The Aviation Noise & Emissions Symposium has been around for over 3 decades now and would not be possible without the strong support of a great Program Planning Committee. This year we are working to expand our Program Planning Committee and Program Topics to be more geographically well-rounded. Please help me welcome our 2022 Committee!
Steve Alverson
Aviation Noise Consultant, Carmichael, CA
Steve Alverson is an independent aviation noise consultant specializing in aircraft noise analyses, development of noise abatement and mitigation measures, airport noise and land use compatibility studies, airport/community roundtable facilitation, and expert witness services. Throughout his 40-year career, Steve has helped airport operators and their communities manage complex and challenging aircraft noise issues at some of the busiest airports in the United States including Los Angeles International, San Francisco International, John F. Kennedy International, Hartsfield-Jackson International, Denver International, and Seattle-Tacoma International Airports. Steve served as the project director of the update to the Caltrans Airport Land Use Handbook. He regularly provides litigation support and expert testimony on matters related to aircraft noise. Steve provides college-level lectures on aircraft noise and land use compatibility planning at the University of California at Davis. (Quietskiesguy@gmail.com)
Gabe Andino
Noise Abatement & Environmental Compliance, Teterboro Airports
Gabriel Andino is the Manager of Noise Abatement and Environmental Compliance for AvPORTS at Teterboro Airport. He currently leads the development and operations of this department, including monitoring airport user compliance with local noise policies and leading outreach efforts to local communities, elected officials and airport users. Gabriel is also the Airports chair of the National Business Aviation Association Access Committee, which focuses on maintaining and enhancing business aviation access to the National Airspace System.
He received a BS in Aviation Management from Southern Illinois University and an MBA the Keller Graduate School of Business.
Jonathan Bagg
Director, Stakeholder and Industry Relations, NAV CANADA
Jonathan Bagg is the Director of Stakeholder and Industry Relations at NAV CANADA, Canada’s private, not-for-profit Air Navigation Services Provider. In his role, he is responsible for engaging a wide range of industry and community stakeholders in the implementation of major company initiatives that are driving system efficiency, resiliency and a reduction in environmental impacts. This includes overseeing stakeholder engagement and consultation and supporting policy development in regards to major airspace change projects. His team works closely with operational deployment teams and airport authorities, planning and executing community and stakeholder engagement strategies, consulting communities groups, elected officials and industry partners on the deployment of Performance Based Navigation, noise mitigation and flight path changes prior to their implementation.
Rachel Burbidge
Senior Policy Officer, Environment and Climate Change, Eurocontrol
Rachel Burbidge joined EUROCONTROL in 2005. She has been leading EUROCONTROL’s work on climate change adaptation and resilience since 2009, authoring the organisation’s ground-breaking Challenges of Growth work on Climate Adaptation, and several peer-reviewed journal articles. She leads EUROCONTROL’s contribution to the ICAO CAEP Working Group on CORSIA, where she manages tasks on MRV, and is also a member of ICAO CAEP Working Groups on Impacts and Science and Airport and Operations, where she leads the work on climate adaptation. She has degrees in Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development.
Andrew Christian
Aircraft Psychoacoustics Researcher, Structural Acoustics Branch NASA Langley Research Center
Andrew Christian is a researcher in aircraft psychoacoustics at the Structural Acoustics Branch of NASA Langley Research Center. He has a BS in Applied Mathematics from NJIT and subsequent experience as an audio engineer which prepared him to get his MS in Acoustics from Penn State. He had been working at NASA for the better part of a decade where he conducts research on human response to the noise of airplanes, helicopters, drones, and other concepts. His writings typically include pontification on psychoacoustics, signal processing, and statistics.
Justin Cook
Senior Principal Aviation Consultant, Environmental Science Associates
Mr. Cook is a senior principal aviation consultant at ESA. During his 20-plus year career, he has overseen projects related to aviation, flight trajectory, noise control, and sound insulation across the United States and abroad. His recent project experience includes being the technical consultant for the San Francisco International Airport / Community, project manager for the Los Angeles International Airport Community Noise Roundtable, and acoustician for the San Diego International Airport Noise Advisory Committee; providing Noise and Operations Monitoring System (NOMS) acquisition assistance; and consulting on noise related concerns under a number of airports on-call contracts.
Mr. Cook is an active member of several professional organizations focused on noise including the Institute of Noise Control Engineering (INCE) and the Acoustical Society of America (ASA). He has been the secretary of the SAE International A-21 Aircraft Noise Measure Noise Aviation Emissions Modeling Committee since 2019. He received his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the University of California Irvine and is both INCE and LEED GA certified.
Cindy Gibbs
Manager - Airports, BridgeNet International
Cindy Gibbs, PMP is the Manager – Airports for BridgeNet International, A Tetra Tech Company. In this role, she works with airports and air navigation service providers worldwide on acoustic and environmental issues as well as community outreach. Ms. Gibbs collaborates with airports and ANSPs to manage in-person and virtual community outreach programs related to airport, airspace, and flight procedure projects. Aviation has been her passion for over 20 years, starting as an intern at the Reno/Tahoe International Airport and working as a consultant for the past 18 years. She is an active private pilot, flying high performance single engine aircraft.
She received her Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management from California State University, Los Angeles, is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), and a Competent Communicator Bronze in Toastmasters International.
Alex Gertsen,
Director, Airports & Ground Infrastructure, National Business Aviation Association
Alex Gertsen has served as the association’s director of airports and ground infrastructure since 2015. He comes to NBAA from the American Association of Airport Executives, and his love of aviation goes back to standing on the flight line with his grandfather, a U.S. Air Force veteran. A pilot himself, Gertsen works with the NBAA Access Committee to ensure access at airports across the country.
Robbie Gross
Environmental & Atmospheric Scientist, Crawford, Murphy & Tilly
Robbie provides airport clients with expertise and services related to air quality analyses, environmental management tool development, and funding sources for environmental impact mitigation. One assignment, in which he developed a computer-based decision-making tool, resulted in aid for users of the FAA’s Airport Air Quality Assessment Handbook, guidance material used by agencies, airports, and consultants throughout the country.
Robbie stays at the forefront of emerging technologies and is well-versed in the environmental benefits associated with electric passenger cars, buses, and airport ground support equipment, as well as alternative fuels including compressed natural gas, biodiesel, and propane vehicles. His research has contributed to advancements in mesoscale atmospheric modeling, meteorological modeling for air quality, and developing photochemical air quality modeling systems to evaluate regional emission reduction strategies. He has also been involved in developing and applying computer-based tools for estimating air emissions and greenhouse gases from aircraft, ground support equipment, motor vehicles, and construction equipment.
Ian Jopson
Head of Environmental and Community Affairs, NATS
Ian has more than twenty five years’ experience in the sphere of environmental aviation issues in Europe and beyond, working for the UK Civil Aviation Authority and an independent consultancy. He is currently Head of Sustainable Operation at NATS, which provides air traffic services to 2.2 million flights a year and to the 15 biggest airports in the UK. Ian was part of the environmental research team in the Single European Sky ATM Research programme, SESAR. He is a member of the Council of the UK Sustainable Aviation coalition focused on cleaner quieter smarter flying and a member of the Royal Aeronautical Society's Greener by Design Steering Group. Ian advises the UK state member of ICAO's Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection and works with ICAO's Operations environmental working group.
Sjohnna Knack
Program Manager, Planning & Environmental Affairs, San Diego International Airport
Sjohnna Knack is the Program Manager with the Planning & Environmental Affairs Department at the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority. She oversees all aspects of aircraft noise related to the San Diego International Airport aircraft operations. Ms. Knack is responsible for oversight of one of the largest remaining residential sound attenuation programs, the Quieter Home and Quieter Non-Residential Programs. She provides technical support for the Airport Noise Advisory Committee and Curfew Violation Review Panel. She ensures adherence to many regulatory requirements including State of California Title 21 requirements. She manages a team of staff who conduct analysis with the Airport’s noise and operations monitoring system. Ms. Knack works closely with industry stakeholders including the FAA, air carrier operators, elected officials and other interested community members.
Ms. Knack has a bachelor’s degree in Aviation Management from St. Cloud State University. She is currently the Noise Working Group Chair for ACI-NA’s Environmental Committee.
Ernie Kosower
Chair, O'Hare Airport Commission, Representative, O'NCC
Ernst R. Kosower is a community advocate on aviation noise issues serving as the representative from Park Ridge, IL on the O’Hare Noise Compatibility Commission (ONCC) and chairing that city’s O’Hare Airport Commission (OAC). He has been involved in aviation in some fashion for most of his life, either as a journalist covering aviation issues, the military and airport committees, as a student pilot, or, as a passenger flying weekly for his work in financial services accumulating over 3 million miles on a commercial carrier. In his current role, Ernie sits on multiple ONCC committees, including Fly Quiet 21, charged with the responsibility of helping determine overnight operations at Chicago O’Hare International Airport. In his financial services career, Ernie was with Merrill Lynch for nearly two decades before pursuing and achieving other opportunities. He received his B.A. from Ashland University and lives with his wife Debbie on a two-mile final to runway 22R at ORD.
Jennifer Landesmann
Sky Posse Palo Alto
Jennifer Landesmann is co-founder of Sky Posse Palo Alto, an initiative that came together in 2014 to engage with neighbors and local and federal officials to reduce noise and emissions impact from FAA’s Nextgen implementation at Bay Area airports. Currently, Jennifer is co-editor of the Sky Posse Palo Alto newsletter which tracks efforts to address noise and emissions impact of aviation locally and nationally. She is also co-founder of, and actively involved as a Board member of, the Quiet Skies Conference, a national coalition of grassroots groups established to serve as a forum for information exchange on aviation impact and lobbying.
Jennifer is a longtime community leader in Palo Alto having served on PTSA boards in the local public schools system. Professionally, she held several leadership positions in the financial services industry. As a banker, she successfully grew ultra high net worth client relationships for top Wall Street firms as well as served as an expert advisor on emerging markets debt funds. Before that she led Argentina and Brazil exposure management for JP Morgan, restructuring their national debt alongside the Firm’s chief negotiator. Jennifer has a Masters in International Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management, Phoenix, Arizona and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, Texas.
Xiaobo Liu
Aviation Noise Specialist, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Xiaobo Liu is an Aviation Noise Specialist with Port Authority of NY & NJ. He has been working on aviation noise systems, i.e. Noise and Operation Management System (NOMS), Noise Monitoring System, and Noise Complaint Management System, since 2016.
Before he joined Port Authority of NY & NJ, he has worked in private sector. He has 8 years of experiences in environmental study for infrastructure projects, from highways, bridges, tunnels, rails, to airports.
He holds a master’s degree in Environmental Engineering and is a licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) in New York State. He is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) of Project Management Institution (PMI) and a certified member (CM) of American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE).
Eric Lu
Principal, Ramboll
Eric Lu is a Principal at Ramboll and located in the Irvine, California office. He has more than 20 years of experience in air quality management and climate change issues, with expertise in air quality and GHG emissions inventory and reporting, risk assessment, climate action plan development, CEQA, and agency/public stakeholder outreach and communication. He has assisted a variety of clients including, airports, oil and gas, manufacturing, landfills, commercial and residential land use development, and renewable energy facilities. He is the North America Airports Service Line co-Leader for Ramboll and on the Environmental Committee for the American Association of Airport Executives. Mr. Lu is a Registered Professional Engineer (PE), a Certified Permitting Professional (CPP), an Accredited Greenhouse Gas Lead Verifier in California and a former verifier under the Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) Program. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Brown University and a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.
Glenn Morse
Retired Director of Industry Affairs, United Airlines
Glenn served as Senior Director – Industry Affairs, SOCC, Continental Airlines (1998-2010); and Director – Industry Affairs, Network Operations Control (NOC) for United Airlines (2010-2020), responsible for industry coordination and outreach in matters relating to NextGen, ATC policies and procedures, airport operations, and aircraft noise and emissions. During this time, he served on numerous RTCA, ICAO and industry working groups addressing aircraft and airport safety, airline and ATC procedures and aircraft noise. Prior to joining United, Glenn was Managing Director – Regional Operations, for the Air Transport Association (1984-1998), coordinating ATC, airport operations and noise issues for member airlines in the Northeast, U.S. The geographical area of responsibility included BOS, JFK, LGA, EWR, PHL, DCA, IAD, BWI, PIT and the other air carrier airports in the region.
Glenn started his airline career with TWA at JFK in 1971 and held several positions in Flight Operations (1972-1984), including Senior Engineer – Weight and Balance and Manager – Flight Crew Operating Procedures. Mr. Morse has an engineering degree from Brown University, an MBA from UMKC, and is a multi-engine, instrument rated pilot.
John Pehrson
Principal, CDM Smith
John conducts air quality impact analyses, human health risk assessments, and greenhouse gas inventories for NEPA and state environmental disclosure documents on airport, marine port, transit system, and federal water infrastructure projects. He also prepares air quality general conformity determinations for federal actions associated with airport, marine port, and federal water infrastructure projects.
Jorge Rodriguez Cifuentes
Group Leader, MITRE Corporation
Jorge Rodriguez Cifuentes is a Group Leader at The MITRE Corporation, a not-for-profit organization managing federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs) supporting several Federal government agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). At MITRE, Jorge manages a team of engineers and air traffic control experts supporting the FAA in delivering some of largest and most complex airspace and procedures redesign projects in the United States. Prior to that, Jorge was an airport management consultant with extensive experience preparing noise analyses in support of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews. He is a licensed private pilot and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
Michele Ross
Assistant Manager, Community Relations, Metropolitan Airports Commission
Michele Ross is the Assistant Manager for Community Relations at the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC). Mrs. Ross serves as a technical advisor to the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) Noise Oversight Committee (NOC) and works collaboratively with communities and stakeholders to address airport noise concerns.
Mrs. Ross has been with the MAC since 2019 and has over twenty years of experience in environmental review, environmental public health, and community outreach and engagement. She is a certified Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accredited Professional (AP) and a certified member (CM) of American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE).
Chris Musei-Sequeira
Consultant, CJSC, LLC
Chris’s mission is to radically elevate authenticity in community engagement to meet the challenges of environmental justice and climate change. He builds relationships across a wide range of stakeholder groups to equitably improve environmental policies, processes, and outcomes. Chris has served in multiple federal government and consulting leadership roles, including leading improvements to nationwide noise and air emissions policies at the Federal Aviation Administration and serving in technical director roles for the John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport noise studies in support of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Sam Tan
Environmental Project Manager, DFW International Airport
Sam Tan serves as Environmental Project Manager for DFW International Airport, under the Environmental Planning and Development Program within the Environmental Affairs Department (EAD). His work in the Noise Compatibility Office (NCO) focuses on the integration of applied technology, centered on operational analysis as it relates to aviation noise and the affects to surrounding community. EAD’s NCO oversees community outreach as it relates to significant changes in airfield operations and significant weather events, as well as monitoring the aircraft noise levels and flight tracks surrounding the airport.
Sam holds a Master’s Degree in Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary and Bachelors of Science in Electrical Engineering from Southern Methodist University.
Emily Tranter
N.O.I.S.E. National Coordinator, Lockridge Grindal Nauen P.L.L.P., Government Relations Specialist
Emily Tranter is the National Coordinator for the National Organization to Insure a Sound-Controlled Environment (NOISE). N.O.I.S.E. is an affiliate of the National League of Cities and has served for over four decades as America’s only nationwide, community-based association committed to reducing the impact of excessive aviation N.O.I.S.E. on local communities. As the National Coordinator for NOISE, Emily coordinates policy and outreach efforts. Ms. Tranter advocates for affected communities by bringing together local airport officials and federal policymakers to work on federal policies to reduce unreasonable levels of aviation noise through a combination of quieter aircrafts, increased noise abatement resources, and opportunities for local communities to contribute to airport expansion decisions. Ms. Tranter serves as Contributing Editor for the Federal Transportation Advocate and is regularly asked to address and brief local elected officials on transportation and related economic/infrastructure development projects. Ms. Tranter also served on the staff of former Minnesota Senator Mark Dayton.
Beth White
Senior Strategist for Public and Industry Engagement, FAA
Beth White is currently Senior Strategist for Industry and Public Engagement for the FAA Air Traffic Organization. She is responsible for the coordination of a matrixed team that is developing standards for engagement efforts with aviation stakeholders as well as communication efforts with local communities.
Prior to her move to the Air Traffic Organization White was the Senior Advisor of Communications for the FAA. She was responsible for the creation, development and implementation of a strategic communications campaign to educate and promote the modernization of the national airspace system. The initiative – known as NextGen – is a $42 billion dollar investment in aviation infrastructure.
Yolanka Wulff
Executive Director, Community Air Mobility Initiative
Yolanka is a business attorney and consultant with over two decades of experience in the successful development, implementation and management of mission-driven programs. Prior to joining Community Air Mobility Initiative as Executive Director, Yolanka has been a sustainable aviation consultant for ten years, working with industry, government, academia and nonprofits on policy, standards and regulations, industry development, market challenges, communications and media relations. She has experience in sustainable transportation and land use. Yolanka also serves as Executive Director of CAFE Foundation where she organizes the annual Electric Aircraft Symposium.
Darlene Yaplee
Co-Founder, Aviation-Impacted Communities Alliance (AICA) and Concerned Residents of Palo Alto
Darlene Yaplee is a founding member of the Aviation-Impacted Communities Alliance (AICA) whose mission is to protect communities from harmful levels of aviation noise and emissions through campaigns for legislation and industry change nationwide. She is also a co-founder of Concerned Residents of Palo Alto, working to mitigate the negative noise and emissions impacts of aviation in the San Francisco Bay Area/NorCal Metroplex. Darlene brings 25+ years of experience such as Chief Marketing Officer and Vice President positions at Fortune 500, high-technology companies where she worked on strategic alliances, international marketing, and new market development. She was the Chief Marketing Officer at PLOS, a nonprofit Open Access Science publisher and advocacy organization where she promoted the understanding and adoption of Open Access with organizations such as Google, the Wellcome Trust, and Research Universities. Darlene was the University of California, Davis Alumni Commencement speaker and recipient of Sun Microsystems “Business Woman of the Year'' Award and YWCA “Tribute to Women” Award. She has guest lectured at Stanford Graduate School of Business and Santa Clara University.