2026 Annual Conference

BREAKOUT SESSION DESCRIPTIONS

1. Policy

   1. Airman Certification & Safety Standards Update

FAA senior leaders share a high-level overview of priorities shaping aviation technician education and airman certification. Discussion focuses on coordination across FAA offices and the general direction of certification, oversight, and evaluation efforts. Attendees will gain perspective on emerging trends and considerations relevant to part 147 schools as the system continues to evolve.

Kevin Morgan, Manager, Airman and Special Programs Group (AFS-320), FAA (invited)

Everette Rochon, Manager, Training and Certification Group (AFS-810), FAA (invited)

Trey McClure, Manager, General Aviation and Commercial Division (AFS-800), FAA (invited) 

1. 2. Tracking Student Success: Advancing Insight into Certification Outcomes

Interest is growing across education and industry in better understanding student certification outcomes under the performance-based rule. Panelists will review the current state of outcomes reporting, discuss opportunities for expanded insight, and share how some schools are developing internal approaches to track results in the absence of centralized agency reporting. The session explores how improved data visibility can support continuous improvement and stronger alignment between training and certification. 

Tanya Glines, Aviation Safety Inspector, Airmen and Special Programs Group (AFS-320), FAA

Brett Greenwood, Senior Vice President Federal Programs, PSI Services LLC

Sean Gasperson, Associate Vice President, Assessment Services, PSI Services LLC

Shelly Waddell Smith, Testing Standards Section Manager, Training and Certification Group (AFS-810), FAA (invited)

James Hall, Vice President, Aviation and Workforce Development, WSU Tech

AIM

1. 3. Modernizing Airman Testing: Industry Perspectives and Agency Updates

Industry representatives outline key priorities related to airman testing, including communication of test changes, testing capacity, and progress toward dynamic testing models. FAA and PSI provide updates on current efforts and share insight into plans for the next generation of airman testing and stakeholder engagement.

Ryan Smith, Airman Certificate Testing Service Program Manager, Training and Certification Group (AFS-810), FAA (invited)

Brett Greenwood, Senior Vice President Federal Programs, PSI Services LLC

Sean Gasperson, Associate Vice President, Assessment Services, PSI Services LLC

Jackie Spanitz, General Manager, Aviation Supplies & Academics

1. 4. Strengthening the Oral and Practical Test

Updates from the Airman Certification Standards Exam Board focus on enhancements to the oral and practical mechanic test. Topics include alignment with the ACS, improved cohesion between oral questions and practical projects, support for scenario-based evaluation, and appropriate use of examiner professional judgment to ensure consistent, competency-based assessments.

Paul D. Meyer, Airworthiness Aviation Safety Inspector, Training and Certification Group (AFS-810), FAA (invited)

Tanya Glines, Aviation Safety Inspector, Airmen and Special Programs Group (AFS-320), FAA

Wesley Major, Instructor, Hudson Valley Community College & Designated Mechanic Examiner (invited)

1. 5. Delegation Program Updates: Training, Capacity, and Authorization

FAA representatives provide updates on the delegation program, covering both individual designees (DMEs) and organizational designation authorization (ODA). Topics include changes to designee training, capacity and appointment trends, and guidance related to Airman Certification ODA. The session explores how delegation supports oversight while expanding testing access.

Jennifer Lentz, Manager, Airworthiness Delegation Section (AFS-850), FAA

Melanie Weddle, Aviation Safety Inspector, ODA Office Performance Improvement & Implementation Section (AVS-62), FAA

2. Systems

   1. Transforming Workforce Policy Through Interagency Collaboration

Federal leaders discuss how workforce policy is evolving to support skills-based training and priority industries such as aerospace. This session will highlight the Administration’s talent strategy, including efforts to expand Registered Apprenticeships, strengthen career and technical education pathways, and implement initiatives such as Workforce Pell. Attendees will gain insight into how interagency coordination and federal investment are shaping the aviation maintenance pipeline.

Megan Baird, Acting Administrator, Office of Apprenticeship, U.S. Department of Labor

Adam Flynn-Tabloff, Policy, Research, and Evaluation Director, Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education, U.S. Department of Education (invited)

1. 2. Legislative Advocacy: Advancing ATEC’s Priorities

ATEC leaders outline the organization’s legislative priorities for the current Congress and provide an update on advocacy efforts supporting aviation maintenance education and workforce development. The session also highlights the ATEC Fly-In as a tool for elevating member voices and engaging policymakers through shared stories and data.

Jared Britt, Owner & President, Aviation Education Academy

Rob Cush, Legislative Affairs Director, Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association

    3. Feeding the Pipeline – Early Exposure to Competency-Based Learning

Join Snap-on for a discussion on successful models that strengthen the CTE pipeline by providing better-prepared students entering aviation maintenance programs. Learn how schools are engaging students at earlier ages through intentional exploration and competency-based learning to build awareness, skills, and interest—helping fill the future funnel into your program.

Dr. Angela Andersson, Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director, KTEC Schools of Innovation

1. 4. Industry Meets Education: A Public–Private Partnership Model

FEAM Aero and CVG Airport share a workforce development partnership that demonstrates the value of collaboration beyond recruiting. Discussion focuses on aligning training, infrastructure, and long-term workforce strategy to support sustainable aviation maintenance pipelines.

Etain E. Connor, Director of Community Affairs, FEAM Aero

Jessica Warner, Workforce Development Program Manager, CVG Airport Authority

1. 5. Breaking the “Come Back When You’re 18” Barrier

Innovative work-based learning models are connecting high school students—including those under 18—to hands-on aviation maintenance experience. Panelists discuss approaches that address liability and compliance while expanding early career exposure and workforce pathways.

Ryan Goertzen, Vice President Workforce Development, AAR

Tonja Norwood, Apprenticeship Manager, Oklahoma CareerTech

Archie Vega, Director of Maintenance and Development, Horizon Air

3. Instruction

   1. Defining the Aviation Maintenance Skillset for Today and Tomorrow

This session provides an update on a NASA-funded research initiative led by Clemson University, in partnership with ATEC, to assess the competencies required of aviation mechanics across today’s and emerging aerospace technologies. Presenters will share key findings from Phase 1 of the study, including insights informing the ATEC Mechanic ACS working group, and preview early themes and participation opportunities for Phase 2.

Kapil Madathil, Professor, Departments of Industrial and Civil Engineering, Clemson University

Zack Nicklin, Director of Aviation Maintenance, St. Cloud Technical and Community College

1. 2. Modernizing the Mechanic ACS: Proposed Revision Overview

Building on recommendations from partner organizations, an ATEC working group presents an overview of the proposed Mechanic ACS Revision 01. The discussion highlights competency-based training and assessment, integration of Bloom’s Taxonomy, and risk-based framing. Attendees will review the recommendation, provide feedback, and discuss implications for future training and testing.

Rhonda Cooper, ATEC ACS Working Group Lead

Michael Sasso, Airframe & Powerplant Chief, Aims Community College

Nick Brown, Director of Workforce Development, Aircraft Electronics Association (invited)

1. 3. Assessing Soft Skills in Aviation Maintenance Education

Teamwork—and soft skills more broadly—are essential for success in aviation maintenance, yet they are often the most difficult to measure and cultivate in the classroom. Faculty from LeTourneau University share methods developed to assess teamwork and other soft skills within the A&P curriculum. Drawing on multiple years of data, presenters discuss practical approaches for evaluating collaboration and embedding soft skills assessment into technical training programs.

Nick Pool, Instructor, LeTourneau University

1. 4. Augmented and Virtual Reality in the Classroom

Educators explore how immersive platforms are being used to support aviation maintenance instruction. Discussion includes classroom and lab applications, visualization of complex concepts, and considerations for integrating AR/VR tools into existing curricula.

Fernando D. Cifuentes Sanchez, Assistant Professor, Department of Aerospace, Middle Tennessee State University

Thomas Laxson, Faculty Department Chair, Portland Community College

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1. 5. Electric Propulsion in Maintenance Education

Purdue University presents modular learning resources introducing aviation maintenance students to electric propulsion systems and associated regulatory frameworks. Attendees will see how the modules can be integrated into existing courses to support instruction on emerging technologies and standards. Supported by NIST Award 70NANB22H200.

Tracy Yother, Assistant Professor, Aeronautical Engineering Technology, Purdue University

4. Pathways

   1. Discover Choose Aerospace

An overview of the Choose Aerospace general aviation maintenance curriculum, developed with ATEC to support secondary pathways into Part 147 programs. Topics include curriculum implementation, lesson planning, lab development, and the ATEC credential opportunity for program completers.

Kelly Filgo, Director of Operations, Choose Aerospace

1. 2. From Vision to Workforce: Building High School Aviation Pathways

This session highlights successful high school aviation pipeline models that connect secondary education to aviation maintenance careers. Presenters will share how school districts and industry partners collaborate to design and launch aerospace academies, implement aligned curricula such as Choose Aerospace, and prepare students for part 147 pathways. Attendees will gain practical insight into program design, employer engagement, and strategies for strengthening the transition from high school to aviation maintenance training.

Brett Campbell, Career Counselor, Union Public Schools

Archie Vega, Director of Maintenance and Development, Horizon Air

1. 3. Aviation Maintenance Schools Using Choose Aerospace

Part 147 programs share how they are using Choose Aerospace to strengthen recruitment, completions, and outreach. Panelists discuss best practices, lessons learned, and strategies to maximize enrollment impact and partnerships with secondary programs.

Stormy Sykes, Learning Development, US Aviation Academy

Jess Hendricks, Program Manager, WSU Tech

Suzanne Markle, President and CEO, Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics

Gillette Samms, Director of Aviation Programs, Alabama Community College System

Moderator: Kelly Filgo, Director of Operations, Choose Aerospace

1. 4. Employer-Based Pathways in Action

Employer-driven training models are helping address workforce needs through apprenticeships, technical education centers, and partnerships with community colleges. Panelists share examples from across the country and discuss how these approaches combine classroom learning with hands-on experience to support certification and talent development.

Darwin Godemann, Technical Education Team Leader, Duncan Aviation

Mike Couch, Technical Training Coordinator, Duncan Aviation

Katie Johnson, Vice President, Human Resources and Training, West Star Aviation (invited)

1. 5. Launching Your A&P School

Experienced leaders share practical considerations involved in launching a Part 147 program, including costs, equipment, funding options, and regulatory requirements. Attendees will gain insight into common challenges, lessons learned, and strategies for building sustainable aviation maintenance training programs.

Jared Britt, President, Aviation Education Academy

Sean Gallagan, Chief Executive Officer, Aviation Workforce Solutions

Stanley Swank, Branch Manager, Certification and Evaluation Branch (AFG-940) (invited)