History of the National Executive Board

Jun 16, 2017

NATCA did not waste time developing its strength and finding its voice through these passionate individuals who laid the groundwork for what the Union is today.

The involvement required of the National Executive Board (NEB) exceeds the normal strain of many careers. Their fierce passion comes with extended periods of travel, time away from their families and children, personal sacrifice, and many hours of personal time dedicated to serving the membership — all to ensure the rights of every single NATCA member are protected and that the National Airspace System continues to be the safest in the world.

Despite these things, NATCA leadership takes pride in its “all hands on deck” mentality and wouldn’t have it any other way. For them, the Union is an extension of their family and their duty is to serve it diligently.

Since the provisional Executive Board, through the first NEB taking over in 1988, through today, NATCA’s leadership continues to evolve and shape the future of our Union. Below, see a history of NATCA’s leadership through the years.

1986-88: Founding Convention Regional Representatives (Provisional Executive Board)

Alaskan Region: Joe Dunigan (Note: Will Faville took over in 1987 after Dunigan stepped down)
Central Region: Jim Poole
Eastern Region: Steve Bell
Great Lakes Region: Fred Gilbert
New England Region: Howie Barte
Northwest Mountain Region: Gary Molen
Southern Region: Dennis Delaney
Southwest Region: Ed Mullin
Western-Pacific Region: Karl Grundmann

1988 – 1991: The First NEB

President: Steve Bell
Executive Vice President: Ray Spickler
Alaskan Regional Vice President: Will Faville, Jr.
Central Regional Vice President: Dan Brandt
Eastern Regional Vice President: Barry Krasner
Great Lakes Regional Vice President: Joseph Bellino
New England Regional Vice President: James Breen
Northwest Mountain Regional Vice President: Gary Molen
Southern Regional Vice President: F. Lee Riley (Note: Randy Schwitz took over the position in 1990 when Riley stepped down.)
Southwest Regional Vice President: Ed Mullin
Western Pacific Regional Vice President: Richard Bamberger

1991 – 1994: The Second NEB

President: Barry Krasner
Executive Vice President: Joseph Bellino
Alaskan Regional Vice President: Sam Rich
Central Regional Vice President: Michael Putzier
Eastern Regional Vice President: Tim Haines
Great Lakes Regional Vice President: Jim Poole
New England Regional Vice President: James Breen (Note: T. Craig Lasker took over the position after Breen was forced to retire in 1992 due to a health issue.)
Northwest Mountain Regional Vice President: Gary Molen (Note: James Ferguson took over the position when Molen retired in 1993.)
Southern Regional Vice President: Randy Schwitz
Southwest Regional Vice President: Ed Mullin
Western Pacific Regional Vice President: Karl Grundmann

1994 – 1997: The Third NEB

President: Barry Krasner
Executive Vice President: Mike McNally
Alaskan Regional Vice President: Jerry Whittaker
Central Regional Vice President: Michael Putzier
Eastern Regional Vice President: Joe Fruscella
Great Lakes Regional Vice President: Jim Poole
New England Regional Vice President: T. Craig Lasker
Northwest Mountain Regional Vice President: James Ferguson
Southern Regional Vice President: Randy Schwitz
Southwest Regional Vice President: Rich Phillips
Western Pacific Regional Vice President: Owen Bridgeman

1997 – 2000: The Fourth NEB

President: Mike McNally
Executive Vice President: Randy Schwitz
Alaskan Regional Vice President: Ricky Thompson
Central Regional Vice President: Bill Otto
Eastern Regional Vice President: Joe Fruscella
Great Lakes Regional Vice President: Jim Poole
New England Regional Vice President: Mike Blake
Northwest Mountain Regional Vice President: James Ferguson
Southern Regional Vice President: Rodney Turner
Southwest Regional Vice President: Mark Pallone
Western Pacific Regional Vice President: Gus Guerra
(Region X: 1988 marked the first expansion of the NEB. Pete Healy was appointed the first engineers vice president and invited to sit on the board as a non-voting member. At the 1988 Convention, delegates approved a voting position for Region X and Jim D’Agati, the Great Lakes Region local president, won the election to the NEB the next year.)

2000 – 2003: The Fifth NEB

President: John Carr
Executive Vice President: Ruth (Stilwell) Marlin
Alaskan Regional Vice President: Ricky Thompson
Central Regional Vice President: John Tune
Eastern Regional Vice President: Joe Fruscella
Great Lakes Regional Vice President: Pat Forrey
New England Regional Vice President: Mike Blake
Northwest Mountain Regional Vice President: Carol Branaman
Southern Regional Vice President: Rodney Turner
Southwest Regional Vice President: Mark Pallone
Western Pacific Regional Vice President: Kevin McGrath
Region X: Jim D’Agati

2003 – 2006: The Sixth NEB

President: John Carr
Executive Vice President: Ruth (Stilwell) Marlin
Alaskan Regional Vice President: Ricky Thompson
Central Regional Vice President: John Tune
Eastern Regional Vice President: Phil Barbarello
Great Lakes Regional Vice President: Pat Forrey
New England Regional Vice President: Mike Blake
Northwest Mountain Regional Vice President: Carol Branaman
Southern Regional Vice President: Andy Cantwell
Southwest Regional Vice President: Darrell Meachum
Western Pacific Regional Vice President: Bob Marks
Region X: Jim D’Agati

2006 – 2009: The Seventh NEB

President: Pat Forrey
Executive Vice President: Paul Rinaldi
Alaskan Regional Vice President: Ricky Thompson
Central Regional Vice President: Howard Blankenship
Eastern Regional Vice President: Phil Barbarello
Great Lakes Regional Vice President: Bryan Zilonis
New England Regional Vice President: Mike Robicheau
Northwest Mountain Regional Vice President: Scott Farrow
Southern Regional Vice President: Victor Santore
Southwest Regional Vice President: Darrell Meachum
Western Pacific Regional Vice President: Ham Ghaffari
Region X: Mike MacDonald

2009 – 2012: The Eighth NEB

President: Paul Rinaldi
Executive Vice President: Trish Gilbert
Alaskan Regional Vice President: Larry Lescanec
Central Regional Vice President: Kevin Peterson
Eastern Regional Vice President: Phil Barbarello
Great Lakes Regional Vice President: Bryan Zilonis
New England Regional Vice President: Mike Robicheau
Northwest Mountain Regional Vice President: Jim Ullmann
Southern Regional Vice President: Victor Santore
Southwest Regional Vice President: Tim Smith
Western Pacific Regional Vice President: Ham Ghaffari
Region X: Mike MacDonald

2012 – 2015: The Ninth NEB

President: Paul Rinaldi
Executive Vice President: Trish Gilbert
Alaskan Regional Vice President: Steve Munroe (Note: Scot Morrison finished the term after Munroe’s retirement in 2014)
Central Regional Vice President: Kevin Peterson
Eastern Regional Vice President: Phil Barbarello
Great Lakes Regional Vice President: Bryan Zilonis
New England Regional Vice President: Mike Robicheau
Northwest Mountain Regional Vice President: Jim Ullmann
Southern Regional Vice President: Victor Santore
Southwest Regional Vice President: Tim Smith
Western Pacific Regional Vice President: Ham Ghaffari
Region X: Mike MacDonald

2015 – 2018: The 10th NEB

President: Paul Rinaldi
Executive Vice President: Trish Gilbert
Alaskan Regional Vice President: Clint Lancaster
Central Regional Vice President: Kevin Peterson
Eastern Regional Vice President: Dean Iacopelli
Great Lakes Regional Vice President: Bryan Zilonis
New England Regional Vice President: Mike Robicheau
Northwest Mountain Regional Vice President: Doug Pincock
Southern Regional Vice President: Jim Marinitti
Southwest Regional Vice President: Andrew LeBovidge
Western Pacific Regional Vice President: Ham Ghaffari
Region X: Mike MacDonald