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- 2026 Annual "Walter Burg" Fall Conference
- 2026 Annual "Walter Burg" Fall Conference Speakers
2026 Annual "Walter burg" Fall conference speakers and moderators
October 7-8, 2026
Conference Speakers |
Jacob Allen
Jacob Allen completed the Aviation Management and Flight Program at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), in 2010. He earned a Bachelor of Applied Science in Aviation Management along with an Associate of Applied Science in Aviation Flight. While attending SIU, he earned his commercial pilot certificate and instrument rating. Early in his aviation career, Jacob spent several years working in the airline industry, holding various supervisory positions in customer service and ground operations for major Part 121 air carriers. Jacob spent time as the Airport Coordinator for Sedona-Oak Creek Airport Authority where his responsibilities included assisting the Airport Manager to plan, direct, and coordinate airport operations as well as oversee construction and facility maintenance in accordance with all relevant regulations among other duties. Jacob also has experience working as an Airport Planner for Coffman Associates. In 2016, he became an aircraft owner and founded an aircraft rental LLC. He enjoys flying in his free time and volunteers as a pilot for the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Young Eagles program to help inspire the next generation of pilots and aviation professionals. Kyler Erhard
Kyler Erhard has over 15 years of aviation experience. Kyler joined the FAA in 2012 as a community planner in the Phoenix ADO and had been in the role of Lead Program Manager from 2017-2023. In June 2023 Kyler moved into the role of assistant manager in the ADO. Over the course of his career with the FAA, Kyler has participated in multiple Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) projects, graduated from the Federal Executive Board Leadership Program and has worked with sponsors to complete planning studies at a variety of airports. Kyler also currently teaches Airport Planning and Design courses at Arizona State University Kyler holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Airport Management from the University of North Dakota and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Texas at Arlington. Matthew Munden
Matthew Munden is the State Airport Engineer at ADOT-Aeronautics. He joined ADOT in June 2018 and the Aeronautics Group within ADOT in October 2019. He serves as the state technical and administrative authority for airport design and construction grants. He provides engineering and administrative inspection, audit, and review and oversight of both ADOT airport development grant project, and for the Airport Pavement Management System (APMS). Prior to employment with ADOT, he earned his Master of Engineering in Civil Engineering from the University of Arizona where he also worked as an intern for Dr. Wu at the Smart Transportation Lab, located in the U of A’s Civil Engineering Department. Ryan Reeves Mr. Reeves is the Airport Manager at Chandler Municipal Airport. His posting at Chandler comes after two-years as the Airport Coordinator of Buckeye Municipal Airport, which followed a 10-year tenure as General Manager of the Lux Air Jet Centers FBO at the Phoenix-Goodyear Airport. Born into a General Aviation family, he took his first ride at three and is an aircraft owner, following in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps. He began managing aircraft and flight crew support services in 1995. Outside of aviation, Mr. Reeves has instructed at both the high school and university levels and served as an administrator for program and course development. Mr. Reeves is a graduate of Eastern Illinois University and holds a Masters Degree from the University of Illinois. Mr. Reeves is the current Vice-President of Research for the Arizona Aviation Historical Group, an organization focused on the celebration and preservation of our state’s aviation history. He has served as the President of the Arizona Airports Association and the Phoenix Wing of the American Aviation History Association. He is a member of the Eighth Air Force Next Generation Association, the Foundation of the U.S. Air Force Museum, the Arizona Aerospace Foundation, the Experimental Aircraft Association, The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, and a former docent at the Pima Air & Space Museum, as well as a public lecturer on a variety of aviation historical subjects. He is currently conducting research for a text on the history of Naval Air Facility Litchfield Park and a book on the heritage of U.S. flight crews in WWII. Terry Blakemore
Terry began his aviation career in the US Air Force after graduating from the Air Force Academy as a Distinguished Graduate in the Class of 1999. Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, he was selected to attend the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training (ENJJPT) program at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. Following completion of pilot training, he was selected to fly the F-16. Over the next 10-years, Terry served as both an F-16 fighter pilot and instructor pilot receiving multiple squadron and base-level awards, including recognition as Instructor Pilot of the Year and Flight Commander of the Year. Among his most rewarding assignments, he served as the lead Flight Commander for a sensitive F-16 Foreign Military Sales program involving aircraft and equipment valued at more than half a billion. Terry holds a Bachelor of Science in Quantitative Economics and a Master of Business Administration in Financial Planning. He is a former Air Force senior pilot and currently holds Certified Flight Instructor–Instrument (CFII) ratings in both fixed-wing and rotorcraft. Outside of aviation and business, Terry is an outdoor and water-sports enthusiast. He and his wife, DeLinda, have been married for 27 years and have five adult children, with two having recently joined the family through marriage. For more than two decades, Terry and his family have been actively involved in their local church, serving in a variety of ministries with a particular emphasis on mentoring and investing in the lives of young people. | Justin Barkowski Wilbur Barnes 
I am currently an Airport Duty Manager in the Public Safety & Security Division with the City of Phoenix Aviation Department. My career experience includes Terminal Operations, Common-Use Gate Coordination, airfield operations, aircraft cargo load operations, and aircraft handling operations. Currently leading PHX UAS Response and Usage development programs. Advancing my career with a focus in Emergency Management / Preparedness and Airport Operations. Scott Brownlee
Prior to his current position with Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, Scott spent more than four years with the FAA in North Dakota as a program manager/community planner. Scott received his pilot’s license over 25 years ago and is a certified member of the American Association of Airport Executives. Patrick Heaton
Hector Huezo Maj. Gen. (ret) Jeannie Leavitt, Dean John Putnam
John Putnam is a Partner at Kaplan Kirsch LLP. A seasoned attorney and policymaker with extensive experience in transportation law, major projects, and program development. He has participated in the development of tens of billions of dollars in transportation infrastructure across the country. John has held senior federal and state leadership roles, including Senate-confirmed General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Senior Advisor to the Colorado Department of Transportation and the Governor of Colorado, and Director of Environmental Programs at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Jeff Webbe |
Scott is currently the Deputy Director of the Mesa Gateway Airport. He has a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of North Dakota with a double major in Airport Administration and Business Management along with 30 plus years of aviation experience. His experience includes general aviation, commercial service, state aeronautics as well as FAA.
Conference Moderators
Cameron Atkins
Kristen Morris Edward Rose
Edward started his career in the U.S. Air Force; he won’t say how long ago…next he secured a job as an Airport Maintenance Mechanic at his hometown airport, Hudson Valley Regional. After a few years of full-time work and full-time studies, he advanced into airport management as Director of Airport Operations and later as the Airport’s Director. Edward led teams on a myriad of improvement projects. After 33 years, he departed New York for an Operations Manager position at the Sedona Airport. Shortly after arriving Edward was made Sedona’s Interim Airport Manager and subsequently, the Airport Manager. Edward has served state aviation organizations in the past. He has gone through the Chairs of the New York Airport Manager’s Association representing the Port Authority of NYNJ, the Capital District Transportation Authority, and the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority as well as numerous other Airports in the state. As NYAMA President, he leads a team that worked, successfully, to establish a state aviation grant program. Edward advanced a number of projects during his career touching on almost every aspect of airport operation. Some of the more interesting projects have been: regrading and recapping of an abandoned landfill/Superfund site; over 330 acres of tree obstruction removal, including EAs and Supplemental EAs, endangered species habitat and land set-asides; relocation of a congregation/historic church and chapel from Part 77 intrusion (this included SHPO coordination, dismantling and rebuilding on a new foundation); and establishing a new turf runway for taildragger practice. In Sedona, his first action was to develop a Water Master Plan to address needs identified in the Airport’s Master Plan. Next, improve drainage features adjacent to the runway. Third, replacement of an aging fuel storage facility. Edward is also on the Board of Directors for the Sedona Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau. He is a big believer in staff development and have educated staff on offerings through AAAE. | Kim Brown
Kim has been with Sky Harbor’s Aviation Department for over 17 years, holding leadership positions in both Airport Operations and Facilities Maintenance. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Professional Aeronautics with a minor in Aviation Safety from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. In addition to her academic achievements, Kim is a certified flight instructor and holds multiple pilot ratings. She is currently a Certified Member (C.M.) of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE). Carmen Parks Carmen is a Project Manager with Dibble with over 12 years of airport development experience in Arizona. She has contributed to planning, design, and construction projects at over 30 airports across the state. She received her BSE in Civil engineering and MSE in Transportation Engineering at Arizona State University and is a registered PE in AZ and NV.
Jenny Watts, C.M. Jenny Watts, C.M. is a senior aviation planner in Dibble’s Airport Development business unit based in Phoenix, Arizona. She has more than 14 years of comprehensive experience in the aviation industry related to airport management, corporate aviation operations, aviation education, and aviation planning consulting. As a senior planner with Dibble, Jenny assists in creating traditional aviation planning, specialty, and environmental documents for our airport clients at general aviation and commercial service airports throughout the Southwest. Her experience as an aviation planning consultant spans nine years, three of which have been spent at Dibble in her current role. Jenny has a Master of Aeronautical Science degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide in aviation management and a Bachelor of Science from Arizona State University in aeronautical management technology. She is also a Certified Member (C.M.) of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE). She is a native of Arizona and resides in Gilbert. |
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