventually, Captain and Assistant Program Manager in corporate aviation. Anna has flown turbojet aircraft throughout North America including the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Caribbean islands. For two years, Anna resided in Saudi Arabia where she worked in flight operations and aircrew training. Anna's passion for researching her family heritage culminated in earning a dual U.S./Polish citizenship in 2010.

Sheri is a Courseware Editor and the Subject Matter Expert for the Instrument Procedures Module.

Sheri is a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a Bachelor of Science in Professional Aeronautics and a Master of Aeronautical Science, with Distinction, with dual specializations in Education Technology and Safety.

Sheri holds an ATP with approximately 4600 hours of flying experience with a majority of that time dual instruction given. She has continuously held a Certified Flight Instructor/Instrument Instructor since 1986. Past employment includes working 13 years for a major Part 121 airline in Flight Training and Standards, specializing in instructional design; 8 years teaching in a level D simulator; nearly a decade of experience as a Part 135 training Captain and Check Airman in a commuter airline setting; and several years as an aviation faculty member at the University level. She has been a member of the FAA FAAST team since 1992.

Recognized for her outstanding contributions to aviation, she has been the FAA Flight Instructor of the Year (Southern Region) and has been inducted into the International Forest of Friendship and Kentucky Aviation Hall of Fame.

Sheri is also a certified SCUBA diver, published author, a juried Fellow with the Craftsman’s Guild of Mississippi (Ceramics), and is married to a professional pilot.

Ryan Retelle has been the Subject Matter Expert for the Winter Operations Module since 2009 and enjoys working with the broad range of operators who collaborate with Aircrew Academy for their training needs.

Ryan began his flight training in a sailplane, soloing at age 14, and later went on to graduate from Daniel Webster College with a B.S. in Flight Operations. Past employment includes operating piston twins and turboprops in the seasonal Northeast winters. This is where Ryan developed an appreciation for industry best practices throughout the whole winter season. He went on to work for an industry-leading fractional operator as a Beechjet crewmember and 135 Ground School Instructor. Ryan currently flies a fleet of G450 and G550 aircraft for a corporate flight department.

When at home, Ryan enjoys flying tailwheel and float planes. He resides in New Hampshire with his wife and two children.

Kasey Stevenson is a Training Administrator at Advanced Aircrew Academy. She assists with updates and customization of module content, material editing, and customer support.

Kasey graduated with honors from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Management Technology. Her degree concentrated in Air Transportation Management, where she completed research on Smart Airport Landing System, which aims to increase airport capacity and promote traffic flow efficiency. Kasey also holds a certificate in Homeland Security from the Arizona State University School of Criminology and Criminal Justice.

Previously, Kasey managed the Del E. Webb High Altitude Chamber in Mesa, Arizona. She coordinated and supervised the flight operations for hypoxia training of pilots, flight test engineers, students, military service personnel, and physicists for a variety of aviation manufacturing companies, corporate flight departments, and space exploration companies. Kasey also spent a year and a half as a Teaching Assistant for private and commercial pilot ground school. She is an active member of Women in Aviation International.

Kasey is a candidate for a Master of Science in Aviation Management and Human Factors from the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University.

Philip Taylor is an original member of the Advanced Aircrew Academy cadre. He is a Courseware Design Specialist and maintains the Emergency Situations, Runway Excursion, and Runway Incursion modules.

He holds an Airline Transport Pilot certificate with over 7000 hours of flight experience. Philip began his flying career in the U.S. Air Force flying the KC-135. He moved on to be an Instructor Pilot in the T-1A. He is also a Certified Flight Instructor. He has served as an Aircrew Program Designee, Check Airman and Pilot Proficiency Examiner in a Hawker 400A, 400XT, and Mitsubishi Diamond 300 aircraft. He had a brief assignment to the Embraer Legacy 500. Currently, Phil is flying the Gulfstream G-450.

Philip completed his Bachelors degree in Telecommunications at Texas Tech University and Masters degree in Professional Aviation from Delta State University.

Philip also volunteers as an FAA Safety Team (FAAST) member in his hometown. He gives back to aviation by interacting with a collegiate professional aviation department as a simulator instructor. This environment allows him to mentor young aviators concerning safety issues.

Chris Tranbarger has been a member of the Aircrew Academy team since 2016. He is a Subject Matter Expert for Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs), Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM), and Overseas Territories Aviation Requirements (OTARs).

Chris has had an enthusiasm for aviation since his first flight at age 13. After earning his flying credentials at Vincennes University in 1983, he began his career as a CFI in Anderson, IN where he discovered a love for sharing knowledge and was first exposed to FAR 135 flying. Gaining experience, he moved on to a larger operation in Columbus, OH where he served as a line pilot and instructor/check airman in multiple aircraft types.

With a continuing desire to learn and grow, he pursued and completed his B.S. in Aviation Technology at Purdue University in 1994. Following this, he served as a pilot and safety specialist with Mesa Air Group operating the SD3-60, BE-1900, and DHC-8 aircraft. He has since served as Director of Operations for two large FAR 135 air carriers spanning over a decade of experience.

Chris accomplished his MBA at Malone University in 2014 and today is Director of Safety and an active pilot for a rapidly growing FAR 135 operator in Cleveland, OH. He is type rated in the HS-125, LR-JET, BE-1900, DHC-8, and BE-300 with over 7500 hours experience. He lives in northeast Ohio with his wife, Laura, and sons, Nathan and Noah.

Jared has been a team member of Aircrew Academy since 2009 and is the Subject Matter Expert for Security, CFIT and Upset/Loss of Control training.

After college, Jared started his career as a CFII at Kokomo, Indiana. Like most new CFIs, he wanted to fly bigger and faster aircraft, so he moved on to fly Convairs for a Part 125 freight operation based at PTK. Jared gained his jet experience flying for a Part 135 fractional company where he also became a ground instructor, specializing in new-hire indoctrination. While there, he initiated the distance learning training concept for that operation and developed many of the ideas that he uses in creating courseware for Advanced Aircrew Academy.

Jared currently flies an Airbus for a U.S.-based airline and is type rated in the Convair 580, BeechJet, Falcon 20, and Airbus 320 with approximately 10,000 hours.

Quote: "I think that training should be about more than just checking the box. When I create training, my goal is to have each student come away from a session not feeling like it was a waste of his time, or more of the 'same old thing.' I really want each person to learn something from the training I made, and hopefully it makes them a better pilot or support person."

Jared graduated cum laude from Indiana State University in 1997 with a B.S. in Professional Pilot Technology. On his time off he has a mission to visit every National Park in the lower 48 States. Jared and his wife have homes in Las Vegas and "The Thumb" of Michigan where it's either too hot or too cold, depending on the time of year.

Sheila is a Subject Matter Expert and Training Administrator for Advanced Aircrew Academy. Her primary responsibility is for our modules in Crew Resource Management, Hazmat/Dangerous Goods, and Alcohol and Drug Misuse Prevention.

Sheila is a graduate of Metropolitan State University with a Bachelor of Science in Professional Pilot. After college, Sheila instructed off a grass strip and became a police officer and pilot with a city municipality. She is a type-rated ATP with over 7000 hours of commercial and general aviation, most recently as a jet Captain and Ground Training Instructor for a large U.S. Part 135 operator. She has substantial experience as an aircrew training ground instructor specializing in CRM and Hazardous Materials Training.

She currently lives in South Carolina with her husband – also a professional pilot – and daughter.

Tony Wallace has been a business aviation pilot for the last 25 years. After leaving the U.S. Army and graduating from Henderson State University with a B.S. degree in Aviation as a professional pilot, he has flown a variety of aircraft including the Twin Cessna, Beech 18, King Air, Beechjet, Hawker, and Citation X. Tony is currently a Captain on a Gulfstream for a Part 135 operation.

Tony's experience includes serving as the Director of Operations and Ground Instructor for a Part 135 scheduled and unscheduled passenger and freight operation. He holds an Airline Transport Pilot certificate along with a CFI, CFII, and MEI certificate.

Tony has been a Subject Matter Expert for Advanced Aircrew Academy's Regulatory and TCAS modules since 2008.