FAPA is a great introduction to FDOT Aviation Office and Florida’s aviation landscape for those new to the industry as well as for those seeking a refresher.
The FAPA modules include information about the following topics:
- Florida's Airports and Their Role
- Airport and Airspace Zoning Protection
- Florida Aviation Planning
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FDOT Aviation Operations and Engineering Programs
- FDOT Aviation Grant Program Management
- FDOT Aviation Project Management
- Joint Automated Capital Improvement Program (JACIP) Overview
Additional Benefits of Attendance
Completion of the FAPA course is one of the requirements of the Florida Airports Council's Florida Airports Certified Professional (FACP) Program. Additionally, continuing education credits for Professional Engineers (PEs) are available as part of course participation. There will be more information during the course about securing these credits.
The Florida Aviation Professionals Academy (FAPA) was developed to provide relevant academic and technical knowledge to Airport, FDOT, and other professionals regarding FDOT Aviation Office (AO) processes, policies, and operations. Florida has robust aviation-related training programs designed to prepare students in careers such as airfield operations, air traffic control, airlines, air cargo, and flight dispatching. Skillset development in the management and operations of an airport is mostly accomplished through on-the-job training. This training is augmented by either airport management-specific certification programs offered through aviation organizations, such as AAAE and ACI, or through an academic course of study that includes an airport management component.
Speakers
Born and raised in Crawfordville, FL, David has a BS from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. After graduating, David spent 3 years as a Line Service Professional with Million Air Tallahassee. While working at the FBO, David obtained his Private Pilot’s License and actively sought an Airport Operations position there in Tallahassee. David left working for Million Air to join the Airport Operations team at the Tallahassee International Airport. David spent the next 4 years working as an Airport Operations Agent responding to both airside and landside incidents. Working at a small Part 139 airport exposed David to a wide variety of incidents and situations. The lessons learned over the 4 years in Airport Operations proved to be invaluable.
David has been an employee of the Florida Department of Transportation since 2016. He currently serves as the Airport Inspection and Safety Manager with the Aviation Office. David is responsible for the public airport licensing and inspection program and conducts over 100 airport inspections annually to ensure the airports remain compliant with FDOT’s Airport Licensing requirements. Of those many requirements, he evaluates hundreds of obstructions and analyzes their impact to the airports.
Jim serves as the Aviation Operations Administrator and has been with FDOT since January 2024. He was previously employed as the Deputy Director of Aviation at the Tallahassee International Airport (TLH). Jim served in various Airport Operations roles at TLH, having been employed there for nearly 24 years.
Born and raised in New England, Jim served in the United States Air Force (both Active Duty and Reserves) for over 20 years. Jim is a Certified Member (C.M.) of the American Association of Airport Executives and earned his Bachelor’s & Master’s Degrees from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU). He has remained engaged in academic endeavors by serving as an adjunct Assistant Professor with ERAU since 2008.
Jim lives just over the Florida/Georgia state line in Thomasville, GA with his wife Dana. They have one child who works as a nurse at South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta, GA. In his personal time, Jim enjoys camping and hiking.
Born and raised in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Andy has a BA from the University of Virginia and retired in 1994 after 20 years as a Naval Flight Officer flying off aircraft carriers. In 1979, he joined a Navy squadron that trains new flight navigators for all multi-crewed naval aircraft. In 1984, he joined the training squadron for his fleet aircraft, the A-6E Intruder, and was qualified as an Instructor Bombardier/Navigator. During this same timeframe, Andy obtained his Private Pilot license and earned the Commercial, Instrument, Multi-Engine and Certified Flight Instructor ratings.
Andy has been an employee of the State of Florida for the last twenty-eight years and with the Aviation Office of the Florida Department of Transportation for the last twenty-four, where he works with all the public airports in the state. Andy’s idea since arriving at the Aviation Office has been to develop a course for new FDOT Aviation staff in the Central Office and in the seven district offices, which will instruct them concerning what the Aviation Central Office does to help the FDOT District offices and Florida airports. This same course could help to educate new airport, aviation consultant and FAA staff on the same topic. This developed recently into what has been named the Florida Aviation Professionals Academy (FAPA).
Fun Fact: Even though Andy has 2800 hours flying with the Navy and 500 hours flying GA aircraft, people find it odd that he is afraid of heights.
Born and raised in New York, Jenn still considers it home even though she’s been in Florida for over 20 years. She currently lives in Polk County with her husband Mike and 2 dogs, Izzy and Jasper. Her career with FDOT District 1 began in November of 2022 as a Rail Administration Coordinator before moving to Aviation in June of 2024. Prior to working at FDOT, Jenn worked at a medical clinic for over 15 years in many different departments including credentialing and contracting. This provided experience in project management and contract negotiations. During this time, she earned her bachelor’s degree from Polk State College and then her master’s degree in public administration from the University of Central Florida. Jenn is currently one of two District 1 Aviation Project Managers, providing support to 21 public airports.