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.
Amanda was born in St. Petersburg, Florida and raised in New Jersey, where she started off her career as a paramedic and served in the United States Public Health Service. She returned here to Florida in 2007 where she started her career in Safety and Emergency Management, working for large healthcare networks including Florida Hospital and Orlando Health as a Hospital Safety Officer and Emergency Manager. Following the completion of her MS degree from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Safety Management, she was recruited by Delta Airlines to be a Divisional General Manager of Safety where she helped manage ground operations contracts across the United States, the Hawaiian Islands and Guam. In 2020 during the COVID-19 Pandemic, she left the Airline Industry and took over Incident Command of Citrus County’s COVID-Operation under the Florida Department of Health and then stayed on as the Director of Emergency Management.
Amanda has also been an Adjunct Faculty Member with Embry Riddle since 2019 and it was always her dream to return to the field of Aviation and several months ago, she got her wish and was named the Airport Planning Manager with the Florida Department of Transportation, where she reviews Master Planning projects for Florida’s airports. Amanda lives in Tallahassee during the week and returns home on the weekends to her small farm in Pine Ridge just outside of Crystal River.
Fun Fact: Amanda became an EMT at the age of 16 and then a volunteer firefighter in North New Jersey.
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.