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Faculty/Staff Bios

	Carter Cheatum, Professor of Aviation/Air Traffic Control Mr. Cheatum is a graduate of Florida State University with a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics. He worked for the FAA as an air traffic controller at Jacksonville Air Route Traffic Control Center for over 32 years. During his time as a full performance level controller, he was involved in all phases of training from classroom procedures and simulations to on-the-job training. Other job responsibilities included a committee to establish national Air Traffic Control performance requirements. After leaving the FAA, he taught math at Orange Park High School. Mr. Cheatum holds a certification in Air Traffic Control and a Teaching Certificate.
	David Dagenais, Program Manager for the FAA Certification A&P School Mr. Dagenais is a graduate of Southern Illinois University (B. S. in Aviation Management) and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Master of Aeronautical Science in Aviation Management). Prior to joining the Aviation Center, Mr. Dagenais was the Airport Manager at the DeSoto Parish Airport in Mansfield, LA. He also taught at an A&P school at Southern University in Shreveport, LA. He is retired from the U.S. Navy with experience maintaining A7 aircraft and the P-3 aircraft as a Flight Engineer. He also served at the local Naval Rework Facility in the area of Pneudraulics repair and a Quality Assurance Specialist. Mr. Dagenais received an A&P Mechanic certification after completing school at Cochise College and holds the following FAA certifications: Inspection Authorization, Commercial Pilot – Single and Multi-Engine, Certified Flight Instructor and Designated Mechanic Examiner.
	John Mayes, Professor of Aviation Maintenance Technology Mr. Mayes served in the U.S. Navy as an Aircraft Mechanic and a P-3 Flight Engineer. After graduating from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a B.S. degree, his first job was a B727 Flight Engineer and Aviation Technician at a 121 scheduled passenger airline and promoted to Chief Flight Engineer and Check Airman Instructor. He then worked for Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation as an Aviation Technician in the Flight Operation Department in Savannah, Ga. and completed his Commercial SEL, MEL, Instrument and Flight Instructor Certificates and worked for Capital Cargo International Airlines 121 scheduled cargo operations. He joined the Aviation Center of Excellence (ACE) in October 2002.
	J. B. Renninger, Director Mr. Renninger is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University (B.S. in Math) and Webster University (M.A. in Business Administration). He is a veteran of the U.S. Navy where he served as a naval aviator for over 26 years. He has over 6,000 flight hours in various carrier aircraft and was selected as the commanding officer for three different aviation commands. He is a graduate of the National War College at Fort McNair, Washington, D.C., and served on the Joint Staff under Secretary Colin L. Powell when he was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon. Upon retirement from the U.S. Navy, he developed family financial plans for military service members before serving as the director of Florida State College at Jacksonville’s Aviation Center of Excellence (ACE).
	Chris Vandiver, Professor of Aviation Maintenance Technology Mr. Vandiver is a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with an Associate’s Degree in Aviation Maintenance Technology. He began his aviation career working at an FBO for two years at Jacksonville International Airport. For the past 17 years, he has worked for Piedmont Airlines/US Airways Express as an aircraft mechanic on the deHavilland Dash 8 100/200/300 series aircraft. During this time, he performed shop duties, line maintenance, field service, RON over night maintenance, and he acted as a lead mechanic on heavy check aircraft inspections. Mr. Vandiver holds an FAA Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic Certificate.

Additional Staff

	Steve Adams Professional Pilot Instructor 904.317.3811			Joe Clairmont Tool Room Technician 904.317.3825

	Pat Conway Aviation Senior Support Specialist 904.317.3824			Drew Hambridge Micro Support Technician II 904.779.4199

	Nathaniel Jones Security Officer 904.317.3803			Tammy Meyer Business Administrative Assistant II 904.317.3814

	James Mitchel Airframes & Powerplant Instructor 904.317.3824			Jim Naylor Airframes, Powerplant, Pilot Instructor 904.317.3824

	Lola Oliverio Plant Service Worker 904.317.3806			Mary Jefferson Roache Commercial Driving Senior Support Specialist 904.317.3822

	John Slate Professional Pilot Instructor 904.317.3811			Judy Strickland Aviation Administrative Assistant I 904.317.3800

	Lisa Westberry Student Success Advisor 904.779.4115

Aerospace Resource Center [ARC] Staff

Learn more about ARC

Sam Fischer

Sam Fischer
Aviation Training Coordinator
904.317.3844

Mitch Kozak

Mitch Kozak
Program Manager
Aerospace Resource Center
904.317.3842


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	© Florida State College at Jacksonville Disclaimer \| Internet Privacy Policy \| Copyright Revised August 6, 2009	For more information, contact the Cecil Center South Aviation Center of Excellence (ACE) 13450 Lake Fretwell St., Jacksonville, FL 32221 tmeyer@fscj.edu, 904.317.3800