Member Updates
Keep all the Silver Eagles informed about your activities in retirement, semi-retirement, working retirement, or just plain working. E-mail your updates to jhenderson815@verizon.net
Click here for the latest list of Silver Eagles, with their contact information.
Click a name to move to the update. Names marked with an asterisk (*) have a photo in the Photo Gallery. Date listed is of the most recent update.
Bob Barlett (2008)
Ron Battocchi (2008)*
Jean Bernstein (2008)
Chris Bonanti (2010)
Edith Brown (2010)
Jean H. "Sandy"Daugherty (2008)*
Al Dickenson (2008, 2010)*
Gene Doub (2008)
Rod Dyck (2008)
Gary Hammack (2008)*
Ralph Hicks (2008)
Dave Ivey (2008)
Bob Johnson (2009)
J. Peter Kissinger (2010)
Katherine A. Lemos (2008)
Chuck Leonard (2008)
Don Libera (2009)
Don Lorrente (2008)
Sonia Lott (2010)
Frank McGill (2008)
Keith McGuire (2008)
Ron Mickel (2009)
Robert Moore (2011)*
Mike O'Neill (2010)
Byrd J. Raby (2008)
Al Reitan (2008)*
Ray Smith (2008)
Stan Smith (2008)
Al Stone (2008)
Morgan Turrell (2008)
Ed Wizniak (2008)
Bob Barlett recently retired from the NTSB and has joined the Silver Eagles. Jim Henderson reminds us that Bob was known as the “Chief of Stuff.” Jim says, "You may remember Bob for the large NTSB lettering on the back of shirts and jackets to bring us into parity with the FBI, ATF, NCIS, and other such Alpha-Dog-agencies. I personally appreciated the updated and reflective hard hats and vests."
In his retirement message, Bob told colleagues: Nearly 31 years at NTSB and 7 at DOT went by fairly quickly, and now it is time to move on and try some other things. I will have more time for my children and grandchildren, and will again get involved with the World War II McMurray B-24 bomber story (pitching it to documentary producers), a World War II documents project with the National Archives, the beach (OCMD), and possibly some consulting.
Ron Battocchi, former NTSB General Counsel and Managing Director, has kept himself busy since retirement with a variety of volunteer activities, primarily through his church. He has continued working with Habitat for Humanity through church and with a college friend and his wife. He has made two trips to the Gulf Coast and will return again in March. With his college friend, Ron helped build a Habitat house in New Zealand (above). As if that weren't exhausting enough, Ron has also taught English as a Second Language classes, which he says he has found especially enriching and rewarding.
Jean Bernstein wrote: Thank you very much for keeping us,” Silver Eagles,” up-to-date on current events at the NTSB. I also appreciate your providing us current details on the "life after retirement" of my former colleagues. We all knew each other well when I was at the Safety Board which is a relatively small agency.
For a number of years after I left the Safety Board I worked as a metallurgical consultant and was predominantly involved in litigation and company acquisition cases. However, recently there have not been as many cases, while I feel much more fulfilled when I am busy and involved.
Chris Bonanti - I'm no longer the Director of FAA's Hazmat Program! Instead, I accepted another Congressional Fellowship but this time at the US House of Representatives, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials. My fellowship is planned until the end of the calendar year, but that all depends on several factors.
Edith Brown – “After my retirement from the Safety Board in April 2001 and after 9/11, I was recalled to active duty by the Coast Guard. I remained on active duty until February 2006 when I retired with almost 33 years of service. I received my Masters Degree in Human Resources Mgmt in 2003. Unfortunately, I lost my husband of 45 years in 2007. I went to work for Northrop Grumman full time after my husband's passing, but I have been working for the last 1 1/2 years as a Personnel Specialist with Lockheed Martin in Merrifield, VA.”
Jean H. "Sandy" Daugherty, former air safety investigator and computer specialist (NTSB October '81 to January '02) sends along the following update:
"Early retirement mandated a withdrawal from breakfast and lunch at Roma's. That and multiple over-commitments of my free time led to my losing 80 pounds over the last 6 years. Now I get lots of exercise, such as hanging on to the backstay of a Naval Academy 44-foot sailboat while the midshipmen attempt to make me wet myself. That’s called 'coaching.' My experience as a 'high-ranking government spokesman' qualified me to pursue a rewarding career in the marine industry—cleaning the bathroom and stocking shelves at a West Marine Store. I love it. I can at last shower my significant other with all the trinkets she can carry. You must understand, of course, that my significant other is a sailboat: a PDQ 36 Catamaran, mysteriously named Page 83.
"I moved to a suburb of Annapolis a week before I retired, five blocks from my boat slip on the South River and just under base leg to Lee Airport. I had no problem adjusting to life in the slow lane, which will come as no surprise to a few of my previous managers. I have not been inside the beltway during hours of daylight since I left.
"I'm a member of a group called Singles on Sailboats,' with 800-900 members around the Chesapeake Bay. We sail virtually every weekend, from casual day-sails, to 20- boat weekend raft-ups at picturesque historical towns on the Bay, to 6-boat charters in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and the South Pacific. I am surrounded by women but, unfortunately, they are all my age.
"Retired Life is good. There is no longer any compelling reason to play in traffic, shop on the weekends, dress to someone else’s standards, or even wear a watch. Join me here in southern Maryland where Plaintiffs’ Attorneys are always in season! (However, a bounty is in effect only when Congress is not in session…)."
Al Dickinson, (also see update below)former IIC in AS-10, retired in March 2003 and moved to Manhattan Beach, California (just south of LAX). For the next 3 years, he worked for the aviation safety school at USC. Since leaving USC last year, Al has been doing volunteer work with St. Cross, a church in Hermosa Beach. He, along with two friends from his church, drove to Diamondhead, Mississippi, where they spent a week building part of a church . Al says he may go to Belieze later this year to do some more building.
(August 2010) Al Dickinson – “I recently learned that I will be coming east, I moved to Manhattan Beach, CA after retiring in March of 03, for a family service in NJ so I have worked out a visit to the DC area while on the east coast. I hope to stop in to see who is left on the board that I know while in the area in addition to visiting old friends in DC and DE.
Gene Doub was an investigator in the Chicago Office from January 1988 to June 1995. He went from the NTSB to the Transportation Safety Institute (TSI) in Oklahoma City, where he taught Accident Investigation and managed courses. He retired from TSI in 2003. He writes: "I have been doing some aviation safety advocacy and consulting work since I retired. I also teach Accident Investigation at USC on a part-time basis. In my spare time, I give fishing clinics for kids and fly fishing clinics for adults for the Oklahoma State Department of Wildlife Conservation. We have a lot of fun and make a lot of kids happy. This is volunteer work, but it's probably the most rewarding work I have ever done. The smiles on the kids faces when they catch their first fish is compensation enough for me.
Rod Dyck (a Former Pipeline Chief) left the Board to become the Director of Pipeline Enforcement with DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, formerly know as RSPA.
Gary Hammack recently retired from the Safety Board and had this to say to his former associates: "Thank you to everyone for the camaraderie and the wonderful education that you have given me over the years. I have many things to do and I plan to do them slowly. I have many projects around the house – fixing, cleaning, organizing, getting rid of things. I will ride my motorcycle, I have a mountain bike to ride, I’m into photography, I’ll do some target shooting, and I might start playing hockey again. I’ll travel a bit by various modes, including some trips in a Cessna 172. I’ll go to the humane society and volunteer there a bit. I’ll probably go back to the volunteer fire department where I began a career in the fire service at age 15. There are many more things that I have been waiting to do."
Ralph Hicks rejoins the Board as an Aviation Accident Investigator. Prior to his return, he was the General Manager for Flight Safety with Delta Air Lines. He also served with the U.S. Air Force for eight years. Mr. Hicks is a graduate of North Carolina State University with a B.S. Degree in Engineering Operations.
Dave Ivey, another former air safety investigator, lives in North Carolina. He said, “My hands don't work well at all after I turned over a convertible in November '06. Broke my neck but it could have been much worse.”
Bob Johnson, with AS-20 for 19 years and retired in 96. He writes, “We lived in Bowie from May '90 to May '97 and then moved to the Kansas City area where I had joined the Board in '77. We left kids in this area and decide it would be a good idea to be near family as we got older. We live in Liberty on the northeast edge of the metro area. Kansas City is also a good central location as we have kids in Calif and Florida.”
J. Peter Kissinger - NTSB 1977 – 1989, last eight as Managing Director. Presently and since 2002, President & CEO of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, in Washington, D.C. – the research affiliate of AAA and Motor Clubs throughout North America. We fund and conduct applied traffic safety research and educational development projects. See www.aaafoundation.org for details. Living in Arlington with my wife of 40 years, Willie. Would love to catch up with other alumni.
Katherine A. Lemos, Ph.D. is heading to the FAA in the engineering division of aircraft certification as a Human Factors Psychologist (AIR-130). Some of the flight deck technologies she hopes to work with include synthetic/enhanced vision and weather displays, in addition to advanced NextGen navigation and communication concepts.
Chuck Leonard tells us, "I have no stories. I'm boring. I'll turn 75 soon. I’m still chasing wrecked airplanes for manufacturers, insurance companies, and lawyers. I’m just back from Lexington working on that Comair crash; a wrong-runway takeoff. And I commute (from the East Coast) to LAX occasionally to teach sharpies at USC. (Editor's note: We know, Chuck, boring stuff like that. After sharing a couple emails with Chuck, I said, “Okay, I agree, you're just a boring nearly 75-year-old sitting on his rocker watching the earth turn. ;-)” Chuck got back with. “You made me laugh! Thanks!”
Don Libera, former Deputy Director of the CFO (the money guys) retired May 1, 2009. "At this point, I have no immediate plans either for opening my own business or for travel to New Zealand, although both may happen down the road. Right now, my plans include lots of church-related activities -- some compensated and others not, as well as lots of projects around the house. I also hope to get in some golf from time to time."
Don Lorrente retired from the LAX office about 15 years ago and says he is doing very very well as an aviation investigation consultant. He also is on a bowling team and bowls at least weekly.
Sonia Lott – Offered the following, “Sorry nothing of interest. I had been working part-time for the past 3 years for a remanufacturing toner company and the end of May got laid off. Looking for something else but there's not much out there. I have 2 grandchildren that start kindergarten in August.” When I asked if I could pass this on to our members to see if anyone knew about openings she said, “Sure, thanks. I live in Laurel, MD, prefer to work part-time but maybe would consider full-time if the location and pay was right. LOL” (For the uninitiated, Laugh Out Loud.) Her email address is: Turtlewom@msn.com. For those who knew Sonia at NTSB, “turtle” has nothing to do with the pace of her work! You will have to ask her the true significance.
Frank McGill, a former air safety investigator, retired in 2006, but he's been living in Texas for the last 5 years. Frank also belongs to the "Silver Eagles" for former Braniff airline pilots.
Keith McGuire - "We have moved, even though the house isn’t really finished yet. Lots of work still to be done! The current address Gig Harbor, WA."
Ron Mickel, with AS in both Anchorage and Denver field offices from 83 - 85. He currently is working with TSB and lives in Arvada, CO. Joe Kris caught up with him at a conference.
Robert Moore, formerly chief of the Report Development Division in the Office of Railroad, Pipeline, and Hazardous Materials Investigations, retired in 2005 and returned to Sweet Home Alabama-- but he still crunches words for the Safety Board as a writing and editing consultant. When he isn't working for the Safety Board, he's either taking part in a multi-gun (pistol, carbine, shotgun) match or a pistol match somewhere—or he’s just having fun at the range. As an NRA-certified firearms instructor, he teaches non-shooters how to handle firearms with respect, competence, and safety. When he's not doing those things, he enjoys putting together Web sites—like the one you're browsing now.
Mike O'Neill – “As for me, after I retired from the Safety Board I served as a Regional Safety Manager for Home Depot for several years. I was responsible for more than 15 stores in Md., Va. and DC. I was also able to get my OHSA certification through the National Safety Council. For the longest time, I stayed up nights worrying about customers and HD employees becoming targets for the 2 snipers that terrorized DC. My worries came true when a customer was killed outside one of my stores in Virginia. I now continue to restore classic and antique cars full time. This was always a dream of mine and it has taken me all over the country. I even sold a 1958 Cadillac to Jay North--"Dennis the Menace" in Hollywood (remember him?). Some of my cars have gone to Norway, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Germany, the Netherlands and even Australia. I hope all is well with the Safety Board family.”
Byrd J. Raby - "I enjoy staying in touch. For example, I like to know where people retire to, so if I'm ever in that part of the country, I may give them a call to say hello and find the best places to go see and eat. If they start a new profession or business, I might do business with them, etc.
"I hope the email address book will let me know when someone is very sick and needs to be in my prayers or has passed away and where I can send a card and/or a donation.
"I agree on being inundated with emails i.e. jokes, feel- good messages, etc. The operative word is "inundated;" I enjoy a joke for a good laugh anytime. Also, I want to know when [marine investigator] Bill Woody retires.)
"I'm located in Tennessee [NO state income tax], about haft way between Nashville and Chattanooga, 10 miles west of I-24 exit 97, between Wartrace and Tullahoma . I keep my airplane in Tullahoma."
Al Reitan retired from the Safety Board on February 29, 2008, and will be welcomed into the Silver Eagles. Upon his departure, he sent the following message to his colleagues at the Board:
"I came [to the Safety Board] when my beloved Eastern Air Lines went out of business in 1991. Flying was my dream profession since age five, and I accomplished that dream.
"The NTSB has been a very interesting and, at times, exciting career. It felt good to give back in some in some small way to an industry that gave so much to me. Through the efforts of the many highly talented, dedicated, and hard- working employees at the Board, flight safety has improved significantly during that time period. It has been an honor and pleasure to work with you.
"Now it is time to move on. Tami and I plan to stay here in the same house in Great Falls, VA , where we have lived for thirty years. Now I can complete all those repair and fix-up projects that have been neglected for so long. In addition, I have joined the Great Falls Studios as a volunteer photographer. This is a group of about seventy artists of different skills who conduct art shows and serve as guest lecturers to promote art within the community. See our Web site at www.greatfallsstudios.com.
"My other artistic yearnings will be resumed in the music field. Our grand piano has stood dormant for a number of years, and my trumpet needs polishing and practice but should be emitting beautiful music very soon. My harmonica could use a little work also. In addition, the Iowa State Alumni Marching Band needs another trumpet to add to the sixty they already have when we perform at halftime during the homecoming football game this fall.
"Then there's the 'bird world. I will continue my work in flying with birds and helping to restore endangered species back from near extinction. The Web site for this project is www.operationmigration.org. I will also continue to help prevent bird/airplane collisions, as I did here at the Board, through the Birdstrike Committee of the Americas.
"Last, but certainly not least, I will have time to spend with my two grandsons. They will bring the most pleasure of all. These activities should leave me with no time off—just as I have now!"
Ray Smith -" After retiring in October 2004, I traveled for 3 months to Australia, New Zealand, and Hawaii. I settled in Tampa, Florida, in 2005, where I have done nothing but goof off and work on my house when I'm not traveling. I have been on two cruises, hiked the Napali Coast in Kauai, twice sailed a catamaran in the Grenadines, skied in California and Colorado, and driven my RV to Nova Scotia and back. I'll be rafting through the Grand Canyon for a week in September. My greatest pleasure and comfort in life is getting an email from Navy Federal Credit Union every month verifying that OPM has made a direct deposit into my account. I deeply appreciate my years in the Navy and at the NTSB that made a comfortable retirement possible."
Stan Smith, formerly with Safety Studies, lives in Florida. Stan says: “It's been 5 years since I broke free, and my working days seem so remote now. Golf and tennis (and a few less frivolous activities) have pushed aside thoughts of databases and performance evaluations and the like.”
Al Stone, a former air safety investigator, lives in Florida. He retired in 2003 and is doing almost the same work as an insurance adjuster/investigator that he did with the Board. He also has access to an older Bonanza that he uses to get to the best places to golf, boat, fish, and SCUBA dive.
Morgan Turrell, a former marine safety investigator, lives in California and is now working with Princess Cruises.
Ed Wizniak gets an update courtesy of Jim Henderson:
"I stopped by Ed’s house to give him our address book, a copy of the Web page, and the latest info from our other members. He is one of the email/computer generation holdouts. We spent the better part of an hour trying to put names on memories. “What about – oh, you know, the big Chairman with the cane, what’s his name?” I was just as bad when it came to remembering the names of former air investigators. “Greg, ahhhhh, you know, the mud stud….
"Ed’s days are filled with exploring D.C.’s museums and dining on
blue crabs and beer. He stopped his annual migration to Miami when his
mother passed away at 105. He still visits his relatives in Canada, but
not as often. He said that he really missed the work of the Board and
his associates, although I got a strong impression that he still doesn’t
have fond memories of office politics. He asked his friends to please
give him a call. When you do, politely suggest that he get email
capabilities, not that I minded the beer and shooting-the-bull for a
while, but it would make him that much closer to all of us."
