Michael Millat
Aerospace Industry Representative
Michael Millat is a member of the Flight Safety Investigations team at Pratt & Whitney. Michael graduated from the University of Michigan in 2004 with a Bachelor Degree in Aerospace Engineering. Upon graduation, he served for 10 years in the Air Force, primarily as a C-17A pilot, stationed at McChord Field, Washington and Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina. As an instructor in the C-17A, he garnered more than 2,400 total flight hours over six deployments in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and New Hope. After leaving the military in 2014, Michael moved to Connecticut to join Pratt & Whitney’s Product Safety team, first as a Safety Risk Analyst, and, most recently, a Flight Safety Investigator. He was also instrumental in Pratt & Whitney’s recent acceptance into the FAA’s voluntary Safety Management System program, and represents Pratt & Whitney on multiple safety-related industry committees. He holds a Master’s Degree from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, specializing in Safety Systems, and a Commercial Pilot License with multi-engine, instrument and instructor ratings.
Amy Anderson
Chair/FAA Representative
Amy Anderson is a National Wildlife Biologist for Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Airports Division based at FAA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Amy writes and interprets national policy and guidance associated with reducing wildlife hazards to aircraft. She also creates training programs for FAA regional personnel and works with airports conducting Wildlife Hazard Assessments and Wildlife Hazard Management Plans. In addition to national guidance, Amy also works with international industry groups and civil aviation authorities to provide airport wildlife hazard expertise and guidance to airports at symposiums and workshops around the world. A few of the countries she has worked with are India, Ghana, Colombia, Ecuador and Panama. Amy has served as an FAA liaison for the Comité Regional de Centro América, el Caribe y Sudamérica de Prevención del Peligro Aviario y Fauna for the past 7 years. Prior to the FAA, Amy worked for 10 years as an environmental scientist at a private consulting firm in Florida. She graduated with a BS degree from Coastal Carolina University in South Carolina.
Laura Francoeur
Vice Chair and Treasurer
Laura is the Chief Wildlife Biologist for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, where she is responsible for directing the wildlife management programs at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), LaGuardia Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, Stewart International Airport, and Teterboro Airport. Prior to assuming her current position in 2009, Laura worked at JFK as a Wildlife Biologist for 10 years. Laura also worked in Virginia as a wildlife biologist for the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service – Wildlife Services and conducted wildlife hazard assessments at airports and landfills. Laura is a Certified Wildlife Biologist with a BA degree from Connecticut College in Zoology and an MS degree from Clemson University in Wildlife Biology.
Cullen Kane
Airline Representative
Cullen Kane sits on JetBlue Airways’ Environmental Sustainability team based out of the company’s headquarters in New York and supports the company’s environmental and sustainability strategy, inclusive of the wildlife-strike mitigation program. He represents JetBlue across the country, holding key functions at notable airports such as JFK and LAX. He is on both the European expansion and route launch teams, providing environmental strategy and compliance expertise as the airline rapidly expands. Notably, Cullen is actively working to decarbonize JetBlue’s ground support equipment (GSE) footprint at LAX, and is directly responsible for reducing GSE air emissions by 45% since 2021. He is engaged in Airlines for America’s Environmental Regulatory Committee, as well as their Air Quality and Drinking Water Working Groups. Prior to joining JetBlue, Cullen previously worked in the consulting and mining sectors. Cullen holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Environmental Geoscience from Texas A&M University, and specializes in environmental and sustainability strategy.
Roger Nicholson
Aerospace Industry Representative
Steven Boyd
Airport Representative
Steven is a seasoned Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-Qualified Airport Wildlife Biologist with a robust career spanning over 15 years in wildlife hazard mitigation. Since 2013, he has been at the helm of the Wildlife Hazard Management Program at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (KATL), the world’s busiest airport. Before his tenure in Atlanta, Steven played a pivotal role in developing wildlife mitigation programs at Birmingham International Airport (BHM) and Joint Base Andrews (ADW) as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services. His expertise and leadership have been instrumental in ensuring aviation safety through effective wildlife management strategies. Steven holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Georgia. His dedication to safeguarding airport operations from wildlife hazards underscores his commitment to both environmental stewardship and aviation safety.
Mike Culley
Department of Defense (Air National Guard)
Ernest LeGrande
Department of Defense (Space Force)
Mr. Ernest LeGrande is a Flight Safety Manager for the United States Space Force (USSF) and is currently appointed as the Bird/Wildlife Aircraft Strike Hazard (BASH) program manager for Space Launch Delta 45 at Patrick Space Force Base, Florida. As a career aviation professional, Mr. LeGrande offers over 35 years of diverse aviation experience spanning from general aviation maintenance and operations to 5th generation weapons system developmental testing and evaluation. Over the last 18 years, Mr. LeGrande’s career has focused on developing U.S. Air Force and USSF aviation Safety Management Systems with specific focus on BASH program management at 14 locations in the U.S. and abroad. In addition, he has been instrumental in DoD aviation safety policy development, USSF risk management, and aviation/space safety mishap prevention. Mr. LeGrande holds a dual specialization Master of Science degree in Aeronautics and sUAS Operations and maintains an Airframe & Power Plant License with the Federal Aviation Administration.
Jay Higgins
U.S. Department of Defense (U.S. Navy)
Mr. Higgins is a graduate of the US Naval Academy, Class of 1982, with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering. He retired from military service at the rank of Commander in 2005 after a 23-year Navy career as an S-3B Naval Flight Officer. He has worked for Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) Air Operations program since then, first as a contractor and now as a Federal civilian management analyst. Mr. Higgins is a certified Project Management Professional and performs a variety of key functions for CNIC staff. Most significantly, he serves as the CNIC Bird/wildlife Aircraft Strike Hazard (BASH) Program Coordinator across eight Navy regions and 32 air installations worldwide. He also serves as the Navy BASH representative on BSC USA, both Department of Defense and Navy BASH working groups, and at national BASH forums.
Daniel P. Sullivan
Department of Defense (U.S. Air Force)
Daniel is the Bird/wildlife Aircraft Strike Hazard (BASH) Team Chief for the U.S. Air Force (AF), stationed at the Air Force Safety Center (AFSEC), Kirtland AFB, in Albuquerque, NM. He arrived at the AFSEC in July 2007. Prior to his current assignment, he worked for USDA-WS in the New York Office as a Wildlife Technician from 2001-2003 then as the Airport Biologist from 2003-2007. He conducted his studies at the University of Idaho in wildlife biology and is a veteran of the United States Navy.
Amy Reed
FAA Representative
Amy Reed, a Qualified Airport Wildlife Biologist and Certified Wildlife Biologist, is an Environmental Protection Specialist at the Orlando Airports District Office for the FAA. Prior to joining the FAA she worked for an environmental consulting firm conducting and developing Wildlife Hazard Assessments, Wildlife Hazard Management Plans, and wildlife management training at civilian 14 CFR Part 139 airports and general aviation airports. She has worked as a biologist at more than 20 airports across eight states. She has also conducted over 60 BASH site visits for the Air National Guard. For almost two years Amy worked Mexico City to support the New Mexico City International Airport project. Amy brings 13 years’ experience in wildlife and habitat assessments, protected species relocations, NEPA, and environmental resource permitting for small- and large-scale aviation projects. With a degree in wildlife ecology, she specializes in avian identification and biology. Amy served previously as the Membership Chair. She is passionate about being an active member of volunteer organizations.
Mike Begier
U.S. Department of Agriculture Representative
Michael J. Begier is a wildlife biologist and the National Coordinator of the Airport Wildlife Hazards Program in Washington D.C. Mike works for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) – Wildlife Services Program, and provides liaison to the FAA, Department of Defense, the Air National Guard, the National Association of State Aviation Officials, and the aviation industry at large. One of Mike’s key roles is to provide support to the Wildlife Services program that mitigates wildlife hazards to aviation. His office manages the FAA National Wildlife Strike Database and works closely with the FAA and the USDA WS National Wildlife Research Center on guiding applied research activities designed to mitigate wildlife hazards at airports. Additionally, he serves as the program liaison to the DoD Partners in Flight BASH working group and the DoD Armed Forces Pest Management Board. Mike earned his college education from the State University of New York at Cobleskill and Plattsburgh and his MS degree at the College of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse. Mike previously served as the Chair of the Bird Strike Committee.
Aaron Guikema
U.S. Department of Agriculture Representative
Aaron Guikema has served as the State Director for the Wildlife Services Program in New Jersey since 2015. Prior to that, he served as the District Supervisor for the WS Program in NJ from 2013 to 2015. From 2008 to 2013, Aaron was the Staff Wildlife Biologist for the WS Eastern Regional Office in Raleigh, NC. Aaron started his career with WS as a Wildlife Specialist in Michigan and worked primarily on starling control and airports. Aaron holds a B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife Management from Lake Superior State University.
Ann Hodgson
Resource Designs Inc., Private Sector Representative
Dr. Ann Hodgson is a recognized expert in wildlife ecology, wetlands ecology, and ornithology. She manages projects and tasks related to threatened and endangered species surveys, wildlife hazard management, population and conceptual ecological models, botanical studies, habitat assessments, and water resources and hydrogeomorphic wetlands evaluations. Dr. Hodgson has 38 years of professional experience in the areas of avian ecology, wildlife management, water resource evaluation, freshwater wetlands, coastal ecosystems, and habitat management and restoration. She has completed multiple FAA Wildlife Hazard Assessments and Wildlife Hazard Management Plans for airports from Florida to California, and provides wildlife management expertise to multi-disciplinary planning teams.
William J. “Joe” Barnes
Lumen International Inc., Private Sector Representative
Colonel (Ret.) William J. “Joe” Barnes has a BSME and an MS in Systems Management from USC and is the Chief Operating Officer of Lumen International, Inc. He was a Boeing 737 Captain, an F-16 operational test pilot, and Director of the USAF Air Combat Command Night Vision Center. He has 153 combat missions in fighters, over 10,000 flight hours and served as the Senior Special Projects Engineer for US Southern Command. He has ten years’ experience teaching aviation related post-graduate courses, and patents for a laser-based aircraft ice detection system and for a system to protect aircraft.
Yakubu Ogwu Isah
Research fellow
Yakubu Ogwu Isah is a research fellow from the University of South Florida with a master’s degree in Environmental science and policy, and he also holds a bachelor’s degree in forestry, wildlife and range management from the University of Agriculture Makurdi in Nigeria.
Before relocating to the state, Yakubu worked for the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria for a period of 8years as a Senior Bird Hazard Control Officer, serving across three different international airports, managing wildlife hazards in relation to airport operations.
While in graduate school, Yakubu interned with Environmental Science Associates where he assisted the wildlife biologists in carrying out wildlife hazard assessments across three airports in Florida. Yakubu is also a cohort fellow of Tampa International Airport Operations apprenticeship program where he was exposed to the workings of the FAA regulations with respect to airport operations.
Yakubu research interest span across different environmental issues but he focuses on the role of habitat management in wildlife risk assessment in aviation and application of GIS in the management of wildlife in airport operations.
Jay Tischendorf
AERIE Institute, General Representative
Jay Tischendorf is a veterinarian and qualified airport wildlife biologist. He’s been involved with the aeronautical wildlife subject for over a decade. Among many other activities and interests, Jay regularly trains natural resource and animal health professionals in infectious and zoonotic disease. As an interesting side note, in his free time Jay is actively searching for the supposedly extinct ivory-billed woodpecker.
Faridah Dahlan
Smithsonian Institution
Faridah Dahlan is a molecular geneticist currently working with the Smithsonian Institution’s Feather Identification Lab in Washington DC. The focus of her work at the Feather ID Lab is processing bird strike remains for molecular identification using DNA barcoding.
Faridah’s early training was in Puerto Rico doing research on dengue fever and the phylogeny of higher fungi. In 1981, she received her B.Sc. from the University of Washington in Seattle with graduate work in forest ectomycorrhiza. She gained further laboratory and microscopy experience working on depression and HIV research projects at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and the George Washington University in Washington, DC.
Faridah joined the Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History in 2000 working on the genetics of leaf cutter ants from South and Central America. She joined the Feather Identification Lab in 2008 and was integral in developing the current molecular methods used for bird strike species identification.
Kinjal Patel
Green Wings
Kinjal is a dedicated professional serving on the Board of Green Wings, a nonprofit organization focused on promoting sustainability in aviation through grassroots initiatives. As the Director of Environmental Affairs, she collaborates with pilots, crew members, and flight schools to coordinate volunteer opportunities via the Ambassadors Program and facilitates discussions on best practices in sustainable aviation. In addition to her nonprofit work, Kinjal has been an inflight crewmember with JetBlue Airways for eight years, where she’s experienced the impacts of wildlife strikes in aviation. She is currently undertaking a special assignment with the Sustainability & ESG team, where she plays a crucial role in supporting the airline’s environmental and sustainability programs, particularly in aircraft waste management, wildlife strike mitigation and environmental compliance. Furthermore, Kinjal represents JetBlue on the Aerostar International Airport (SJU) Green Team, actively contributing to the airport’s sustainability goals. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Thomas Edison State University.
John Weller
FAA Representative
John Weller has been a National Wildlife Biologist for the Federal Aviation Administration since 2009. His responsibilities include the development and oversight of national strategies, regulations, and guidance regarding wildlife hazards on and within the vicinity of airports that affect aircraft safety or impact airport development and land use. He provides oversight to the National Wildlife Strike Database, cooperative partnerships, outreach, and research targeting hazardous wildlife and mitigation techniques. John collaborates with foreign states and assists the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) with the development of international guidance and their Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs). Prior experience includes 28 years of wildlife conservation and conflict management, endangered species restoration and research for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service and the USDA/ APHIS/ Wildlife Services, as well as state and county conservation agencies, and a nonprofit research center. John has a BS in Forestry from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and a MS in Environmental Biology from the University of Southern Mississippi studying predator/ prey relationships.
David Jolley
U.S. Department of Agriculture Representative
Nick Atwell
Past Chair/Airport Representative
Nick works at the Portland International Airport as the Port of Portland’s Senior Natural Resources Manager overseeing a team of professionals in two focus areas: Conservation Ecology and Aviation Wildlife Hazard Management. Nick strives for ongoing program improvement through reviews, monitoring, and adaptive management, which uses science-based methods to evaluate and adjust future actions. He has been working at the Port of Portland in natural resources and aviation wildlife hazard management since 1999. He is an FAA-qualified Airport Wildlife Biologist with degrees in Natural Resources and Organismal Biology. Nick lives in the Oregon foothills of Mt. Hood with his wife and two young daughters. Nick spends his free time with family & friends and enjoys mountain biking, snowboarding, and ultimate frisbee.
