NASF Officers and Board of Directors

The Foundation was formed in the summer of 1993, and is composed of Aviation Safety Counselors who recognize the need to support aviation safety and FAA sponsored activities.

Officers

• Obie S. Young - President / Chairman of the Board
• William H. McClung - Vice President
• Eric Bolves - Secretary / Treasurer - NASF Attorney

Directors

• Ben Coleman - Board Member
• John McLeroy - Board Member
• Bob Raskey - Board Member
• Barry L. Valentine- Board Member
• Joel Weaner- Board Member
• Robb Williams - Board Member

Honorary Board Member

• Billy Henderson-Deceased
• Jim Loomis-Deceased
• Dr. William Lowery, Jr.
• Ernie Strange

Meet the NASF Board of Directors

Obie S. Young: is an Airline Transport Pilot with over 16,000 hours accumulated in his 45 years in aviation.  He has worked in FAR Part 141 pilot training, FAR Part 135 charter, Corporate Flight Operations and as a FAA Designated Written and Flight Examiner for Private through ATP.  He flew in air shows for six years and produced and directed air shows for 19 years.  He is a member of several aviation organizations and a lifetime member of EAA and Florida Air Museum at Sun ‘n Fun.

He worked with the FAA Accident Prevention Program for 15 years in industry.  He was the founder and past president of the Mississippi Association of Flight Instructors.  He was awarded Flight Instructor of the Year for the United States in 1977.  He was awarded the Master Certified Flight Instructor in 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005 and 2011.  He wrote for several aviation publications and had his own column "Unusual Attitudes."  He has made hundreds of presentations throughout the United States and is a Distinguished Toastmaster. 

He served with the Flight Standards Division of the FAA from 1990 to 2010 when he retired from the FAA.  He served as the National Safety Team (FAASTeam) Production Manager at the National Resource Center in Lakeland, Florida. 

Robert V. Raskey is an Airline Transport Pilot, with over 23,000 hours accumulated over his 33 years in aviation. He is a current FAR Part 121 Captain flying Domestic and International flight operations, for United Airlines. He has worked in FAR Part 141 pilot training, and FAR Part 135 charter via Air Ambulance, Air Taxi, Air Freight and Forrest Patrol. He was an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner as well as Accident Safety Counselor for seventeen years, in addition to being an FAA Flight Instructor and Flight Team Leader. Additionally, he has conducted over 6,000 FAA Pilot Certification Flight Checks for Airplane and Rotorcraft Certificates and Ratings. He has also been an Aerobatic Demonstration Team Trainer.

 Robert’s twenty year military experience included over ten years of HC-130 Combat Search and Rescue Pilot as well as five years of F-16C Flight Lead, and four years as a T-38 Instructor Pilot. He was also selected as 14FTW (14th Flight Training Wing) Officer of the Year; 14FTW RSU Controller of the Year and 14FTW Instructor Pilot of the Year during this time.

 Robert is  a past president of Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Alumni Association and served as a Board Member of the Board of Trustees at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.

Robert is also the CEO of Aviation Bright Futures Foundation, and is the president of Summerland Key Cove Airport Company. Additionally, Robert is a member of several other aviation organizations including Aviation Accreditation Board International, University Aviation Association, ALPA, Reserve Officers Association, Air Force Association, AOPA and EAA. Robert is also the President of RVR Investments, LLC, Florida Realtor.

Ben Coleman : is currently the Chief Operations Officer (COO) for Costruzioni Aeronautiche TECNAM S.p.A., United States, Sebring Delivery Center. He is a former National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Air Safety Investigator and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Safety Inspector.

He is a seaplane/commercial multi-engine instrument rated pilot with thousands of hours flight experience. He is a certificated mechanic with inspection authorization, and a senior parachute rigger. Ben served as a Safety Officer for a helicopter diplomatic security detail in Iraq for the Department of State “Airwing”. Having represented several international aircraft manufacturers and ISR platforms as technical advisor and demonstration pilot, he is well versed in international affairs.

Ben is the creator and anchor host for an aerospace safety televised talk-show called “Plane Time” and feels media/advertising is a key component to our aerospace maintenance safety message. During his spare time he is restoring a 1941 Interstate ‘Cadet’ aircraft to be used for ‘tailwheel’ endorsements.

Barry L. Valentine: has over four decades experience in aviation, government, and business and is currently Senior Advisor to the Wicks Group, an aviation legal and consulting firm in Washington, DC.

Prior to his current position, he was Senior Vice President for International Affairs for the General Aviation Manufacturers Association from 1999 to 2005. From 1993 to 1998 he held several top positions at the Federal Aviation Administration including Administrator (Acting) and Assistant Administrator for Policy, Planning, and International Aviation. Mr. Valentine’s extensive aviation background also includes having held the positions of Director of the Portland (Maine) International Jetport from 1987 to 1991 and Director of Aeronautics for the State of Maine from 1983 to 1987.

He has been an active pilot for over 50 years and served as a pilot with the US Air Force from 1967 to 1972 with over 3000 flying hours including 1000 hours of combat time. Mr. Valentine was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and four Air Medals for his outstanding service in Vietnam.

He received his Bachelors degree in Industrial Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and his Aeronautical Rating from the US Air Force.  He holds a Commercial pilots license with Instrument, Multi-engine, and Seaplane ratings.

William H. McClung: Bill has enjoyed a long and varied career with the airline industry with over 40 years of sales, training, operational and customer service experience. Starting with Ozark Air Lines, in 1970, and later TWA, his aviation experience includes operating an airline station; including public relations, customer service, weather reporting, ground & flight operations. He has served at IND, STL, SPI, and TPA. He retired in 1998 to manage a company importing sport aviation products from the Czech Republic and Eastern Europe.

Joel Weaner :is a veteran professional pilot for 30 years with over 13,000 hours of experience. Joel began his aviation career in Jacksonville Florida at Shields Aviation. In 1996, he purchased Beach Banners Inc., an aerial advertising service for Northeast Florida.From there, Joel began to branch out into different facets within aviation such as airborne traffic reports for the FDOT, aircraft management, flight instruction, aircraft rental, aerial funeral services and many more.

Joel has flown Part 91 and Part 135 corporate operations and is currently a Gold Seal Instructor, Master CFI of 20 years and an Airline Transport Pilot. He is a FAAST Lead Representative for Northeast Florida who has been responsible for coordinating many safety events throughout the region. He is a lifetime member of EAA and Florida Aviation Historical Society as well as a 30-year member of AOPA.

Joel joined our production crew in 2010 and has supported our network with photos and hosting at SUN ‘n FUN, Oshkosh, and NBAA-Base. He has been our Bahamian liaison for several years. He has come a long way from a Dairy farm boy raised in Gettysburg PA where at 8 years old his Uncle Francis gave him his first airplane ride.

William D. Lowery, Jr., M.D.: Born and grew up in Cartersville, Georgia. Graduated from Emory University with a BA Degree. He earned his M.D. Degree at Medical College of Georgia and had General Surgery and Neurosurgery Residency at Vanderbilt University. Was in private practice of Neurosurgery in Albany, Georgia from 1963-1993. Retired and moved to Winter Haven, Florida. Is certified by The American Board of Neurological Surgery and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Bill soloed in a J-3 Cub on his 16th Birthday and holds Airline Transport Pilot Ratings for single and multiengine land and sea airplanes and the Cessna Citation. He holds Commercial Licenses for helicopters and gliders, and is a Flight Instructor for single and multi-engine airplanes, instruments, and helicopters. He is an A and P Mechanic. Has been a Senior FAA Aviation Medical Examiner since 1972 and remains active in his field. He is an FAA Aviation Safety Counselor in the Orlando FSDO and was formerly a Counselor in the Atlanta FSDO. Is a member of the Production Crew at the FAA Safety Team National Resource Center and FAA Production Studios and owns a Cessna 340A in which he has accumulated 3000 hours flying time with a total flying time of 10,000 hours. Dr. Bill is married and has two sons.

Robb Williams: Entered the field of higher education over 20 years ago. He has experience as a high school teacher and aerospace professor. He has been asked to serve on National, State, and Local STEM advisory boards. He is passionate about using aviation to inspire the next generation of explorers.

Between his teaching opportunities, Robb commanded and was qualified on over 7 different aircraft with over 5,000 hours of flight time. He has authored over 100 technical training documents on various Aerospace topics. In addition, he was chosen to open up airlines in The United States, Columbia, Hawaii, Guam and China. One of his proudest aviation moments was being asked by fly the first commercial flight in over 50 years from Havana, Cuba to Tampa.

In 2013, he transitioned from the cockpit to the world of aviation non-profits. He spent 5 years as the Executive Director of the Aerospace Center for Excellence in Lakeland, FL and became part of NASF and the Florida Aviation Network. In 2018, he was chosen to serve as the Executive Director of the Triple Tree Aerodrome in Woodruff, SC. Triple Tree hosts some of the largest general aviation and radio control events in the world.

Recently, he was asked to serve as a Solar System Ambassador for NASA. Robb plans to use this platform to enhance the educational opportunities he has developed at the Triple Tree Aerodrome.

In his spare time, Robb enjoys spending time with his family and volunteering at his children’s schools and extracurricular activities.

NASF Mission Statement

To promote aviation safety and technical proficiency by providing guidance, support and education through high quality presentations - available to the entire aviation community.