Chris is an airline Captain with Alaska Airlines, and an instructor pilot on the Boeing 737-400, 737-700, and 737-900 aircraft.  He is the Director, Flight Safety for Alaska Airlines, senior accident investigator, and serves as a member of several corporate planning teams.  Chris joined Alaska Airlines in 1997.

 

Chris is retired from the US Navy where he served as a Naval Aviator, flying carrier-based tactical aircraft including the A-7 and FA-18 strike fighter.  Chris has 34 years flying experience in more than 70 civilian aircraft types, including the MD83, a wide variety of military jet, turboprop and helicopter aircraft.  He was qualified as a US Air Force E-3 AWACS Mission Commander.  Among his operational and staff assignments, he served as a Safety Officer in several commands, and as senior safety officer while commanding an FA-18 Hornet squadron.

 

A graduate of Purdue University with an undergraduate major in Industrial Management, Chris earned an MA degree in Business Administration, and MS degree in Aeronautical Engineering, and is a graduate of the USC Aviation Safety Certificate program.  He is Chairman of the Aviation Advisory Committee for three local school district high school aviation programs, a member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), and a member of the AIAA Aviation Transport Systems Technical Committee.

 

Chris began teaching in 1989 for Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and Chapman College.  He taught undergraduate Algebra, Trigonometry, and Calculus, statistics, aviation courses including Crash Analysis and Design, and Airline Maintenance Management.  He designed and taught a course in Aircraft Design for Non-Engineers.