Management Team with Over 200 Years of Airline Experience

Over 200 years of Aviation, Safety, and Airline Experience

Dave Pflieger – Full Bio President & CEO Dave Pflieger brings over three decades of aviation experience to Ravn. His award-winning career includes prior positions as the CEO of Fiji Airways, Silver Airways and most recently of Island Air, Larry Ellison’s privately held airline in Hawaii. Dave was also a founding officer and senior executive at Virgin America, and held senior management roles in operations, safety and legal at Delta Air Lines. While at Delta, Dave Pflieger was also a B757/767 and B737 pilot. Dave graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and served in the United States Air Force as a B-52 instructor pilot and a C-130 pilot. He holds a JD (with distinction) and an MBA from Emory University.
Brian Whilden SVP of Safety; President of PenAir Brian Whilden has nearly 35 years of aviation experience. His career experience includes prior positions as Director of Training, Director of Safety, Vice President of Safety, Senior Vice President of Flight Operations & Safety, and President & COO. He is a former firefighter in the U.S. Air Force.
John Mannion Chief Financial Officer John Mannion is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of leadership in global airline, helicopter, logistics, energy and related businesses with companies including Continental Airlines, ExpressJet Airlines, Bristow Helicopters, Port Freeport, Plains All American Pipeline and Credit Suisse. John brings extensive experience in airline economics, finance and accounting, operations, business strategy, risk management and commercial analysis and negotiations. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Wesleyan University and an MBA in Finance and Accounting from Cornell University Johnson Graduate School of Management.
Derek Shanks Chief Commercial Officer With over twenty-five years of experience in the airline and global travel industry, Derek Shanks played key roles at a number of different airlines, in addition to building his own consulting company focused on international sales and distribution within the hotel, car rental, and airline industry. Prior to striking out on his own, Derek was president of the world’s leading sales and marketing travel representation company, Discover the World Marketing, where he was responsible for increasing client revenues from a global network of offices in over 40 countries. Derek started his career in the United Kingdom with Thomson Holidays (TUI) before joining British Airways, where he was involved in their tour operating division. Derek has lived and worked in six countries, and he and his family are greatly looking forward to getting to know Alaska.
Deke Abbott SVP of Flight Operations A highly experienced airline Captain/Chief Pilot, Flight Instructor, and government manager, Deke Abbot joins Ravn from the FAA, where over nearly the last decade, he was responsible for both operational oversight of Part 135 carriers as well as setting operating policy for U.S. Part 121 airlines. While at the FAA, Deke was the acting Deputy Regional Administrator for Alaska. Additionally, while at the FAA, he also held positions as acting Flight Standards Deputy Division Manager for Alaska and Branch Manager, AFS-220. Abbott is an FAA licensed multi-engine airline transport pilot, commercial pilot and certified flight instructor. Prior to his tenure at the FAA, he was a Captain and Chief Pilot for Comair, Inc., a FAR Part 121 air carrier. A combat decorated United States Marine; Deke was a member of 2nd ANGLICO (Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company) and served as a Firepower Control Team Chief. He is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and a Member of the Royal Air Force Club in London, England. Deke holds a BA from Brown University and an MBA from the University of New Hampshire.
Wendy Yow SVP of Human Resources A seven-year veteran of Ravn, Wendy Yow has over twenty years of experience as an HR professional at different companies in Alaska. She has earned both a Bachelor’s Degree and an MBA with a focus in HR management. She also has CHRM and CELS certifications.
John Jackson SVP Airport Operations, Cargo & Business Development John C. Jackson, an airline Leader with over 29 years of experience, having extensive knowledge of airport operations, ground handling, cargo, mail, and business development. Spending nearly 20 years with Continental Airlines and United Airlines, helping manage their Newark and Houston hubs. John also served as Regional Vice President for dnata USA, the Ground Handling and Logistical Cargo unit of the Emirates Group. John has also served as VP of Human Resources, VP of Special Projects, Sr. Manager of Hub SOC, Assistant Director of Hub Operations, and Senior Manager of Global Policies, Procedures, and Technology for Below Wing Operations.
Nick Aderman Vice President Technical Operations Nick Aderman brings over twenty years of professional aviation maintenance experience with a variety of different aircraft types in both large Part 121 and Part 135 air carriers. Nick began his career working helicopter logging and wildland firefighting across the United States before moving into the fixed wing turbo prop world. Nick moved to Alaska in 2003 to work for Penair where he was involved in many different roles from maintaining Grumman Goose seaplanes to Director of Maintenance for the part 121 fleet of Saab 340 and Saab 2000. Nick was responsible for development of the Saab 2000 maintenance program and implementation as the first part 121 operator in the United States to operate this aircraft. Nick is also Chairman for the Saab 2000 Industry Steering Committee which develops maintenance requirements for the worldwide Saab 2000 fleet. Nick grew up in an aviation family, and he is a third generation active Private Pilot who enjoys exploring his home state of Alaska by air.