Personnel

SAI's most valuable resource is their technical and administrative personnel. SAI has an enviable reputation for its ability to attract and retain highly qualified, experienced and multi-talented employees. The staff includes highly skilled FAA-certified pilots, engineers, mechanics and avionics technicians. The educational and relevant backgrounds of SAI's key people include US. Air Force Test Pilot School, Flight Test Engineering School graduates, retired USAF test and evaluation engineers, electrical engineers, program managers, and technicians covering every aspect of the required technical skills (aero, mechanical, electrical, structural, etc.). These highly skilled professionals are available in the optimum mix to meet your program's requirements. SAl employees are a major factor contributing to its thirty years of accident free success.

Bryan Williams

Chief Pilot

Bryan Williams, Chief Pilot: Bryan began his flying career in 1982 in the general aviation environment. Bryan’s early focus was on personal and business related aviation travel. Bryan recognized his keen interest in aviation and chose to make the transition to larger aircraft specializing in commercial and corporate related aviation travel and flight department management. In 1998 Bryan joined SAI and started flying under the close supervision of Robert Keller, President and former Chief Pilot of SAI Flight Test. Over the next few years Bryan made a successful transition into civil flight test and was named Chief Pilot at SAI Flight Test in 2009. To date Bryan has more than 6500 hours of accident free flight time, flown on all major test ranges, supported programs CONUS and OCONUS most notable on behalf of USSOCOM during the Haiti relief effort.

Donna Keller

Office Manager

Donna has been employed at Sunshine Aero Industries, since February 1997, when she was hired as Accounts Receivable Clerk. She is now the Office Manager and continues to serve as Accounts Receivable Clerk. Donna attended Lurleen Wallace College in Andalusia, Alabama. She was employed by the State of Alabama, where she served as Administrative Assistant to three successive District Judges in Covington County, Alabama, prior to becoming employed at Sunshine Aero.

Bowen Ballard

Pilot

Bowen began his flying career in 1987 in the general aviation environment. Bowen’s early focus was on personal and business related aviation travel in light aircraft. Bowen made the transition to larger aircraft specializing in commercial and flight test aviation. In 2007 Bowen joined SAI and is rated in the NA265 Sabreliner.To date Bowen has more than 2000 hours of accident free flight time, flown on all major test ranges, supported programs CONUS and OCONUS most notable on behalf of USSOCOM during the Haiti relief effort.

Dan Brown

Pilot

Dan is a former Air Force pilot with over 13,000 flying hours (12,500 PIC) in military and civilian aircraft. He flew 10 Air Force aircraft (5 fighters) and 5 civilian jet/turboprop aircraft, in military ops, Mil contract flight/ECM training and civilian flight test. Dan flew over 9,500 hours while conducting contract flight training for USAF, Air National Guard, USN /USMC while flying Learjets, MU-2 Turboprops, Citation Jets, Beechjets and Sabreliners. He has conducted Sabreliner flight test operations in Italy, California, Nevada, New England, Florida and the Caribbean. Dan holds an ATP certificate plus type ratings in Learjet, Citation Jet, Beechjet and Sabreliner. He currently has over 7000 hours PIC in the Sabreliner.

Dave Tintle

Pilot

Dave Tintle is a retired Air Force Pilot, Navigator and Radar Intercept Officer with more than 14,000 flying hours in military and civilian aircraft.  Following his military career, Dave flew as a charter and corporate pilot flying Citation and King Air type aircraft before becoming a contract Naval Flight Training Pilot for Naval Flight Officers at NAS Pensacola flying the T-39 Sabreliner aircraft.  In 1994, Dave joined the SAI Flight Test team conducting flight test operations in all major CONUS test ranges flying the Sabreliner, King Air and Beech 18 aircraft.  Dave holds an ATP certificate with ratings in Citation and Sabreliner aircraft.

Christy Stephens

Alt. Security Manager

Christy has over 25 years’ experience in the General Aviation Industry.  She was the Office Manager for Bay Aviation in Panama City, FL before relocating to Crestview in 1987 where she worked Accounts Receivable for Sunshine Aero Industries.  She is currently the Assistant Facility Security Officer and a member of the Emerald Coast National Classification Management Society(NCMS), a local security professionals working group.

 

Laura Hill

Financial Controller

Laura is an Air Force Veteran with 8 years of service and the first woman Combat Documentary Photographer on flying status. While in service Laura participated in Operation Baby Lift at Yokota AFB, Japan when the orphans were airlifted out of Viet Nam. After separating from the Air Force, Laura attended Crestview Vocational School where she received her business certificate.  Laura was employed by Nugget Oil for 15 years as an accounting clerk prior to becoming Sunshine Aero Industry and SAI Flight Test’s bookkeeper in July, 1999.

Tom Brothers

Line Support

Tom served in the United States Air Force for 27 years as an aircraft maintenance technician and retired in 1996 with the rank of Chief Master Sergeant.  He served in many operations and conflicts including Viet Nam and Operation Desert Storm.  He came to work for Sunshine Aero Industries in May 2000.  Tom provides aircraft fuel services, towing, ground fleet maintenance and facility maintenance for the company.

Jeff Jeffers

Avionics Manager

Jeff is an FAA Certified Avionics Maintenance Technician and holds an FCC Radiotelephone Operators License.  He manages the company’s FAA Part 145 Certificated Avionics Repair Station maintaining and repairing the fleet’s electrical and electronic systems.  Jeff has been in the electronics field for more than 40 years.  He is an Air Force veteran having worked as a Missile Systems Analyst on the AGM-69A SRAM missile system. Prior to arriving at SAI in January 2007, Jeff owned his own avionics repair station for 20 years.  He holds training certificates from Rockwell Collins, Flight Safety, Dukane, Chem-Tech, Universal Avionics Systems, Simuflite, Allied Signal, Bendix-King and many more.

Gary Turner

A & P

Gary has been with SAI Flight Test since 2008. He is a retired U.S. Army Maintenance Technician who specialized in heavy structural repair and modification.  He is a custom sheet metal fabrication specialist enabling SAI to cater to the unique needs of its customers.  He has more than 35 years’ experience on rotary and fixed wing aircraft and is an FAA certified A & P and Private Pilot.  He assists in all scheduled and unscheduled maintenance and inspections of the SAI Flight Test fleet and provides off-station aircraft maintenance and support for program requirements.

Hardy Stephens

DOM

Hardy has been employed with Sunshine Aero Industries since April 1987.  He’s been a Certified A & P Mechanic for 35 years and an IA for 32 years.  He attended the South Georgia Technical & Vocational School in Americus, Georgia.  He is responsible for all scheduled and unscheduled maintenance and inspections of the SAI Flight Test fleet.  In addition, he maintains and oversees appropriate FAA requirements and procedures for modifications on flight test aircraft due to program requirements.

Bob Keller

SAI President

Bob was a 1970 graduate of the United States Air Force Test Pilot School and retired from the United States Air Force in1980 as the Commander of the Flight Test Division at Eglin Air Force Base. During his military career, he completed over 200 combat missions in F-l05's and F-4’s.  His flight experience includes the T-39, F-15, F-16, F-100, F-105, F-4, C-135 and all types of civil general aviation aircraft.  Bob actively manages SAI's daily operations.  His advanced engineering background, 20,000 flight hours and extensive test and evaluation experience uniquely qualify him to lead the SAI Flight Test Team.

Glen Lawson

IA/A & P

Glen is an FAA certified A & P, IA, and private pilot.  He earned his A & P more than 20 years ago through Pensacola Aerotech.  He worked on General Aviation aircraft in Arizona and Florida for 6 years before earning his IA and joining the SAI Flight Test team in 2009.  Glen provides off-station aircraft maintenance and support for program requirements and assists in all scheduled and unscheduled maintenance and inspections of the SAI Flight Test fleet.

Todd McGirr

Pilot

Todd is a retired Air Force Chief Master Sergeant specializing in armament systems and weapons loading.   He served as a production superintendent, a production manager during Operation Desert Storm, a Weapons Load Team Chief for the Air Force’s “William Tell Competition” and as the Air Force Operational Test & Evaluation Center (AFOTEC) Weapons Test & Logistics Manager.  Following his retirement from the Air Force he flew the DHC-8 aircraft for Piedmont Airlines before going to work as a Test Engineer on Northrop Grumman’s “Chicken Little” Program.  He has a Bachelors & Masters Degree in Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle University and is a certified FAA Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) and Flight Instructor (CFI).  Todd has been a pilot with Sunshine Aero Industries for more than 23 years and was vital in the early development and flight testing of the LYNX Radar system.