People Category: Thursday Aviation Sessions

Born in California on December 20, 1955, to Canadian parents, Greg spent every summer at his family’s remote, water- or air-access only cabin in British Columbia, Canada. That early exposure to the coast and his first float plane ride at age six, gave Greg the taste of aviation and a determination to one day become a pilot.

Greg’s aviation career began in 1975, earning his Private Pilot Licence to his first pilot job in 1977 in Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories, to eventually starting his own airline; Harbour Air Ltd. in 1982. Over the years Harbour Air grew from a 2 plane, charter only operation that primarily serviced the forest industry and remote fishing camps, to what it is today; North America’s largest all-seaplane airline that services over 500,000 passengers per year on tours, scheduled service routes and private charter flights using a showcase fleet of more than 40 seaplanes. Harbour Air operates 9 terminals in the centres of British Columbia largest coastal communities, offers 12 scheduled service routes and in 2018 began service between downtown Vancouver and downtown Seattle, WA. Through its dedication to safety, service and innovation, Harbour Air has reshaped the transportation landscape in British Columbia, been recognized as one of the top places to work in Canada, one of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies as well as recognized for it’s outstanding contribution to safety.

Today, still as CEO of Harbour Air, with over 12,000 hours logged, countless National and International awards and, in 2019, an induction into the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame, Greg McDougall has partnered with magniX, the company powering the electric aviation revolution, to take on a new goal; to build and personally pilot the world’s first fully electric commercial aircraft. This latest endeavor of Greg’s successfully launched on December 10th, 2019 with Greg at the throttle and, once again, garnered worldwide attention. Next, Greg plans to work with regulators to convert the entire Harbour Air fleet.

To Greg, that early taste of aviation is still strong and drives him to continue to evolve and innovate Harbour Air. “If we sit here looking out the window, one day there is going to be something out there that’s going to rock your world. I want to be the one flying it, not the one watching it.”

Greg lives in Squamish, British Columbia and when he’s not revolutionizing the future of clean aviation, he can be found biking the backcountry or working with his family on their farm bringing sustainable farming practices to his community.

Steven Barrett (@StevenRHBarrett on twitter) is a Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is director of the MIT Laboratory for Aviation and the Environment and leads the MIT Electric Aircraft Initiative. He is also a Visiting Professor at University College London’s Energy Institute, and at Seoul National University’s Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Departments. Before joining MIT in 2010 Steven was a faculty member at Cambridge University’s Engineering Department, where he completed his undergraduate and graduate degrees in aerospace engineering.

The aim of Steven’s research is to make aviation cleaner and quieter. This includes developing low emissions and noise propulsion technologies for aircraft, improving scientific understanding of the atmospheric impacts of aircraft pollution, and evaluating the sustainability of biofuels and electric aircraft. Steven also has research interests in ground vehicle electrification and broader climate change and air pollution topics. His work in these areas spans fundamental technology development through to environmental policy assessment.

Steven has written approximately 85 journal publications and is current or former supervisor of about 60 graduate theses. Steven’s current teaching at MIT includes the undergraduate jet and rocket propulsion course, and a graduate-level course on aerospace, energy, and the environment. He has contributed to STEM outreach activities since 2003.

Peter is an investor focused on advanced aerial mobility and its application toward positive impact for transportation across the economy.

Peter is active in the aviation community around regulatory and technology issues critical to enabling high-scale adoption of aerial mobility systems.  Peter helped create a national vision and roadmap for Urban Air Mobility as a member of the Committee on Urban Air Mobility Research and Technology through the Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board of the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine.  Peter is also an appointee to NASA’s Aeronautics Research and Technology Roundtable.  Peter is involved in the FAA’s Unmanned Aerial System Integration Pilot Program and sits on committees developing standards for unmanned air traffic management, vehicle certification, and urban air mobility.

Earlier, Peter was at Firelake Capital and Atlas Venture, investing in transportation and sustainability technologies.

Peter’s entrepreneurial experience began while an undergraduate, when he co-founded Eye Response, Inc., a company that pioneered computer eye-tracking systems.

Peter holds an MBA, with High Honors, from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a BS in Systems Engineering, with distinction, from the University of Virginia.  Peter started flying when he was 19 and actively maintains a Private Pilot Certificate with Instrument Rating.

Atherton is a technical executive within the Lockheed Martin Advanced Development Programs (ADP) organization, also known as ‘The Skunk Works’. He is responsible for leading the Enterprise Technology Roadmaps portfolio within the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, chartered with providing foundational Air Vehicle, Mission Systems and Survivability technologies as well as groundbreaking Revolutionary Technologies and Emerging Concepts. This broad and diverse portfolio is focused on providing enabling technology in support of both current and future programs to serve key customers’ needs.

In his current role, Atherton guides the strategic direction of the Technology Roadmaps portfolio and actively interfaces across both enterprise and industry to collaboratively identify, develop, mature and transition innovative technologies toward solutions. Robust partnerships with customers and stakeholders culminate in the definition and implementation of technology roadmaps and transition plans to enable innovative system solutions. Atherton is privileged to lead multiple innovative teams that routinely undertake groundbreaking technical challenges as evidenced by a recent 2018 Robert J. Collier Trophy.

Called upon by the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Atherton served on multiple study committees in substantive appointed roles. He is an AIAA Associate Fellow and received the Lockheed Martin NOVA and AeroStar awards for his technical achievements. He holds a Master’s degree in mechanical engineering from George Washington University’s Joint Institute for the Advancement or Flight Sciences (JIAFS) at the NASA Langley Research Center and a Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from Syracuse University. Atherton, his wife, and two sons reside in Southern California.

Paul is a Business Development Executive responsible for advancing development and integration of autonomous systems for Boeing Horizon X. He serves as principal advisor to Horizon X on matters relating to regulation and policy for UAS operations and as advocate for UAS national airspace integration. Paul’s involvement in UAS development is extensive. Prior to joining Boeing, he held the position of Vice President of Government Relations for Insitu, Inc. responsible for driving much of the company efforts transitioning into to commercial and civil market opportunities. Prior to joining Insitu in 2006, he transitioned from a 30 year career in academia as a full professor, Chief Pilot/Instructor, and Vice President of Aviation Training at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.

He served two terms as a member of the AUVSI board of directors and Advocacy Committee. Paul was a charter member of the FAA’s small Unmanned Aircraft System Aviation Rulemaking Committee and past member of the FAA UAS Aviation Rulemaking Committee and the UAS Remote ID and Tracking Rulemaking Committee. Paul served two terms as chair of the Aeronautical Industries Association UAS Committee.  He served as co-chair of RTCA Special Committee 228 chartered by FAA to establish performance standards for UAS command and control and detect and avoid solutions for over 7 years. Paul was awarded the RTCA 2017 Achievement Award and Outstanding Leader Award. Paul is a former member of the Unmanned Aircraft Safety Team steering committee and was a member of the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine UAS Risk Assessment and Urban Air Mobility Study Groups.

Paul is an active pilot and aircraft owner holding Airline Transport Pilot and Flight Instructor Certificates, with jet type ratings, has logged over 9000 flight hours and holds both a Bachelors and Master’s degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.