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Faculty and Staff

Flight

Office: AFO Phone: (269) 964-4289 Fax: (269) 964-4364 timothy.broadwater@wmich.edu	Timothy Broadwater Lead Flight Instructor Tim started flying in 1996 at the Willow Run airport. He began working at WMU in 2000 as a dispatcher and graduated from WMU in December 2001 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Flight Science. Tim became a flight instructor at WMU in January 2002 and has taught private, instrument, and commercial single and multi-engine pilots and CFI students. In October 2007 he became a Faculty Specialist and continues to work with CFI students, updating the CFI syllabus, and doing Progress and Stage checks.
Office: AFO Phone: (269) 964-4028 Fax: (269) 964-6473 robert.bunday@wmich.edu	Robert Bunday Program Manager Rob joined WMU in 1998 as a flight instructor in the International Pilot Training Center. Since his initial assignment as an instructor, he has served in a variety of capacities and now holds the position of Program manager and Assistant Chief Flight Instructor. Prior to joining WMU, he flew a turboprop as Captain/Instructor Pilot under part 135 and later as a first officer for a regional airline operating under part 121. His qualifications include an ATP certificate as well as CFI/CFII/MEI instructor certificates. Additionally he has a Master's Degree and serves as a member of the FAA Safety Team.
Office: 1108 AFO Phone: (269) 964-4029 Fax: (269) 964-6473 thomas.grossman@wmich.edu	Thomas Grossman Chief Flight Instructor Tom Grossman graduated from Kent State University in 1982 with a BS degree in Aerospace Flight Technology and in 1991 with an MA degree in the field of Technology Education. Tom holds an ATP single engine and multi engine pilot certificate, instrument and multi engine flight instructor certificate, and an advanced and instrument ground instructor certificate. He served as a FAA aviation safety counselor from 1991 to 1999, and a FAA designated pilot examiner from 1993 to 1999 and was designated a Master Flight Instructor by the NAFI organization in July, 2001. Tom joined Western Michigan University's College of Aviation in January 1999. With over 20 years experience in collegiate flight education, Tom serves the University as the Chief Flight Instructor.
Office: AFO Phone: (269) 964-4197 Fax: (269) 964-6473 stephen.hasenick@wmich.edu	Stephen Hasenick Lead Flight Instructor Stephen Hasenick joined WMU in 1999. His experience before Western includes part 121 Airline experience as a First officer, a part 135 Captain, and a part 141 flight school Chief Flight Instructor. At Western he has served as a flight instructor in the International Pilot Training Center and an Assistant Chief Flight Instructor. He currently teaches different ground schools and test flight students. Stephen’s other responsibilities include flight training syllabus revisions and trainings guides. He serves on the Millennial Project Steering Committee, Research Committee, and Chairs the Flight Program Curriculum Committee.
Office: AFO Phone: (269) 964-9336 Fax: (269) 964-4676 steve.jones@wmich.edu	Steve Jones Executive Director of Flight Operations A retired Naval Aviator and captain for United Airlines, Jones is currently the Managing Director of Operations at Western Michigan University’s College of Aviation in Battle Creek. He has been actively engaged in the acquisition and incorporation of a fleet of 30 Cirrus SR-20 aircraft as well as the simulation, computer-based training tools and curriculum to be used in ab initio flight training in that, and other, aircraft. As the Director of Safety and Simulations he was responsible for the development of a comprehensive, web-based safety reporting and analysis system, the Collegiate Aviation Safety Reporting System (CASRS).
Office: AFO Phone: (269) 964-4134 Fax: (269) 964-6473 glen.langworthy@wmich.edu	Glen Langworthy Lead Flight Instructor Pat holds numerous professional association memberships, including the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), Alpha Eta Rho, and the National Association of Flight Instructors. He has received the college's Top Dog Flight Instructor award nine times since 2004.
Office: AFO Phone: (269) 964-9291 Fax: (269) 964-6473 thomas.mclaughlin@wmich.edu	Thomas McLaughlin Program Manager Tom McLaughlin graduated from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Sciences. Tom continued his education whilst employed with WMU and earned a Master of Arts degree in Career and Technical Education in 1998. He started his aviation career in the US Navy as a Crew Chief/Rescue Swimmer aboard Sikorsky H-3s. The primary flight mission included performing mountain and sea rescues. Tom has served WMU in a variety of capacities including Flight Instructor, Program Coordinator, International Flight Instructor, and his present position of Program Manager.
Office: AFO Phone: (269) 964-4831 Fax: (269) 964-6473 dominic.nicolai@wmich.edu	Dominic Nicolai Lead Flight Instructor Dominic Nicolai is currently a lead flight instructor in the College of Aviation Flight program. He has been instructing at Western Michigan University since 1993, the year that he graduated from Western’s Aviation Science program. Currently he has over 18 years of flying and teaching experience and a Master’s degree in Career/Technical Education from WMU (1998). Dominic’s focus is on curriculum development and supervision and mentoring of part-time flight instructors. Other job functions include conducting progress and stage checks, standardization training, evaluation flights and teaching commercial pilot ground school. During Dominic’s career, he was awarded the FAA Flight Instructor of the Year award (1996) by the Grand Rapids, MI Flight Standards District Office and more recently he was awarded Master Flight Instructor status (2008) by the National Association of Flight Instructors. Other accomplishments include qualifying for Joint Aviation Authority flight instructing and the Eagle Scout award (1987) from the Boy Scouts of America. Dominic is married, has two children and enjoys writing, golfing and inline skating.
Office: BCA Phone: (269) 964-4581 Fax: (269) 964-9150 david.schrader@wmich.edu	David Schrader Standards and Quality Instructor Dave Schrader graduated from Northwestern Michigan College in 1988. Dave currently serves as the Head of Standards ensuring the instructor staff maintains flight standards for the college's fleet of aircraft. Prior to Standards Dave served as the colleges assistant chief flight instructor specializing in aerobatic and seaplane training. When hired in 1998 Dave was an instructor for the recurrent flight training and continuing education program teaching aerobatics and IFR refreshers courses. Dave came to the college with airline experience starting with Drummond Island Air flying Navajos and Twin Otters, then with United Express flying Beech 1900's. Dave holds an ATP ME and a Commercial SES along with Gold Seal CFI, CFII, MEI and IGI certificates. Dave has been a designated Master Flight Instructor by the NAFI organization since 2001.
Office: AFO Phone: (269) 964-6652 Fax: (269) 964-6473 ryan.seiler@wmich.edu	Ryan Seiler Lead Flight Instructor Ryan earned his B.S. Degree in Aviation Technology and Operations in 1996 from WMU and is currently pursuing his MBA. He joined WMU full time in 1997 as the manager of flight operations overseeing the aircraft dispatch and scheduling office. He accepted his current position as Lead Flight Instructor in 2001 providing primary through multi-engine instruction as well as seaplane and aerobatics. Ryan holds a commercial pilot certificate with instrument airplane, multi-engine land and single-engineland and sea ratings. He holds a Gold Seal Flight Instructor certificate with initial, instrument, and multiengine ratings as well as an instrument ground instructor certificate. Ryan also earned his designation as Master Flight Instructor in 2003 from the National Association of Flight Instructors. He volunteers as a judge for the National Intercollegiate Flying Association and has served as the Airboss for the Battle Creek Field of Flight Airshow since 2004. In his free time, Ryan enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters.
Office: AFO Phone: (269) 964-7706 Fax: (269) 964-4364 s.tkachuk@wmich.edu	Steve Tkachuk Lead Flight Instructor Steve began flying on the East side of Michigan at Plymouth Mettetal airport (1D2), near where he where he grew up in Westland-Canton. Steve is a graduate of WMU’s College of Aviation ‘s flight science curriculum, and currently working towards a Master of Arts in Educational Technology at WMU. He currently holds a commercial single engine and multi-engine pilot certificate, Gold Seal instrument and multi-engine flight instructor certificate, and an instrument ground instructor certificate. Steve was designated a Master Flight Instructor in 2003 by the National Association of Flight Instructors Organization. Since earning his CFI certificate in the Fall of 2000, Steve has been teaching at the College of Aviation in both classroom, and flight instruction. Throughout his employment at the College, Steve has served in many capacities, some of which include: Teaching Private Pilot Ground schools, New-Hire Standardization, New-Student Orientation Leader, Alpha Eta Rho faculty advisor, Lead flight instructor, and his most recent appoint as head coach for the Sky Broncos precision flight team.
Office: AFO Phone: (269) 964-4283 Fax: (269) 964-6473 james.whittles@wmich.edu	James Whittles Lead Flight Instructor James Whittles graduated from Indiana State University in 1977 with a BS in Business Administration and is now beginning a Master degree at WMU in Educational Technology. Jim holds a commercial single engine and multi-engine pilot certificate, Gold Seal instrument and multi-engine flight instructor certificate, and an advanced and instrument ground instructor certificate. He began flight instructing in 1992 and operated a flight school in Holland Michigan for 10 years. Jim joined the College of Aviation at WMU in January of 2001 as a lead flight instructor. He was designated a Master Flight Instructor by the NAFI organization in May of 2002 and again in June of 2004. He currently teaches the instrument ground school, does standards training on the PFD/MFD, as well as conducting stage and progress checks. Jim also helps to coach the precision flight team.