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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 SilverEaglesNews@gmail.com.

Click a name to move to the update. Names marked with an asterisk (*) have a photo in the Photo Gallery. Date listed reflects the most recent update.

Roberto Albarracin (2016)
Vishal Amin (2018)
Jim Arena (2012)
Brent Bahler (2015)
Bob Barlett (2012)
Ron Battocchi (2018)*
Julie Beale (2013)*
Jean Bernstein (2013)*
Bob Benzon (2016)*
Chris Bonanti (2010)
Brenner, Malcomb (2017)*
Edith Brown (2010)
Sandy Browne (2018)
Karen Bury (2016)
Phuong Callaway (2017)
Hector Casanova (2019)
Ash Chatterjee (2017)
Don Chupp (2019)
John Clark (2016)
Roger Cox (2019)
Carolyn Dargan (2015)*
Jean H. "Sandy" Daugherty (2012)*
Al Dickenson (2013)*
Bella Dinh-Zarr (2020)*
Gene Doub (2008)
Antion Downs (2015)
Jack, Drake (2013)
Scott Dunham (2018)
Rod Dyck (2019)
Joe Epperson (2018)*
Jamie Finch (2012)*
Dwight Foster (2018)*
Mitch Garber (2012)
Bob Gilson (2102)
Vern Grose (2016)
Emilie (Guerin) Eisold (2017)*
Jeff Guzzetti (2019)*
Gary Hammack (2008)*
Chris Hart (2018)
Tom Haueter (2012)*
Bea Hardesty (2013)*
Jim Henderson (2019)*
Debbie Hersman (2019)
Ralph Hicks (2008)
Dave Ivey (2008)
Amy Case Jacky (2016)
Bob Johnson (2009)
Phyllis Kayten (2013)
J. Peter Kissinger (2019)
Joe Kris (2017)
John Lauber and Susan Coughlin (2012)
James LeBerte (2012)
Katherine A. Lemos (2008)
Chuck Leonard (2008)
Don Libera (2009)
Ted Lopatkiewicz (2019)*
Don Lorrente (2008)
Sonia Lott (2010)
Bob MacIntosh (2011)
Nora Marshall (2012)
Frank McGill (2008)
Keith McGuire (2008)
Ron Mickel (2014)
Paul Misencik (2020)*
Robert Moore (2011)*
Jennifer Morrison (2020)*
Rick Narvell (2017)
Mike O'Neill (2019)
Charlie Pereira (2013)*
Greg Phillips (2018)*
Bob Pyle (2017)
Byrd J. Raby (2008)
Al Reitan (2008)*
Jeff Rich (2018)
Jim Rodriguez (2019)
Thomas K. Roth-Roffy (2016)
Ron Schleede (2020)*
Bridget Serchak (2019)*
Corky Smith (2013)*
Ray Smith (2008)
Stan Smith (2019)*
Millie Starek (2012)
Michael Stockhill (2019)*
Al Stone (2008)
Barry Strauch (2017)
Georgia Struhsaker (2018)*
Pam Sullivan (2019)*
Debbie Taylor (2013)
Lisa Taylor (2013)*
Crystal Thomas (2013)*
Bob Trainor (2016)*
Morgan Turrell (2008)
Chris Voeglie (2011)
Paul Voorhees (2019)*
Danielle Wolfe (2019)*
Elaine Weinstein (2012)
Ed Wizniak (2008)
Rich York (2012)
Al Yurman (2018)

Roberto Albarracin: Farewell message February 2016.

Vishal Amin - Retirement message February 2018.

Jim Arena - Dear colleagues, as of Monday, September 17th, (2012) I am retiring from the federal government and will no longer be able to be reached at this work email. A BIG THANKS and best wishes to all I have worked with over the past 18 years. It’s been a great rideJ Future Plans: A few weeks to regroup, then on Monday, October 1, I will report to my new full-time position as "Chief of Ad Hoc Operations" where my big boss Ines Arena, "Director of Volunteers", is eagerly waiting and ready with a list of projects.

Brent Bahler -I just found this website (August 2015)while surfing the internet, and am happy to catch up on the whereabouts and whatabouts of my former colleagues at the NTSB.  After more than three decades living and working in the Washington area, in 2011 I accepted a job as vice president of public affairs with a national trade association in Indianapolis.  After nearly four years there, and having achieved pretty much everything I set out to do there, I decided it was time to retire and do what I wanted to do, when and where I wanted to do it.  So my wife Carlene (who I married in 1992 while serving as director of public affairs at the Safety Board) and I set up a real estate investment company, and now own a half-dozen income-producing properties.  We also buy, rehab, and resell homes in Indianapolis.  And, through my self-directed IRA, I invest in the purchase and rehab of properties by other individuals.  Our daughter Grace begins college this fall at McGill University in Montreal, which will make my wife and me empty nesters.  That’ll be a bit strange, but we’re ready for it (I think).

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.

(Update October 2012) Several of you asked for information about my recent medical issue, so here is the rest of the story.   While on vacation in Ocean City, MD, I had a heart attack, was violently ill and ruptured my esophagus (Boerhaave Syndrome.) Five hours of emergency surgery by Dr. Ogburn's team at the Peninsula Regional Medical Center, Salisbury, MD, saved my life. Spent 16 days in ICU and six in step down ICU.   Surgery involved incisions on my side and stomach to clean-out infectious material. I feel like I was beaten with a ball bat.   We are currently staying at our condo in Ocean City, MD, where we are near the doctors in Salisbury for follow-up work. Carolyn administers antibiotics every six-hours. A temporary stent must be removed and a leak test must be performed but dates are not set for those procedures.   We saw the thoracic surgeon today and he approved a trip to Fairfax for a week. We will periodically return to OC for additional medical appointments. When cleared by the Salisbury doctors, we will permanently return to Fairfax.   I appreciate all of the concerns and prayers from my family and friends.

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. Update December 2018.

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.

Bob Benzon – Well, I am six months into retirement from the Safety Board now, and do have a few observations for potential retirees, or those that just recently pulled the plug. I retired in the winter, which has an effect...inside a bit, looking forward to warmer weather, etc. Took a short trip to Florida to visit a sister, and that helped.   With some difficulty with the ol' NTSB, I worked through a teaching contract with them (some of the same stuff I taught while an NTSBer) and will start that in August.   I am still a government employee, as a rehired annuitant. Quite part-time, working at home for the most part, for the DoD IG. This would be on a 2010 F-22 Raptor accident that has created some controversy. No big deal. It seems they had no aviation investigators on staff and all that. This short-term thing will run out a couple of months from now, I hope. I would not advise retirees to become rehired annuitants. Way too many hoops to jump through just to temporarily earn a few bucks.   Got a few more irons in the fire too.   Here's a hoot for you all...everybody knows that you should save up your leave to tide you over while OPM figures out your exact retirement payments...which are supposed to be 70% or so of your final check. Not true in my case, I was overpaid since retirement and just cut a check back to the US government for over $600. Go figure. Update September 2016

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.

Malcomb Brenner - In general, I have been spending most of my time as care giver to our two 13-year old children, serving as principle cook, driver, and occasional family counselor (less welcome each year as they enter their teens), trying to off-load my wife as she works full-time.  But I have been fortunate to keep up some part-time professional work as well, something which may become important when the kids grow up, and wanted to share with others that this model of lifestyle may be workable. Update November 2017.

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.

Sandy Browne - I left the agency in 1990 and started my own consulting company. Six years later I was approached by an old boss some of you might know, Prof. Harry Hurt at USC. He had been asked by Honda to create an accident investigation team for Thailand. The principal objective was to discover why they had such a huge increase in motorcycle fatalities in a country that had no accident investigation or reporting system. He asked me to be the Principal Investigator. Ever adventurous, I said sure...then I stood on a pedestrian overpass and watched Thai vehicle traffic and suffered a minor stroke (not really, just felt that way). This was to be paid for by Honda and supported by the king. A six year adventure, 26 round trips, lovely apartment near Phat Phong, wound up winning the all Asia research awards. Oddly the real reason for the increase was a social problem. They closed the teak forests and all the lie wage workers migrated to the cities. They lived in boring, cramped quarters. Spent their nights imbibing in too much Singh’s beer, rode bikes around and crashed a lot. There were a lot of other reasons, but that one intrigued me the most. Still working at my company at 73 and rather unwilling to quit. Live high in the mountains, at 6,300’, halfway between Edwards AFB and Vandenberg, as the crow flies. It’s about 90 miles north of LA and wonderful...just too far from my beautiful grand baby girl. Big decisions needed soon. Best thing about the Thai project was it allowed me to meander around one third of this world and was great fun...maybe except for nearly being shot by the Chinese as I snuck over the border from Nepal. Good thing I could still run fast then.

Karen Bury - Farewell message July 2016.

Phuong Callaway - Retirement announcement October 2017.

Hector Casanova: (November 2012) I have been trying to find a good round trip fare from Dallas to either Buenos Aires, Argerntina or Santiago, Chile, for some time. There is a 14-day cruise that goes back and forth from Buenos Aires and Valparaiso, around the tip of South America. It is a great cruise and we would like to spend at least 5 days in both Buenos Aires and Santiago de Chile. Buenos Aires is a beautiful city that is often compared with Paris. Can you just imagine anything better? Paris without the French? I am also traveling to Santa Cruz, Bolivia on the week prior to Thanksgiving. I am going solo on that one, as I am teaching another 5-day accident investigation course for a new regional airline in Bolivia. This is going to be my third trip there to teach a course since I retired. My part-time business teaching accident investigation courses in Spanish has a tendency to grow out of control if I do not watch it. It si beginning to interfere with my traveling and cruises, which have a higher priority. I am currently turning down more courses than I teach. Most of my courses are in Central America and the Caribbean, which are often less than a 3-hour flight away from home. There is a very high demand for a helicopter accident investigation course in Latin America. I have looked into the possibility of putting together a class, but I quickly get discouraged as I can't hardly translate the helicopter aerodynamics terms into the Spanish language. Thank you again for all you do for our group. A day does not go by that I thank God for giving me the opportunity to work in our agency. We are not only the Premier accident investigation agency in the world, but we have always been able to attract and retain the cream of the crop of every mode of transportation. We have ALL a lot to be proud of! Update June 2019.

Ash Chatterjee - (April 2017) Since l left the Marine Division at NTSB, I have been like a rudderless ship drifting in multiple directions, enjoying myriad views and many adventures. From NTSB I went to TSA Hq in the Mass Transit Security Division (Mass Transit includes the Washington Metro System - rated #1 in the world & an absolute joy to ride, every day tops my previous commute/ adventure). When my TSA interviewer asked: "what does your Marine experience have to do with Mass Transit?" I replied that both began with "M". I was on the right track. They hired me.
Around circa 2008, after several beers at a party, I overheard that "IT" was a happening thing & my neighboring drunk recommended that I check out IT careers. After googling what IT meant, I felt confident enough to apply on USAJOBS for IT jobs, and then DHS/ NPPD hired me to do IT in its Office of Infrastructure Protection. I found IT to be a heck of a lot more complicated than anything I had ever done before. However, I have been toiling away in DHS IT since, and now they tell me that Cybersecurity is where IT is Really at. I am now in quest for a cyber job in govt, wandering in the wilderness of USAJOBS like a lost goat.
It is great to get back in touch with NTSB, my roots, a homecoming, a time when I was the youngest person in the office (now I am the oldest by far, no lie can hide that).

Don Chupp - Update August 2019.

John Clark - Retirement announcement and message January 2016.

Robert Cox - Update August 2019.

Carolyn Dargan - I started working at the Safety Board in April 1975 as a Clerk Typist. Left the Board in Sept. 1986 to work at the Federal Election Commission until April 1988. Came back to the Safety Board May 1988 until I retired Oct. 2005.  I held quite a few positions at the Board. I was an Editorial Assistant from 1988 thru 1989, an Administrative Assistant from June 1989 to Sept. 1990, an Investigative Assistant (Aviation) from Sept 1990 to Nov. 1996, an Administrative Assistant (Logistics) from Nov. 1996 to Nov. 1998, and a Conference Planning Specialist from Nov. 1996 until in retired October 2005. I am currently enjoying life with my family and friends. I enjoy watching movies, television, and computer games.

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…)."

(Update November 2012) I’ve now been retired for eleven years; I’m starting to get used to it. I no longer set the clock radio for 7AM just to laugh at the traffic report. Even a part-time job at West Marine interfered with my sailing, so I took off for points south. With a superb crew from Singles on Sailboats, “Siesta” joined the Caribbean 1500 Rally and spent the winter in the Bahamas. We sailed back to the Bay for the Summer, then went south with the Rally again to spend last winter in the British Virgin Islands. Life is what you make of it, so I included two professional Chefs on that crew. Back in the Chesapeake now, there are a few chores around the house that have been blithely ignored for two years. That’s another benefit of Mature Bachelordom.  

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.

(Update August 2010) 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.

(Update December 2013) I am waiting for a representative from Norwich University to call that he is approaching my place as I am going to meet with him over a few beers anf perhaps some dinner downtown as I only live a few blocks from some good places to eat and drink.  They even have an open house tomorrow which I hope to attend as there are some pretty good buys and most places have snacks and wine to offer....to get ;you in the mood... Last April/May I went with my younger son on a cruise across the pond.  We started in Galveston and ended 15 days later in Barcelona.  We then stayed another week there and while Ross had to fly back to get back to work for Pixar, a friend of mine flew in and we went on another cruise around the Med but this time only a week before flying home.  I would recommend the transatlantic cruises as they are inexpensive and have good food and great entertainment.  I hope to do some kind of cruise next year with my older son.  I just returned from a weekend in Palm Springs staying at a couples house there.  It was lots of fun and believe it or not they have a great aviation museum there and we even attended a lecture about the forerunner to TWA, called TAT.  Some of also got a tour through a B-25 and were amazed at how thin the skin is on them and learned how the average number of missions was 5 before being shot down in WW2.  Anyway, the museum is worth touring.  July a year ago I finally got a full knee replacement.  It seems to work but I am a little disappointed in that I am no taller and cannot block VB shots any better than before the surgery.   Enough for now with the boring things that keep me going as the guy is getting close.  Keep up the good work...

Bella Dinh-Zarr - Retirement announcement December 2018. Updates November 2019, February 2020. 

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.

Antion Downs: Farewell message December 2015.

IJack Drake: First, I want to thank you for giving a group of old guys and girls a way to stay in touch and to reminisce with good friends about the great work we did (sometimes just in our own eyes) and the dedication we all had at NTSB to improve transportation safety. It’s good to be an NTSB “Silver Eagle” and it was great to have had the opportunity to serve at the Board. I was motivated to write long ago but thought your member list would be more interested in hearing from the earlier retirees first. Then, some of those people started flying west - and some never adapted to those newfangled computers and email. So, although I still like to think of myself as one of the young ones, I’m rationalizing that it’s my turn (13 years after I “retired”). I also wanted to let all the eagles know that there is plenty to do after NTSB that goes well beyond reading, the garden, and the grandkids (I love my grandkids too but will brag about them offline, except for one picture I’ll include). For those who may not remember me or never knew me, I’ll give you a brief recap. I was hired by NTSB in 1973 as an ASI-analyst; worked 10 years as an ASI in the Seattle, Dulles, and Atlanta field offices (when we used to have 10 field offices); was an aviation go-team IIC for three years; and a division chief for 13 years (10 years in AS-40).

Time for me to pursue golf more aggressively, while I still have the wheels and the physical ability to improve. It’s an on-going effort, but that, the grandkids, Navy football, photography, bridge, and world travel currently have my interest. Sue and I have done cruises and tours in the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, the Baltic, Hawaii, Alaska, the interior of Europe, and a variety of national parks. We make frequent trips to New York and Florida, and to visit kids and grandkids. We still have a long bucket list, so please let us know if any Silver Eagles would like to join us in future travels. I’m in Annapolis, if anyone is passing through or wants to play golf. Please use my email if you’d like to contact me.

Scott Dunham - Updates July 2017, August 2018, November 2018, June 2019.

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. Update July 2019.

Joe Epperson - Retirement message January 2018. Update April 2018.

Jamie Finch: Wow, it is amazing how time flies. 2012 marks ten years since I left the Board but I still have happy memories of my eight years there (Jan. 1994 – Jan. 2002.). Since I left the Board, there have been many changes in my professional and personal life. I moved to New Jersey to work on a U.S. Senate campaign. Afterwards, I took a job in New York City at a boutique investor relations firm. I hated the job and hated living in NYC. At my dad’s suggestion, I left my position in NY and came back to DC and went into real estate. Real estate was a perfect fit for me and I excelled in it, being named Rookie of the Year in 2005 by the Greater Capital Area Association of Realtors. While I loved my work in real estate it was not part of my longtime career goals. My first love had always been working with Congress and in government relations. So, when the opportunity presented itself, I took it. I am now Director of Government Affairs at the National, Stone, Sand & Gravel Association. I look forward to keeping in contact. I hope that all of you are healthy and happy.

Dwight Foster: Dwight Foster - Well, as my youngest Son said to me when I told him I was retiring: “and now it begins…” Tomorrow I enter the witness protection program. No cell phone, no Facebook, no twitter, no Instagram, none of that silly stuff. (Wife and I will be hiking the Appalachian trail starting Monday, so if we survive that, I suppose we will survive retirement) However, I wanted everyone to know how much I appreciate all the help, advice, patience, and friendship you have all shown to me over the years. Who would’a thought you could fall in love with a government agency, but I guess it just grows on you. It has been really fun being part of something so much bigger. (See Dwight at undisclosed location photo)

We've been searching for our whole lives.
And we have traveled through unexplainable stories. Swear to God I fought the good fight,  always waiting for the coming of morning.
And I heard the Captain say, I heard the Captain say,
"The more I know, the less I'm knowing."
And I heard the Captain say, I heard the Captain say, "Activate your force-fields and just keep going..."

[Cloud Cult: The Mission: Unexplainable Stories]

Finally, here’s a music video about all the important stuff in life like Pumpkin Chunkin, VW car racing (oxymoron?), backpacking, and just tooling around in your car. My son wrote the song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-LyWAfFcFA Updates March 2018, August 2018.

Mitch Garber: I am now doing private consulting for a well-established large (100 full-time consultants) engineering consulting firm (Engineering Systems Inc. - 25 years old this Friday) that has been doing aviation work for almost all of that time, and does a great deal of transportation consultation in other modes. It has been a nice fit for me, and the Atlanta office is only 15 minutes from my house. I miss my friends at NTSB, but the work here is even more diverse, and the environment is professionally and personally very supportive.

Bob Gilson: I just signed on to bargain another labor contract for a Federal Agency in DC, that’s three over the last three years. I’m still training around the country. This year, for some reason, I’m doing a bunch of work for the National Guard – good folks. My wife and I are traveling for fun each year. This year we were in New England in the Spring and Charleston, SC earlier this month. South Carolina was all over Boeing making 787s in the state. According to the paper, it’s the first east coast build of commercial planes since WWII. In my travels, the brand new USAir CRJs are as comfortable as the Embraer 195. Somebody else will have to tell me which is safer.

Vern Grose - (September 2016) As for something informal to share, I just published my 4th book, DEATH Is Not FATAL, that contains several NTSB stories that might interest group members.  It’s what caused me to try and locate Les Reingold . . .  Link: http://tinyurl.com/gu6kerz

Emilie (Guerin) Eisold - (January 2017) I’ve worked for U.S. Customs Border Protection (CBP) for the last 8 ½ years. Since leaving NTSB in 2002, I have been with the Department of Homeland Security for over 14 years. In 2002, I started with TSA in the Rail Cargo Security Office serving in a number of positions to include in Branch Chief for Rail Infrastructure and then Branch Chief for Stakeholder Relations. Then had a short stint at Science & Technology Directorate in 2008 and headed over to CBP.

Jeff Guzzetti: It's been nearly two years now since I left the Board to become the Assistant Inspector General for Aviation and Special Programs for Dept. of Transportation. (The "special programs" means my I am in charge of audits of PHMSA pipeline & hazmat stuff, as well as all FAA programs). Great place to work, and different from NTSB (not "better" per se, but "different"). For the first time, I will be testifying before Congress (House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee - Aviation Subcommittee) this Wednesday (April 35th) at 9 am to discuss "The State of Aviation Safety " along with FAA's Peggy Gilligan. My wife Kathy Silbaugh (another NTSB alum who worked for Ron Battochi and Bill Love) is doing great as the Deputy Director of the Dept. of Justice's Office of Ethics. In fact, she was one of four winners of the DOJ's New Employee of the year award! Our two sons, Jason (6) and Matthew (4- 1/2) are doing really well. By the way, we live in Jim Henderson's neighborhood in Burke, VA. One more thing, with Kathy working, and with me at age 51 and 25 years of service, I will take an "early out", if offered as expected in our agency, to spend more time with my kids and work part time for one of you! Any tips for me?

(Update December 2012) The Guzzetti family is doing well. Jeff continues to lead a large staff of auditors as the DOT’s Assistant Inspector General for Aviation Audits (including the recent audit on the Board at MWAA - Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority). Kathy (Silbaugh) continues to demonstrate why she earned the Department of Justice’s New Employee of the Year award last year, as the Deputy Director of the Departmental Ethics Office. Both miss their work at employees at NTSB (Jeff in Office of Avation Safety, Kathy in the General Counsel’s office). Their two sons – Jason (age 6) and Matthew (age 5) – continue to make life interesting. [See Guzzetti family photo in the Photo Gallery.]  Additional Updates:  December 2016, November 2019.

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.

Chris Hart - Retirement message February 2018.

Tom Haueter: Seems like yesterday was my first day with the NTSB. It has certainly been a fantastic career with more opportunities and experiences than I would have ever expected. As Member Coughlin once said, working at the NTSB is much more than a job… She was not totally correct; in fact the job is addictive. What this agency accomplishes every day with a very small staff, and in my opinion continual insufficient resources, is more than remarkable. It has been your tireless dedication to the NTSB’s mission that makes it possible.  

While at the NTSB I have been to every continent except Antarctica and have worked investigations in conditions ranging from deep snow to steaming jungles. I highly recommend the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean; Malaysia has the largest bugs on the planet; the poison transferred through your skin by touching a blue frog in Suriname will kill you; the Darien jungle of Panama has more snakes than one can count; Sorel boots with 2 layers of socks are the best for keeping your feet from freezing when standing on an ice pack all day; outside of Narita; Japan there is a magnificent formal garden; St. Petersburg, Russia and Dubrovnik, Croatia are very much worth the trip; you really can set your watch by the trains in Switzerland; on an overcast/gray day at an altitude of maybe 400 feet every darn town in eastern England looks the same (that is a long story); and there are a whole bunch of magnificent places in the US that most people don’t get the chance to see. More importantly, it is the people you meet while doing the job that stays with you. I am fortunate to have worked with so many of you and made close friends at the NTSB and all over the world.    

I have had the great privilege and honor to have served in a variety of positions – starting in safety recommendations, then engineering, as an IIC, and into management. I have been very lucky in the investigations that I have been assigned too and the people that I have worked with. I have received much more visibility than I ever sought. Yes, I loved the adventure, but the real driving force was to find the cause of the accident and ensure that it would not happen again. I never focused on the tragedy but on the investigation. As an investigator I took some risks, as a manager I tried to hold people back from doing what I did. Also as a manager, I hope I provided my staff with the room and guidance to achieve their full potential – in many cases that just required staying out of their way.  

In my mind’s eye, I did not see the NTSB as a government agency, but rather as a specialized consulting operation. I will admit in taking special pride in being part of a small group that was able to take on much larger and more well-funded agencies and manufacturers and, on numerous occasions, prove them wrong based on our hard work, intelligence, commitment to detail, and most importantly the incredible strength of our credibility. If there is a flaw within the NTSB, it is that sometimes we do not recognize just how good we are ---- there is a reason the rest of the world knows us as the platinum standard. While some do not like the probable cause or findings in our reports and the direction of our safety recommendations, the vast majority of our investigations and recommendations stand the test of time. It was a joy and an honor to be part of the NTSB and I will miss you all. Thank you for all for the support, friendship, honest debate, making the job fun, -- it sure made my time at the NTSB flash by.  

Finally, I want to pass on one of my favorite quotes. From Charles Lindbergh …. “We live the dreams of yesterday, and in living those dreams, we dream again.” I am moving on to my next dream and I wish you the best in yours.   And from Mr. Spock -- Live long and prosper.

Jim Henderson - As founder of the NTSB Silver Eagles, Jim has kept us up to date on his comings and goings through the monthly Silver Eagles newsletters. His latest update is July 2019.

Debbie Hersman - Thank you for keeping the NTSB team connected. I miss the people and the purpose of the agency, but continue to cheer on their great work. In January [2019], I will transition to a new role as the first Chief Safety Officer at Waymo (Google's self-driving car project). After leaving the NTSB in 2014, I spent the last 4.5 years as CEO of the National Safety Council. While our family enjoyed the mid-west and Chicago is a great city, we are looking forward to the nice year-round weather in SFO.

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.”

Amy Case Jacky: Farewell notice February 2016.

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. [Peter passed away on February 19, 2019. Obituary here.]

Joe Kris - We have moved to Frankfurt, Germany (as of last week!).  I am now the Manager of TSA’s Regional Operational Center in Frankfurt, Germany.  From Frankfurt we cover airport assessments and air carrier inspections at airports throughout Europe and sub-Saharan Africa that have flights into the United States.  Our office in Frankfurt is TSA’s largest overseas post. Update October 2017.

John Lauber and Susan Coughlin are both retired and living in the Pacific Northwest. After leaving the Board, John joined Delta Airlines in Atlanta, and several years later moved to Airbus North America. In 2004 he was promoted to Senior Vice President and Chief Product Safety Officer stationed in Toulouse. When Susan left the Board, she joined BDM International (now a wholly owned subsidiary of TRW, Inc.) as President, BDM Air Safety Management Systems. Following that she was President, American Transportation Research Institute and President of the Aviation Safety Alliance. When we moved to Toulouse, Susan became Chef d’Maison Coughlin/Lauber.   Now, retired, both are still doing some occasional aviation and marine safety consulting. John is building drones; Susan is oil painting and we both enjoy sailing, cooking and hanging around. Life has been good to both of us, and we especially value the times we spent at the Board.

James LeBerte - It has been almost a year since I have retired from the Safety Board. My first big accomplishment in retirement was purchasing a Harley Davidson motorcycle. I'm back to what I loved when I worked as a Police Motor Officer, riding bikes. It's a lot of fun but the advantage of working for the Safety Board has reminded me of the dangers of riding the roads what to watch for. I have been on a few short rides but planning a cross country trip this fall to Monument Valley. I can say without a doubt that retirement is wonderful. I have spent time in Ocean Isle Beach, NC with my daughter and granddaughter which has been a real treat. I miss the Safety Board and all the friends I had the pleasure working with. Thanks for allowing me to share my story.

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."

Ted Lopatkiewicz - Fellow Silver Eagle Ron Battocchi and I and our wives recently enjoyed a two-week driving vacation together that featured a week of hiking in South Dakota. My wife, Drucie Andersen (also an NTSB alumna), and Ron and his wife Mary Bell (an attorney for the Department of Veterans Affairs -- someone has to work for a living) first drove to Collegeville, Minnesota, where we got a private tour at St. John’s University of the St. John’s Bible, a 21st century seven-volume masterpiece written and illustrated on velum in the manner of medieval monks, using the same materials that were available to them. However, the beautiful illustrations in the 11-year project are very contemporary. For example, one of the gold-leafed works of art contains a depiction of the Twin Towers, another uses a stylized depiction of the leprosy virus as a background. Drucie interested us in this work of art through her membership in the Washington Calligraphers Guild. Pages from this Bible are displayed from time to time around the country so if you ever have the opportunity to see it, you should. From Minnesota, it was on to Mitchell, South Dakota and the world-famous Corn Palace, and then on to Rapid City to meet up with a group organized through New England Hiking Holidays. There were 12 of us hikers led by two guides. Other hikers were from Maryland, Ohio, Colorado and California. We spent the week hiking through the Badlands, the Black Hills and Devils Tower in Wyoming. The final morning of the hike was spent at Mount Rushmore National Monument. The four of us then drove down to Scottsbluff, Nebraska, one of the most recognizable milestones for hundreds of thousands of pioneers along the Oregon Trail, before we headed for home. We clocked almost 3,900 miles on our Subaru Forester. We had gotten a lot of curious looks from people when we told them we were going to hike in South Dakota, but the topography in western South Dakota is varied and beautiful (one mountain we climbed was over 7,000 feet high). That area of the country is quite far for many of us but it is well worth the trip. And, best of all, the four of us are still friends. (The three photo attachments are of Ron and Ted's trip.) Updates June 2018, November 2019.

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.

Bob MacIntosh retired without ceremony. His parting note: “It is time for me to put the landing gear up and fly off to a new destination. I started my aviation career 55 years ago with a Cessna 140 at Ohio State University. I’ve held a fairly steady course/track since then in commercial and government aviation activities, and the last 23 years we have traveled together at the NTSB. What a great experience and an opportunity to contribute this has been.  

I’m heading off to added interests and family activities – knowing that all you NextGen thinkers will strive for even greater improvements to keep us old folks safer and safer!  

On a serious note, I have the upmost respect and admiration for each and every NTSB employee – and the mission we so dearly pursue. You have my very best wishes for the future.” (I sent an email to Bob inviting him to join, but didn’t hear back. If any of you want to try. Feel free. I have his address.)

Nora Marshall - Today is my last day at NTSB and I want to say goodbye and thanks to everyone. When I was hired 28 years ago, I could not have imagined such a rewarding career. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with such talented and dedicated people. The Board is a very special place and I send my thanks to all of you for the opportunity to be on the NTSB team. Thanks for the memories!

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.

(Update 2014)  I’ve always tried to keep a low profile, Jim.  After flying in the military, commercially, accident investigation for the NTSB, and counter-terrorism for the FAA and DHS, I retired in October of 2012.  I’m an adjunct professor in astronomy at the University of Denver and a local college.  Astronomy is where my graduate work was in, and a passion since I was nine years old. After all these years, I feel the Board is one of the most professional organizations I’ve ever worked for.

Paul Misencik: Retirement message January 2016. Update (December 2016): I have three non-fiction books published by McFarland & Co. of Jefferson, NC. The original American Spies: Seven Covert Agents of the Revolutionary War (2013); George Washington and the Half King Chief Tanacharison: An Alliance That Began the French and Indian War (2014); and Sally Townsend, George Washington’s Teenage Spy (2015).
Last Monday [11/14], I did a TV interview about my Sally Townsend Book, which will be aired sometime in the near future.
Sally and I have been researching and writing a book about the Native American (Indian) refugee tribes from the eastern part of North America that settled in Ohio during the 18th century after the so-called “Beaver Wars.” Working title, “The Last Stand of the Woodland Indians: The Refugee Tribes in 18th and early 19th Century Ohio."
One of the nicest things about full-time writing is the travel research. Most recently, we’ve visited and researched village sites in Ohio, Western Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Indiana, as well as southern Ontario and eastern Quebec Province. Update,  July 2019, February 2020.

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. 

Jennifer Morrison - Update February 2020.

Rick Narvell - Retirement message January 2017.

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.”

[Update 2011] I'm the safety manager for Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC). I was hired as a consultant for 6 months until they officially close in Sept. In that time, I have seen the worse that can happen to our young wounded warriors in combat. I saw a lot of things while working on accidents at the Board but this experience at WRAMC has changed my life. When you actually sit down and talk to these young soldiers, we really have nothing to complain about. They've already spent their time in hell. Additional Updates June 2019, November 2019.

Ron Battocchi informs us that Charley Pereira built, owns and captained the boat that landed the largest tuna in the White Marlin Open.  The fish was worth $ 573,000 shared among the crew and anglers who teamed up for the week long White Marlin Open tournament. (See  photo. When not building things on the Outer Banks or running his restaurant, the Orange Blossom Cafe, in Buxton, North Carolina, or fishing the coastal waters, Charley resides in D.C. with his wife, Lisa, and brand new daughter Sophia.  And he still does accident investigation work. Busy man.

Greg Phillips - It's hard to believe that this past February it's been 8 years since I left the Board. I still happily (and truthfully) tell everyone who will listen that working with the great people at the Board was the best job I ever had or could have imagined. I left the Board a few years before my real retirement age and became an "Aviation Safety Consultant." I wasn't sure then (or even now) what people think that means but it has paid the bills and kept me busier than I was when I was with the Board. My principal client for these past 8 years has been Willis a major aviation insurance broker based in London. I work for the CEO out of New York and support all their clients which includes many airlines, corporate flight departments, charter operators, etc. I help with their emergency response planning and training and occasionally get to help with an incident or accident investigation. I also helped create a Safety Advisory Board for an upstart aviation charter broker. My work with Willis has taken me many interesting places. From NASCAR race teams to Intel, Ebay, Dreamworks-SKG, Paramount Studios, Campbells Soup, NetJets, helicopter EMS operations, a few Las Vegas casino flight operations, Los Angeles City Police Department Flight Operations, Los Angeles County Helicopter Flight Operations, and some very wealthy private citizens flight departments. It's been a fun ride.   A couple of years ago, Keith McGuire (Seattle office) got me involved with USC and their aviation safety education program. I teach Systems in their accident investigation courses and investigation basics in their Incident investigation course. The USC teaching takes me to Los Angeles 6 or 7 times a year. I've also taught courses for USC in Mexico City, Mexico, Auckland, New Zealand, Mumbai, India, and Singapore (the past two summers). As I write this, I'm preparing for a USC course In Trinidad and Tobago next month. In June/July 2011, I literally flew around the world two and a half times working on projects with stops in LA, Singapore, Fiji, London, Frankfurt, and Cyprus.   I've helped as an expert witness on a handful of defense cases and only when I have time and the expertise to really have something to say. It amazes me that some who have worked for the Board use their time at the Board to "qualify" them to put their "expert" hats on for things that they have only seen others do for the Board.   On the family side, I still live in Waldorf, MD in the house we moved into when I started with the Board in 1988. I still have the same great wife (Debbie). My two grown sons, Chris and Matt, are moving along well with their lives. Matt is now 30 and was married this past May and is working on getting a Firefighter assignment in Maryland. Chris (now 32) whom some of you may remember from working as an intern up in Public Affairs with Ted and his group, graduated from Goucher College and is living in Los Angeles and working for an international banking consulting company.   Some may remember my building a Van's RV-8A. I successfully completed and flew it just after leaving the Board. I flew it for about 3 years, and decided I wasn't flying enough to satisfy my personal standards for currency so I sold it to a good home in Florida. For spare time fun, my wife and I enjoy making (and drinking) wine from kits that are available to home winemakers. I am also restoring an Alfa Romeo Spider Graduate. I've been riding a Honda Goldwing since 2008 but am about to turn it into a three-wheeled CanAm Spyder.   Although my airplane has moved on to another owner here [in the photo gallery] is a picture of me and the RV-8A taken at St. Mary's Airport in Southern Maryland in the winter of 2005. Update November 2018.

Bob Pyle – He was in NTSB personnel for about 20 years. “I now live at Innisbrook Golf Resort about a mile from the Gulf of Mexico in Palm Harbor, Florida...kind of a strange Florida location in that it has real rolling hills for about 5 miles kinda like No Virginia...it is near Clearwater...been in Tampa Bay area since 1999."  Updates: March 2016, June 2017.   

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!"

Jim Rodriguez - Retirement message January 2017. Update July 2019.

Jeff Rich - Retirment update April 2018.

Thomas K. Roth-Roffy - Immediately after retirement (July 2016) I will be taking a job in Bronx, NY, with the State University of New York (SUNY) Maritime College (Ft Schuyler). I will become the permanent chief engineer aboard the school’s training ship, the Empire State VI.

Ron Schleede - After retiring in July 2000, I continued my work as a part-time consultant in International Aviation Safety.  I also spent much of my spare time babysitting or taking care of my 4 grandkids, which was a pleasure.  My wife, Kathie, and I contented to travel around the world in connection with my work and to our cottage in Canada. My consulting took me to six continents on a variety of projects, some pro bono (teaching).  Examples of my work included a safety survey of the entire Russian ATC system for a London insurance broker—spent two weeks flying all over Russia and evaluating ATC facilities safety programs.  I was fortunate to be hired to assist other countries, like Taiwan, Korea, Greece, Iceland, etc. for on scene investigations, so I got to “kick some tin.”  I also assisted several countries with completing the final reports.  I had several contracts with ICAO on a variety of projects, which had a special side effect of me traveling to Montreal, which is only two hours from my cottage in Canada.  The one ICAO contract that was the most rewarding because I developed the template for a Major Investigation Policy and Procedures Manual to be used by all ICAO Member States—about 190.  I was able to do it fairly easily because I had already developed a full Manual for Greece, Korea, Indonesia, and a few other countries that wanted the fact not to be known.  My experience for the last 15 years at NTSB, plus my assignment as the Director of Air Investigations for the TSB of Canada helped me with all my consulting jobs.  I did do several cases for law firms as an expert, but they were not personally rewarding, except the money!  As I told any prospective client, when they asked for my fee schedule, “It depends on how much fun the job is.”  So, I did some jobs for significant fees, and others for zero, as long as it was fun and I could get my wife’s travel costs covered and have her with me. Unfortunately Kathie was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2008, had surgery, and chemo.  But, it had spread, so I lost her 13 months later, June 2009, after 44 years of marriage, and 4 years as a couple in college.  That changed my life.  Kathie had taken our entire family of 10 on two Disney Cruises before she got sick.  After her surgery in May 2008 and the diagnoses in the hospital, she said I want to go on that cruise one more time.  She went off the chemo early so she would be strong enough to travel, and we did the cruise in January 2009. Since 2009, I have continued to travel for work and pleasure, but I have decreased much of the consulting.  I now spend virtually all of my time at my cottage in Canada from April to November, with occasional visits to Virginia to see the family.  I have a much better social network in this small town in Canada than in Virginia.  I might try to attach a few pictures to illustrate what goes on up here. (seven photos from Ron are in the Photo Gallery) Last year, I got to fulfill a lifetime dream of transiting most of the length of Canada.  Last August, a lady friend, Connie, from my village in Canada took the Canadian VIA train from Kingston, Ontario to Vancouver BC—5 days and 5 nights.  It was fabulous!!  The accommodations were first class and the food was gourmet.  The sights were indescribable.  We went to the ISASI International Seminar in Vancouver, and flew home.  In October last year, Connie and I went to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico for a week with my brother and wife, two first cousins and wives and two other couples.  We caught tuna and Dorado and had a blast.  Connie and I also went to Florida in February and March, one time taking the Auto-Train one-way.  Not sure I can keep up the pace this winter, but I hope to do a cruise. I'm currently in Canada and plan to leave our village on 24 October for a week with three Canadian buddies for “moose-fishing.”   It is a 500 mile drive straight north—and I am 500 miles north of DC.  The three guys will hunt, while I fish and relax riding around on a 4-wheeler in the Canadian bush.  This is my 4th trip with these guys—In 2005, one of the guys shot a 1200 pound bull moose.  I got to help drag it out on a 4-wheeler.   We are taking 2 vehicles, a pickup with a big trailer for the 4-wheelers and I will tow a boat with my SUV.  There is no cell phone coverage in that area and very few people.  The bear and moose outnumber the people. Anyway, life is great—most of the time—and my health has held up despite my lifestyle.  I miss the old days at the NTSB, but was very lucky make a decision to retire at age 57.  Updates July 2019, February 2020.

Bridget Serchak:  Just a little bit to share. I was furloughed the entire 16 days (not deemed one of the essential folks at DoD), so I had a chance meet up with Ted Lopatkiewicz for lunch in McLean . I went out to CA during the second half of the furlough on an already planned holiday to see my sister in the Bay Area and went up to Sonoma to stay one night with Nora Marshall and her husband John.  They are really enjoying retirement – and who wouldn’t in a lovely place like Wine Country.   My job as chief, public affairs at the DoD Inspector General continues to be challenging. So different from NTSB. The following article is a little old, but thought it would provide a window into my current world: http://e-ring.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2013/01/14/thankless
dod_inspector_general_routinely_ignored  My team and I did get recognized by GSA in its first “best week ever in social media” blog, so that was gratifying: http://blog.howto.gov/2013/09/30/best-week-ever-in-socialgov-week-2/. As I think I mentioned in an earlier item, Bob Benzon did do some work with DoD IG on an assessment on an F-22 accident in Anchorage in 2010. http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/inspector
general_ig_report_f22_air_force_crash_lacking_208169-1.html Alhough he’s turned in his DoD IG badge and computer for now. Here’s hoping we’ll be able to bring him back for a future project!   I’m still busy trying to visit all the national park units (current lifetime total is 255 out of 401 in the system) – this past week I was down in Louisiana for a friend’s 25th wedding anniversary celebration and visited the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park (all six units across the state), Cane River Creole National Historical Park (up near Natchitoches, LA in the NW corner – town where “Steel Magnolias” was filmed), Cane River National Heritage Area, El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail, Atchafalaya National Heritage Area, New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park and Gulf Islands National Seashore over in Biloxi, MS – a very different venue from the last time I was in Mississippi. Back in November 2007, I traveled with Member Sumwalt and the RPH team to my “training accident” to a pipeline explosion in Carmichael , MS . I know I sound like one of those BP ads, but if you have never been to the MS part of the Gulf Coast or have not been there in years, I recommend it. Warm, beautiful and absolutely empty! I can’t wait to go back! Updates: February 2016, March 2016, December 2018, June 2019.

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.” Update November 2019.

Millie Starek - As many of you already know, I will retire from the Federal Government on June 2 [2012]. It has been both a privilege and a pleasure to work with so many of you during the past 3 years and 9 months. NTSB is an agency with a unique and remarkable mission, and it is staffed with equally extraordinary and dedicated individuals. I have proud memories of my years of service at the Department of Justice and the House Judiciary Committee. Now, as my Federal career draws to a close, it has been even further enriched by my amazing experience at an agency that so greatly and directly impacts the lives of so many. My very best wishes to each and every one of you! [Jim: Millie worked in GA (now part of the Office of Communications), and was the government affairs liaison (like what Betty Scott used to do).

Michael L. Stockhill: Updates April 2016, July 2019.

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.

Barry Strauch - Retirement message January 2017.

Georgia Struhsaker -  I retired on November 30, 2018, after 24 years with NTSB in a variety of roles including air safety investigator, regional director, and writer/editor. Although I still enjoyed the work, I wanted more time to spend with my husband, Jim Struhsaker, who retired from the Board in 2014. After 9 years in Hawaii, we moved back to the mainland 2 years ago, and we now live in San Rafael, California (about 20 miles north of San Francisco) so we can easily get to the city, wine country, mountains, and ocean. Jim and I both volunteer at The Marine Mammal Center, which is the world’s largest marine mammal hospital, where we help care for the seal and sea lion patients. We are avid travelers and are planning trips to Fiji, Spain, and Tahiti in 2019. Most recently we went to Peru and visited Machu Picchu (see photo gallery.

Pam Sullivan - [February 2019] As some of you may have heard, after 35+ years at the NTSB I have decided it is time to move on from this amazing journey. I’ve had the opportunity to work with many of you over the years and I thank you for your support, friendship, and guidance though the years.
To my Central Region Family – Thank you. It is such a blessing to have worked with all of you. YOU ROCK!!  Update August 2019.

Debbie Taylor’s retirement note: When I became a Government employee over 30 years ago, I looked upon retirees as iconic, far-away figures, much like the stone faces on Mount Rushmore. Well, I'm there now, ready or not! (Truth be known, I am pretty damned ready!) Although I can't say I'll miss my day job, I will miss my coworkers. When the surface editors group disbanded in 2000 and I had to pick a modal home, highway was my first choice. I have not regretted my decision. My HS colleagues are among the smartest and most resourceful folks at the NTSB. Our little office stands toe-to-toe with much larger offices in what we accomplish. Thanks for the memories, and the chance to be part of such a worthwhile mission.

(Update November 2012)  Between attending Nats playoff games and getting ready for our move to Corolla, I've been too busy to feel truly retired. There are the little things, though, like not having to set the alarm and afternoon baseball without playing hooky. This time next week, the moving van and Taylor family will be headed south to new adventures in Corolla, NC.

Crystal Thomas’ parting note: “Wow, I honestly can't believe that today is my last day working at the NTSB. From the time I spent here as a co-op student while attending Penn State, to the nearly 6½ years that I've worked here full-time as a hazardous materials investigator, NTSB has been like a home to me. My experience here has been truly amazing and unforgettable. As a hazardous materials accident investigator, I've been fortunate to work with all of the modal offices. I have been involved in many types of accidents, looked into many safety issues, and like to think that I've helped to raise awareness and make the transportation of hazardous materials a little safer. Throughout my time here I have met and worked with a lot of great people, from whom I've learned a lot of valuable things, and in the process made a lot of fabulous friends! So I just wanted to say thank you for everything... I am so appreciative!!”

(Update March 2013)  Picking up and leaving DC to move to Houston a year and half ago was really hard for me. Turns out what they say really is true though... everything happens for a reason... as a stop in New Orleans on my roadtrip ended in me meeting my fiance, Kevin! We met on Bourbon Street (literally in the middle of the street) while I was walking with my aunt and it was love at first sight, haha. I found out that he lived near Houston too, actually about 100 miles away from where I was going to be living (TX is so big), but we decided 'why not give this a try'! Coincidentally, we came to realize that we had been going to the same tank car committee meetings twice a year for the last four years and remembered seeing each other, but never spoke... small world. It was a great year and luck for us, his company eventually transferred him to their Houston office. Long story short we got engaged last November in New Orleans, and just recently set a wedding date for this September 29th in New Orleans... we're super excited! :) (see picture) 

Bob Trainor - (November 2016) Susan and I went on a church choir trip in June. In 10 days we visited Prague, Vienna, Salzburg and Munich. Very scenic cities and country sides. American influence was obvious from the git-go. The first indication was the Burger King as we departed the Prague airport for the ride into town. Before the trip was over, we saw McDonald’s, KFC, and Starbuck’s in all four cities. People were great, and the weather even reminded us of home – low 90’s with humidity.

Morgan Turrell, a former marine safety investigator,  lives in California and is now working with Princess Cruises.

Chris Voeglie: To my NTSB family, It is with a heavy heart that I announce my time with the Safety Board must come to an end. As of Friday [October 2011], I will be retiring from Federal service, and I hope to pursue a long time personal challenge. In so, I hope to again have the opportunity to work with some of you in the future. I'm proud to have served with the Safety Board and it was an honor to have served with such a distinct group of dedicated professionals. We perform an important and difficult role in the pursuit of the truth while also advancing transportation safety. I'm thankful to have contributed to such a worthy and important mission. I will forever take pride in our accomplishments, for we have saved many lives through our individual and collective efforts. My career at the Safety Board has been both exciting and challenging. The opportunity to develop the Office of Highway Safety's EDR program with the help of my OHS family was truly gratifying and I will miss with each and every one of you. I would like to thank all everyone for all that you do to make the NTSB the most respected federal agency and to acknowledge the many friendships that will last for years to come. As I depart, I will once again look upon you all with the same "awe" as the public, as we watch you launch to one major accident after another. Please keep in touch and let me know what exciting new challenges you're facing. I wish all the best!”

Paul Vorhees: I heard about the SE from Mike Levins..... great idea! I'd like to join as well, having been at the board from '80 through 82, and then again from '96 to 2000. (I retired in '03 from the Federal Courts). I've stayed in touch with Mike, and to some extent Battocchi, Foster and Pyle. Updates: February 2016, June 2019.

Danielle Wolfe - Update August 2019.

Elaine Weinstein: (November 2012) I have been happily retired for almost three years. My reading and "to do" lists are still pending since I seem to run out of time to do those things. I keep busy exercising, playing golf, visiting family, and hanging out with my significant other, Howard, who I met in a group for people who had lost their spouses. Life is good.

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.

Rich York: After leaving NTSB I worked in the Olympia office of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) for two years before accomplishing my goal of working my way back to my home town of Boise, ID. My wife Volyn and I have now lived in Boise for 10 years and have a daughter, Georgia (9 years old), and a son, Clint (5 years old). Currently, I hold the position of FMCSA Idaho Division Administrator.

Al Yurman - This is my latest news about me I'd like to pass on to you. I have passed this on to several of my NTSB friends, but since you have asked for news here is mine. There are 16 chapters in the book, Legend: The Incredible Story of Green Beret Sergeant Roy Benavidez's Heroic Mission to Rescue a Special Forces Team Caught Behind Enemy Lines, by Eric Blehm, and I appear in 6 of them. I was in charge of the 240th 2nd Platoon featured in this book. I helped the author with the Aviation portion of this book. [He indicated that you can find the book on Amazon.]

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