OUR MISSION / Aviation Emergency Response Organization
The Aviation Emergency Response Organization (AERO) is a non-profit corporation in the District of Columbia. It’s focused on informing, educating, sharing, and providing a forum for emergency response professionals from all aspects of the aviation industry worldwide, including current and former airline personnel, insurers, brokers, airports, government personnel, and third-party providers.
AERO’s educational and informational goals will be achieved through the AERO website, publications, e-mail alerts and bulletins, webinars, and regular gatherings of the membership held in connection with various aviation events throughout the world.
BECOME A MEMBER / Access To All Our Features
Individual
$60/year
- VIEW MEMBERS DIRECTORY
- VIEW MEMBERS PROFILE
- ACCESS GROUP DIRECTORY
- ACCESS TO GROUPS
- SEND PRIVATE MESSAGES
- ADD MEDIA TO YOUR PROFILE
Corporate (Includes up to 3 individuals)
$150/year
- VIEW MEMBERS DIRECTORY
- VIEW MEMBERS PROFILE
- ACCESS GROUP DIRECTORY
- ACCESS TO GROUPS
- SEND PRIVATE MESSAGES
- ADD MEDIA TO YOUR PROFILE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS / Industry Experts
![Frank Ciacco Frank Ciacco Headshot](https://aviationemergencyresponse.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/frank-ciacco-250x250.jpg)
Frank Ciaccio
AERO Chairperson
Frank Ciaccio is the Director of Public Safety and Emergency Management for the Houston Airport System (HAS). Frank is responsible for providing strategic leadership for the Public Safety and Emergency Management division along with providing technical guidance during an emergency response at IAH (Bush), HOU (Hobby), and EFD (Ellington) airports. He is responsible for developing and implementing Airport Emergency Response Plans, Evacuation Plans and Airport Family Assistance Plans while focusing on collaboration and an all-hazards approach to safety & emergency management.
Frank has over 25 years of diverse experience in law enforcement, aviation, forensic investigations and emergency response working multiple aviation disasters both domestic and international. He has worked both in the private and public sector and is a former Forensic Investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in the Office of Transportation Disaster Assistance. In addition, he has participated and conducted several Emergency Response/Crisis Management training programs and has developed multiple emergency management response plans for airlines along with several mass fatality plans for government agencies.
While at the NTSB, Frank coordinated the recovery and forensic operations during many domestic and international plane crashes and several high-profile accidents that included JFK Jr., Payne Stewart and Governor Carnahan. Frank is a graduate of the University of New Mexico where he obtained his BS in Biology and Physical Anthropology and a Master’s Degree in Forensic Anthropology and Public Administration. He is a Fellow in the American Academy of Forensic Science, Diplomat- American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators and former U.S Representative to Interpol serving on the International Victim Identification Committee.
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Sherry J. Ortiz
Sherry J. Ortiz, Senior Vice President, New York office, United States Aircraft Insurance Group, (USAIG) manages the Airline Claims...
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David Nicewinter
David Nicewinter has over 25 years of experience in the field of aviation and emergency management. Prior to coming...
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Matthew Maurer
Matt Mauer served the City of Kansas City, Missouri for 33 years, retiring in early 2022 as a KCFD...
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Brian Glod
Brian Glod is the Managing Director, US Aviation Practice Leader at Marsh. Marsh is an insurance broking and risk...
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Noreen Brogan
Noreen is a founding board member of AERO. She is the Airline and Severe Loss Claims Manager for AIG...
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Barbara Webster
Barbara Webster is the Executive Vice President of the Americas for GoCrisis, looking after North America, Central and South...
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Mark A. Dombroff
Mark concentrates his practice on the aviation and transportation industries, including litigation, regulatory administrative and enforcement matters, investigations, airport...
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Tracey E. Campbell
Tracey Campbell joined Global Aerospace in December 1997 as a Claims Attorney and was promoted to her current role...
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John M. Mcdonald
John Martin McDonald is the founder of Caeli Communications, a strategic communications consultancy specializing in crisis management and communications...
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Salvador Velasco
Salvador Velasco has recently joined the AERO board of directors; he is an emergency response professional with over 22...
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Penni L. Nelson
Penni Nelson oversees the procurement and maintenance of corporate domestic and international insurance for Hillwood Development Group, L.P- a...
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Karie Lardon
Karie Lardon is the Sr. Director Preparedness & Risk Management at Southwest Airlines. She began her career at Southwest...
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Gregory A. Feith
Gregory A. Feith is a former Senior Air Safety Investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board. During his time...
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Gill Sparrow
Gill SparrowManager, Emergency Response PlanningEmirates Gill has been with Emirates since 2008 and is responsible for ensuring Emirates is...
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Nick Orwin
Nick Orwin is the Emergency Planning Manager at London Luton Airport, one of the UK’s busiest airports where he...
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Stephanie Smith
Stephanie Smith is responsible for Emergency Response Planning and Business Continuity for both the International and Domestic portions of...
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Pamela Pullen
Pamela Pullen is the former chair for the Aviation Emergency Response Organization (AERO), having served in this capacity for...