New operations and safety director for aviation college
Sept. 7, 2001
BATTLE CREEK, Mich. -- Western Michigan University has named a retired U.S. Air Force colonel and veteran aviation industry professional to assume the role of director of safety and operations for its College of Aviation at W. K. Kellogg Airport in Battle Creek.
George R. McAndrews reports directly to Dr. Richard Wright, dean of the College of Aviation, and oversees such areas as facilities management, safety, maintenance, scheduling, dispatch and fleet management. Under McAndrews, Wright says, of these areas are being brought together for the first time for oversight by a director of safety and operations.
"We are absolutely delighted to have George McAndrews join our staff," Wright says. "He is a person who is highly qualified and cross-trained in two areas that are critical to our operation--flight training and maintenance. He also has experience working with foundations and carrying out contract work as a result of his history with the Boeing Co."
McAndrews came to WMU from San Antonio, Texas, where he had lived since 1998. For the past year, he owned and operated McAndrews Aerospace Consulting, serving commercial and military clients. Prior to that, he was general manager of Boeing Aerospace Support Center in San Antonio, overseeing five aircraft programs and 2,000 employees.
A Boeing employee fro 1988 to 2000, McAndrews also held senior management positions with Boeing's Airlift and Tanker Programs in Tulsa, Okla., and Long Beach, Calif., and at Edwards Air Force Base.
He spent 20 years in the U.S. Air Force, retiring in 1988 as a colonel and senior pilot. During those years, he completed flight assignments around the globe and held various maintenance management positions.
McAndrews earned a bachelor's degree in 1968 from New Mexico State University and a master's degree in 1978 from Pepperdine University.
Media contact: Cheryl Roland, 616 387-8400, cheryl.roland@wmich.edu