Gene LeBoeuf
FAA/USAF, Ret.
Eugene LeBoeuf is a Wildlife Biologist who retired from the United States Air Force (USAF) and Federal service in January of 2011. he was both a member and later the Chief of the U.S. Air Force Bird/wildlife Aircraft Strike Hazard (BASH) Team. Prior to joining the BASH Team, Gene spent six years with the FAA in Washington, D.C., developing standards and procedures for the implementation of effective wildlife hazard controls on or in the vicinity of airports. Positions held prior to his service with FAA included a District Supervisor with the USDA’s Wildlife Services program and a Wildlife Assistance Biologist with the U.S. Department Fish and Wildlife Service. Gene obtained his BS degree from LSU in 1978. Mr. LeBoeuf is a charter member of the Bird Strike Committee.
Russell DeFusco
BASH, Inc.
Dr. Russell P. DeFusco, Lt Col, U.S. Air Force (retired) is Vice President of BASH Incorporated. He is a 1981 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy with a BS degree in Biology and earned a PhD in Environmental, Population, and Organismic Biology from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Dr. DeFusco is former Chief of the USAF Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard (BASH) Team. He has been the Principal Investigator on the United States Bird Avoidance Model (BAM) and has been involved in development of bird detection and forecasting systems using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), satellite imagery, radars, and other technologies. He has developed hundreds of operational BASH Plans for the U.S. Air Force, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve units, as well as other federal agencies including the U.S. Army, Navy, and Marine Corps, NASA, and foreign governments. He has also worked with the FAA in developing policy guidelines as well as wildlife hazard assessments, management plans, site visits, and airport wildlife hazard management training for civil airports, and currently provides consulting services to overseas agencies and those in North America on all aspects of wildlife hazard management and operational planning.
Richard Dolbeer
USDA, Ret.
Richard Dolbeer earned a Ph.D from Colorado State University and was a scientist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture from 1972 to 2008, where he led various research projects to resolve conflicts between humans and wildlife in North America, Africa, and Asia. He has published over 220 scientific papers, manuals, and book chapters. Richard was Chairman of Bird Strike Committee USA from 1987 to 2008 and is a recipient of the FAA’s “Excellence in Aviation Research” award. Richard currently manages his 58-acre farm “Bluebird Haven” in northern Ohio and works as a science advisor to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Matt Klope
U.S. Navy, Ret.
Matthew began his career with the Navy as the first wildlife biologist at Naval Air Station Point Mugu in Southern California in 1979. In 1989 he transferred to NAS Whidbey Island in Washington State and worked for the Environmental Department until 2001. During these years he was always involved in the facilities BASH programs and involved in the development of the BSC-USA. In 2001 he transferred once again to the Navy’s Research and Development (R&D) Program at Port Huemene and wrote and implemented the Navy and Marine Corps BASH Programs. Matthew spent the remained of his career until retirement in 2015 implementing BASH programs at Navy and Marine Corps facilities across the United States and around the world. Since retirement, Matthew manages his full time Taxidermy business and enjoys all the hunting and fishing the Pacific Northwest can offer.
John Ostrom
Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan Airports Commission
As the Assistant Director of the Metropolitan Airports Commission’s Integrated Operations Department at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP), John is responsible for a variety of MSP’s operational programs including Wildlife Hazard Management, Runway Safety, Self-inspection, Winter Operations and Airport Certification, as well as the design and operation of the airport’s new integrated operations center, branded as the North Star Center. John has been with the Operations Department since 1986 and has developed and instructed numerous airport training courses including AAAE’s Airport Wildlife Techniques, Manager’s and Trainer’s courses for both national and international airport and wildlife management professionals. John has a BS degree in Psychology from Winona State University and an MBA from the University of St. Thomas. He is a member of the Association for Training Development, The Wildlife Society, and is a Certified Member of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE). John has served on numerous committees and review panels.
Sarah Brammell
Tampa International Airport
Sarah is an FAA-qualified Airport Wildlife Biologist with over 20 years of environmental planning, permitting, compliance, and wildlife hazard management experience. She has conducted wildlife hazard services throughout the country and internationally. Sarah has a BA in Biology and a MS in Public Administration in Environmental Policy. She was previously the senior manager for Lee County Port Authority and serves as the Co-Chair of the Airport Council International-North America’s Natural Resources Committee. She is a past Chair of the Florida Airport Council’s Environmental Committee. Sarah is a former BSC Chair and Private Sector Services Representative.
