NASF Officers and Board of Directors

The Foundation was formed in the summer of 1993, and is composed of Volunteers who recognize the need to support aviation and aviation safety activities.This is the 10 officer BOD list published since 2014 or when we were founded. The NASF bylaws were last revised in December 2024.

Officers

• Obie S. Young - President / Chairman of the Board
• Ben Coleman - Vice President
• Joel Weaner - Secretary
• Bob Raskey - Treasurer

Directors

• John Carter - Board Member
• William H. McClung - Board Member
• Barry L. Valentine - Board Member
• Rob Williams - Board Member
• Obie S. Young - Board Member

Honorary Board Member

• Billy Henderson-Deceased
• Jim Loomis-Deceased
• Dr. William Lowery, Jr.-Deceased
• Ernie Strange

Meet the NASF Board of Directors

Obie S. Young: is a Producer and Director for the Florida Aviation Network. He is an Airline Transport Pilot with over 16,000 hours accumulated in his 57 years in aviation.  He has worked in FAR Part 141 pilot training, FAR Part 135 charter, Corporate Flight Operations and as a FAA Designated Written and Flight Examiner for Private through ATP.  He flew in air shows for six years and produced and directed air shows for 19 years.  He is a member of several aviation organizations and a lifetime member of EAA and Florida Air Museum at Sun ‘n Fun.

He worked with the FAA Accident Prevention Program for 15 years in industry.  He was the founder and past president of the Mississippi Association of Flight Instructors.  He was awarded Flight Instructor of the Year for the United States in 1977.  He was awarded the Master Certified Flight Instructor in 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005 and 2011.  He wrote for several aviation publications and had his own column "Unusual Attitudes."  He has made hundreds of presentations throughout the United States and is a Distinguished Toastmaster. 

He served with the Flight Standards Division of the FAA from 1990 to 2010 when he retired from the FAA.  He served as the National Safety Team (FAASTeam) Production Manager at the National Resource Center in Lakeland, Florida. 

Robert V. Raskey is an Airline Transport Pilot, with over 23,000 hours accumulated over his 33 years in aviation. He is a current FAR Part 121 Captain flying Domestic and International flight operations, for United Airlines. He has worked in FAR Part 141 pilot training, and FAR Part 135 charter via Air Ambulance, Air Taxi, Air Freight and Forrest Patrol. He was an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner as well as Accident Safety Counselor for seventeen years, in addition to being an FAA Flight Instructor and Flight Team Leader. Additionally, he has conducted over 6,000 FAA Pilot Certification Flight Checks for Airplane and Rotorcraft Certificates and Ratings. He has also been an Aerobatic Demonstration Team Trainer.

 Robert’s twenty year military experience included over ten years of HC-130 Combat Search and Rescue Pilot as well as five years of F-16C Flight Lead, and four years as a T-38 Instructor Pilot. He was also selected as 14FTW (14th Flight Training Wing) Officer of the Year; 14FTW RSU Controller of the Year and 14FTW Instructor Pilot of the Year during this time.

 Robert is  a past president of Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Alumni Association and served as a Board Member of the Board of Trustees at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.

Robert is also the CEO of Aviation Bright Futures Foundation, and is the president of Summerland Key Cove Airport Company. Additionally, Robert is a member of several other aviation organizations including Aviation Accreditation Board International, University Aviation Association, ALPA, Reserve Officers Association, Air Force Association, AOPA and EAA. Robert is also the President of RVR Investments, LLC, Florida Realtor.

Ben Coleman : is currently the Chief Operations Officer (COO) for Costruzioni Aeronautiche TECNAM S.p.A., United States, Sebring Delivery Center. He is a former National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Air Safety Investigator and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Safety Inspector.

He is a seaplane/commercial multi-engine instrument rated pilot with thousands of hours flight experience. He is a certificated mechanic with inspection authorization, and a senior parachute rigger. Ben served as a Safety Officer for a helicopter diplomatic security detail in Iraq for the Department of State “Airwing”. Having represented several international aircraft manufacturers and ISR platforms as technical advisor and demonstration pilot, he is well versed in international affairs.

Ben is the creator and anchor host for an aerospace safety televised talk-show called “Plane Time” and feels media/advertising is a key component to our aerospace maintenance safety message. During his spare time he is restoring a 1941 Interstate ‘Cadet’ aircraft to be used for ‘tailwheel’ endorsements.

Barry L. Valentine: has over four decades experience in aviation, government, and business and is currently Senior Advisor to the Wicks Group, an aviation legal and consulting firm in Washington, DC.

Prior to his current position, he was Senior Vice President for International Affairs for the General Aviation Manufacturers Association from 1999 to 2005. From 1993 to 1998 he held several top positions at the Federal Aviation Administration including Administrator (Acting) and Assistant Administrator for Policy, Planning, and International Aviation. Mr. Valentine’s extensive aviation background also includes having held the positions of Director of the Portland (Maine) International Jetport from 1987 to 1991 and Director of Aeronautics for the State of Maine from 1983 to 1987.

He has been an active pilot for over 50 years and served as a pilot with the US Air Force from 1967 to 1972 with over 3000 flying hours including 1000 hours of combat time. Mr. Valentine was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and four Air Medals for his outstanding service in Vietnam.

He received his Bachelors degree in Industrial Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and his Aeronautical Rating from the US Air Force.  He holds a Commercial pilots license with Instrument, Multi-engine, and Seaplane ratings.

William H. McClung: Bill has enjoyed a long and varied career with the airline industry with over 40 years of sales, training, operational and customer service experience. Starting with Ozark Air Lines, in 1970, and later TWA, his aviation experience includes operating an airline station; including public relations, customer service, weather reporting, ground & flight operations. He has served at IND, STL, SPI, and TPA. He retired in 1998 to manage a company importing sport aviation products from the Czech Republic and Eastern Europe.

Joel Weaner :is a veteran professional pilot for 30 years with over 13,000 hours of experience. Joel began his aviation career in Jacksonville Florida at Shields Aviation. In 1996, he purchased Beach Banners Inc., an aerial advertising service for Northeast Florida.From there, Joel began to branch out into different facets within aviation such as airborne traffic reports for the FDOT, aircraft management, flight instruction, aircraft rental, aerial funeral services and many more.

Joel has flown Part 91 and Part 135 corporate operations and is currently a Gold Seal Instructor, Master CFI of 20 years and an Airline Transport Pilot. He is a FAAST Lead Representative for Northeast Florida who has been responsible for coordinating many safety events throughout the region. He is a lifetime member of EAA and Florida Aviation Historical Society as well as a 30-year member of AOPA.

Joel joined our production crew in 2010 and has supported our network with photos and hosting at SUN ‘n FUN, Oshkosh, and NBAA-Base. He has been our Bahamian liaison for several years. He has come a long way from a Dairy farm boy raised in Gettysburg PA where at 8 years old his Uncle Francis gave him his first airplane ride.

John Carter : Began flying in High School in 1982. He yearned to fly F-14 Tomcats in the USN, but having to wear glasses thwarted that dream, so he volunteered for Submarines instead. John spent 9 years in the Nuclear Navy as a Nuclear Power Instructor, Trident Submarine Nuclear Plant Operator during the Cold War, & Submarine Tender Repairman during Desert Storm. After the Navy, John spent 5 years at the Los Alamos National Laboratory as a Proton Accelerator Technician, where he earned his Private Pilot License, & volunteered his services in a Search & Rescue organization with his hovercraft.

John obtained the rest of his Pilot Ratings through MEI at Comair Aviation Academy at Sanford Airport, whereupon he Instructed afterwards. John began his Airline Career in 2002 at Comair as a CRJ-100/200 First Officer, later, Captain. In 2013, John joined Allegiant Air on the MD80 & quickly upgraded to Captain. He transitioned to the Airbus A320 when the MD80 was phased-out, then to the Boeing 737MAX when it was new to the fleet, where he currently serves as SFB Captain.

John began volunteering with FAA Production Studios in 2001 as a Camera Operator, then later as a Technical Director in the Control Room. John has operated Satellite Truck Remotes, Field Shoots, & Video Editors over the years. John has also worked on 3 IMAX films as Grip & Aeronautical Advisor.

Obie S. Young : Is a dedicated aviation professional and First Sergeant in the U.S. Army Reserve, born in 1980 in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Raised in an aviation family, Obie experienced his first flight just three weeks after birth and spent his childhood on an airfield, often helping to preflight airplanes and accompanying his father on flights.

Obie earned his private glider rating at the age of 15, before he could legally drive to the airport. This early achievement ignited his love for aviation and honed his skills as a proficient stick-and-rudder pilot. He further advanced his qualifications by obtaining his commercial single and multi-engine land ratings, as well as a commercial single-engine seaplane rating. He also holds both Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) and Certified Flight Instructor Instrument (CFII) ratings, spending several years in his 20s flight instructing in the Central Florida market.

In June 2008, Obie enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve and attended Basic Combat Training at Fort Benning, Georgia. He graduated from Advanced Individual Training at Fort Gordon, Georgia, as a Satellite Communications Systems Operator-Maintainer (25S). Throughout his military career, he has served in various leadership roles, including Team Chief, Section Chief, and Detachment NCOIC. He is currently a First Sergeant in the 302nd Cyber Battalion Headquarters Company, stationed in San Antonio, Texas, with combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Obie’s military education encompasses a range of courses, including the Warrior Leader Course, Advanced Leader Course, and Master Leader Course, among others. He is also a Cisco Certified Network Associate and currently manages network operations at USCENTCOM.

With approximately 900 hours of flying experience, Obie is not only a skilled pilot but also a committed advocate for aviation safety. He began volunteering with the FAA Production Studios and later with the Florida Aviation Network at the age of 12. Over the years, he has engaged in various roles within the Florida Aviation Network, including positions as a spotlight operator and technical director.

Obie Young II is married to Liz D. Rodriguez, and they reside in Tampa, Florida. He enjoys volunteering with organizations that promote the aviation industry and inspires young people to pursue careers in aviation. Through his extensive experience and dedication, Obie continues to inspire others in both the aviation and military communities.

Robb Williams: Entered the field of higher education over 20 years ago. He has experience as a high school teacher and aerospace professor. He has been asked to serve on National, State, and Local STEM advisory boards. He is passionate about using aviation to inspire the next generation of explorers.

Between his teaching opportunities, Robb commanded and was qualified on over 7 different aircraft with over 5,000 hours of flight time. He has authored over 100 technical training documents on various Aerospace topics. In addition, he was chosen to open up airlines in The United States, Columbia, Hawaii, Guam and China. One of his proudest aviation moments was being asked by fly the first commercial flight in over 50 years from Havana, Cuba to Tampa.

In 2013, he transitioned from the cockpit to the world of aviation non-profits. He spent 5 years as the Executive Director of the Aerospace Center for Excellence in Lakeland, FL and became part of NASF and the Florida Aviation Network. In 2018, he was chosen to serve as the Executive Director of the Triple Tree Aerodrome in Woodruff, SC. Triple Tree hosts some of the largest general aviation and radio control events in the world.

Recently, he was asked to serve as a Solar System Ambassador for NASA. Robb plans to use this platform to enhance the educational opportunities he has developed at the Triple Tree Aerodrome.

In his spare time, Robb enjoys spending time with his family and volunteering at his children’s schools and extracurricular activities.

NASF Mission Statement

To promote aviation safety and technical proficiency by providing guidance, support and education through high quality presentations - available to the entire aviation community.