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https://www.ffdoa.org/Officers/

Officers and Directors

 
Bill Cason, President
Captain Bill Cason over twenty five years experience flying for UPS Airlines.  Prior to UPS, Bill flew F-16 Falcons for the Oklahoma Air National Guard.  After leaving the Oklahoma Guard, Bill was hired by the United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI).  AFOSI is the premier criminal investigative agency for the United States Air Force.  Bill was rated as a Special Agent and began working civil and criminal cases for the Department of Defense.  After September 11, 2001, Bill was “activated,” and worked directly on the 9/11 investigation as a full-time member of an FBI International Terrorism Squad.  Bill was directly involved in the creation of the Cargo FFDO legislation, and worked on the implementation team.  Bill continues to work important FFDO-related issues as Chairman of the Independent Pilots’ Association’s Security Committee and Director of Security for the Coaltion of Airline Pilots Associations (CAPA).  Bill is a current and qualified Peace Officer in the State of Texas.  BCason@ffdoa.org
 
Fred Bates, Executive Vice President, Passenger
Captain Fred Bates has over 20 years experience flying for American Airlines, and previously flew for the United States Air Force, both on active duty and in the Reserves. Captain Bates has a long history of serving his fellow pilots at the Allied Pilots Association (APA). He has had various duties and responsibilities at APA, including Chair of the Technical Research and Analysis Committee, Negotiator, and Chair of the Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) Implementation Committee. Captain Bates has been instrumental in the implementation and development of the
FFDO program since its inception. He is a credentialed Texas Peace Officer, and works part-time as a police officer in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Since 2004, Captain Bates has served as Manager of Crew Security for American Airlines, where he oversees the security program for over 30,000 pilots and flight attendants. Captain Bates has the additional responsibility of managing law enforcement investigations for American Airlines Corporate Security. FBates@ffdoa.org


Mike Karn, Executive Vice President, Legislative Affairs
First Officer Mike Karn has been flying for American Airlines for over seven years, and previously flew for WestAir/United Express and Viscount Air Service. FO Karn has been actively involved with the Allied Pilots Association (APA) for over six years. He started as a technical writer for the Committee for the Armed Defense of the Cockpit (CADC) analyzing the use of Tasers as a defensive weapon. FO Karn currently serves on the APA Board of Directors (BOD) as Chairman of the LAX Domicile. FO Karn also chairs both the CADC and National Security Committees for the APA, and the Cockpit Defense Team (PAX) for the Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations (CAPA). Prior to serving as a domicile representative, FO Karn served on the APA Communications, Strike Preparedness, and Safety Committees. FO Karn has been an active participant and leader in legislative efforts to improve the FFDO program on Capitol Hill, and continues to engage TSA and DHS seeking program improvements.   MKarn@ffdoa.org
 
Paul Nelson, Secretary/Treasurer
First Officer Paul Nelson has been with American Airlines for over 14 years and is a First Officer on the Boeing 767.  He has been involved with the development of the FFDO program since shortly after September 11, 2001 through the Allied Pilots Association (APA) as part of the Joint Implementation Team.  He is currently Deputy Chairman of the APA Committee for the Armed Defense of the Cockpit (CADC).  He developed and helped implement the 'FFDO Standards' program at American Airlines.  He is currently a reserve Police Officer with the City of Pasadena, California and is in his 12th year of service.  There he initially worked uniformed patrol and is now assigned to the Air Operations Section of the department as a Tactical Flight Officer.  PNelson@ffdoa.org
 
 
Jon J. Lewis, Treasurer
Captain Jon J. Lewis is a Delta Airlines MD88/90 Captain. A decorated United States Marine Corp veteran, he has served as an Allied Pilot Association (APA) and Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) volunteer from his first airline position at American Eagle, Inc. to the present. Jon has flown for Northwest and Delta Airlines for 17 years, and during this time has piloted a variety of regional jets, the DC-9, Boeing 757, DC-10, and Boeing 747-200 in both passenger and freight operations.
 
Captain Lewis has served in leadership roles at both the local and national level. His experience includes service as an elected union representative and Strike committee volunteer. His commitment to aviation security following the 9/11, 2001 tragedy led to volunteer duties and then as security committee chairman.
 
Jon Lewis has an extensive background in security. He has provided security protection for, has studied and instructed technical protection of nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) weapons and facilities, and has established significant relationships with corporate, local, and federal security entities nationwide.
 
He began his security experience as a US Marine Corp security specialist and protector of U.S. Embassy and State Department staff at international locations. Captain Lewis then worked in the private sector as a corporate pilot/security coordinator for senior-ranking government officials and executives, planning flights and orchestrating security staff tasking. 
 
As the Delta Master Executive Committee Security Committee Chairman responsible for the security interests of over 12,000 Delta Airline pilots flying across the globe, his duties required extensive liaison and coordination with airline corporate peers and government organizations. Captain Lewis is knowledgeable on all aspects of security, and is considered a subject matter expert on the Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) Program, a legislated program that emplaces thousands of federal-trained and armed, deputized pilots into the cockpits of commercial passenger and cargo aircraft.
 
Captain Jon Lewis continues to fly for Delta Airlines and advocate the security interests of pilots, crewmembers and passengers.

Darrick Dorn, Executive Vice-President, Industry Engagement 
 
Darrick has over twenty-five years flying experience with seven different passengerand cargo carriers throughout the United States. Currently, Darrick is a B-787 FirstOfficer at American Airlines.  He is a graduate of Southern Illinois University atCarbondale, IL.  He has served both in the Army National Guard and Army Reserve asInfantry Non-Commissioned Officer.  As a firearm and training instructor Darrick hasbeen actively engaged in the firearms industry building relationships for the past 20years.  Darrick has served his community as a sworn reserve law enforcement officer
and volunteers with several organizations. Additionally, Darrick has served his fellowpilots in various Union positions including Strike Preparedness, System Board ofAdjustment and Security Committees while at ALPA carriers. Currently, he is servingas an APA Security Committee member and FFDOA Industry EngagementRepresentative. Darrick is type rated in the B727, B757, B767, B787, DC9, BA4100and FE Turbo Jet.  DDorn@ffdoa.org 

Gary Cason - Director, Industry Engagment GCason@ffdoa.org 

 
 
Consultants:
 
Marcus W. Flagg
Marcus Flagg has over 10 years experience with UPS airlines. He is currently a Boeing 757/767 First Officer. Prior to joining UPS, Marcus flew F-14 Tomcats for 10 years in the United States Navy.  Following the tragic loss of his parents RADM Wilson F. Flagg and Darlene E. Flagg on September 11, 2001, when American Airlines flight #77 was crashed into the Pentagon, Mr. Flagg became actively involved in promoting aviation security and safety.  From the spring of 2002 to the summer of 2004, he was actively involved with the Independent Pilot Association’s (IPA) Security and Government Affairs Committees. He also joined the Coalition of Airline Pilots Association (CAPA) serving as a spokesman, testifying before Congress, and briefing Congressional members on security issues. His strategy and personal dedication helped to pass legislation to include cargo pilots in the Federal Flight Deck Officer program assuring the airline industry one level of security.  In 2005, Marcus joined other concerned airline industry personnel in founding the Passenger-Cargo Security Group, a non-profit trade association to foster awareness of all aspects of aviation security. He is currently President of PCSG. MFlagg@ffdoa.org
 
 
 
Mike Wood - Consultant 
 
Neil Frey - Consultant
 
Rudy Castillo -  Consultant
 
Bill McReynolds - Consultant
 
Leon Laylagian - Consultant 
 
Eddie Folsom  -  Consultant 
 
 
Legislative Team:
 
Andrew Schuster  
 
 
Information Technology Team:  support@ffdoa.org
 
Mike Morrissey
Andrew Hughes
Orion Kingman
Nathan Bauer
Bryan Patchen