2026 Fellow Nominees
We are excited to announce the following nominees for the SFTE Fellow class of 2026. Up to 4 new Fellows may be elected in 2026, and those elected will be announced in September and presented at the annual Syposium in October. Learn more about our Fellow nominees by reading the nominations below.
Nomination:
Please accept this nomination for Mr. Russell Erb for SFTE Fellow. Mr. Erb is a Flight Test Engineer graduate of USAF TPS Class 89B and the Performance Master Instructor for the USAF Test Pilot School. He is responsible for teaching Test Pilots and Flight Test Engineers to measure and evaluate aircraft performance and also introduce them to structured test conduct and working as a flight test team. He is well-known as the Pitot-Statics Instructor for TPS since 1997.
In addition to classroom instruction, he flies to teach and evaluate airborne test conduct and is a Certified Flight Instructor for the curriculum events accomplished in gliders. His flight test experience includes the MC-130H Combat Talon II, B-1B Operational Test and Evaluation, and other programs in support of USAF Academy flying programs.
Mr. Erb has been a contributing member of SFTE since 1983, is currently a Senior Member, and has held positions in the Antelope Valley Chapter. He has taught Symposium training classes and presented many Symposium papers including, most recently of note, “Dealing with the Wind: An Analysis of the Turn Regression Airspeed Calibration Technique”, which won the 2017 Best of Symposium Award. A list of his many other publications/presentations follows below. Please seriously consider Russ as a Fellow for SFTE. As you can see by his resume, his lifelong commitment to flight test as a professional is incredible as a contributor and educator. The Antelope Valley Chapter heartily endorses Russ for this prestigious membership level that is well deserved, and frankly past due.
PUBLICATIONS/PRESENTATIONS:
• “Pitot-Statics and the Standard Atmosphere, Fourth Edition”, by Russell E. Erb (Author), USAF Test Pilot School, July 2020. ISBN-10: 1782669876.
• “Terrain Following Testing for Low Energy Aircraft and Improved Data Analysis Techniques” - 1993 SFTE Symposium. A review of Terrain Following Flight Test Techniques developed while testing the MC-130H Combat Talon II.
• A Low-Cost Method for Generating Takeoff Ground Roll Charts from Flight Test Data” - 1996 SFTE Symposium. Results from his project to build a takeoff chart for a towplane/glider combination.
• “Cessna 150/Lycoming O-320-E2D Limited Performance Evaluation” 1996 report on Performance Flight Test of the USAF Academy's Cessna 150s equipped with the larger O-320 150 horsepower engine. Includes performance data that was not included in the engine swap Supplementary Type Certificate.
• “Sailplane Aerotow Takeoff Performance Evaluation Through Model Validation” - 2008 SFTE Symposium. Flight test and model creation for the Duo Discus glider using water ballast up to maximum gross weight.
• “Error Analysis and Design of Experiments Comparison of Pitot-Static Calibration Techniques” - - 2010 SFTE Symposium.
• “Statistical Pitot-static Calibration Technique using Turns and Self Survey Method” - 2011 SFTE Symposium.
• “Statistical Pitot-Static Airspeed Calibration Using a Turning Acceleration Technique” - 2015 SFTE Symposium.
• “Dealing with the Wind: An Analysis of the Turn Regression Airspeed Calibration Technique” - 2017 SFTE Symposium Best of Symposium Paper. Using a linear regression to determine Pitot-static calibrations for the Bearhawk.
• “Using a 1949 Piston Powered Airplane to Train 21st Century Flight Testers” - 2020 SFTE Symposium. The story of selecting an HU-16 Albatross for use in the USAF TPS Performance Practical Exam.
• “Bearhawk 20 Minute Flight Test” – (March 2023) Report from a "20 Minute Flight Test" done for a University of Missouri Kansas City professor visiting TPS.
• “The 20-Minute Flight Tests” - 2025 AIAA SciTech. Mujahid Abdulrahim's first summary of the results of his "20-Minute Flight Test" program. A great way to convince pilots to take you flying in their airplanes.
• “Takeoff Chart Development for a Homebuilt Airplane by Numerical Simulation” - 2026 AIAA SciTech. Development of a Matlab simulation to create takeoff ground roll charts for his Experimental Bearhawk.
• “Simplified Takeoff Model for a Homebuilt Airplane” - 2026 AIAA SciTech. Development of a simplified takeoff ground roll model for his Experimental Bearhawk that could run in a spreadsheet on his phone using the approximation methods of Ken Lush.
• “Measuring In-Flight Deflection of Cable Actuated Flaps”- 2026 AIAA SciTech paper based on Bearhawk In-Flight Flap Measurement measuring the difference in flap deflection in flight and on the ground.
Nomination:
Brooks Faurot has been a dedicated member of the Society of Flight Test Engineers since 1994 and is a Senior Member in good standing. He has submitted multiple technical papers. His career reflects more than three decades of leadership, technical excellence, and sustained service to the Society and the global flight test community.
Education
Brooks holds a B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, an M.S. in Operations Research, and a B.A. in Economics from SUNY Stony Brook. His academic background spans engineering, analytical methods, and systems level decision making.
Service to SFTE
Brooks served as President of the North Texas Chapter from 2005–2009, leading one of the most active and successful periods in the chapter’s history. Under his leadership, membership increased by 55% and the chapter hosted the 2008 International Symposium. He also served as Technical Papers Committee Chair in 2005, 2008, and 2013. He played a central role in major chapter events, including the B 58 50th Anniversary Reunion with more than 200 attendees and a special visit by the Tuskegee Airmen. These efforts significantly elevated the chapter’s visibility and strengthened its connection to aviation heritage.
Professional Contributions
Brooks began his career at Grumman Aircraft, supporting F 14 Flight Test and Logistics and building a solid foundation in naval aviation test operations.
At General Dynamics/Lockheed Martin Brooks spent 18 years in F 16 Flight Test Engineering becoming the Engineering Specialist for New Business, supporting proposal development for flight test programs across 27+ international customers and numerous U.S. efforts. Brooks served as a Flight Test Conductor for major F 16 integration programs in the Netherlands, Norway, Fort Worth, and Edwards AFB. Before retiring, Brooks served as the F 35 Flight Test Engineering Staff Specialist for New Business and supported Operational Test & Evaluation planning for the F 35 LRIP fleet and was key in shaping future test program structures.
Summary
Throughout his career and his long service to SFTE, Brooks Faurot has consistently advanced the Society, strengthened the profession, and contributed meaningfully to the global flight test community. His leadership, technical accomplishments, and decades of commitment make him highly deserving of recognition as an SFTE Fellow.
Nomination:
It is my distinct honor to nominate Kevin Welch for recognition as an SFTE Fellow.
Kevin’s record of accomplishment, outlined in the nomination, stands firmly on its own. His career reflects more than two decades of leadership in complex, safety-critical flight test, certification, return-to-service efforts, training, and sustained service to SFTE.
I would like to add a more personal perspective. I have had the privilege of serving alongside Kevin for 10 years on the SFTE International Board, where he has served as Director, Vice President, and now Secretary. Across each of these roles, Kevin has consistently brought brilliant insight, sound judgment, disciplined follow-through, clear communication, deep institutional knowledge, and tireless dedication to strengthening the Society.
Kevin is one of the rare people who does not merely offer good ideas; he makes important things happen. He invests the time, energy, and judgment required to architect, organize, and improve the systems that allow SFTE to grow and serve its members. His “North Star” has always been clear: expand the value SFTE provides to its members and ensure the Society remains effective, relevant, and sustainable.
His leadership of the SFTE website modernization is a prime example. That effort was far more than a vendor-selection task. It strengthened the Society’s governance, infrastructure, member value, communications, knowledge-transfer capability, and long-term operational resilience. Much of this type of work happens quietly in the background, but it is mission-critical to the health of a professional society.
I have often told Kevin that he is the “glue” that helps bind SFTE operations and the Board of Directors together. Through his steady leadership, technical credibility, organizational discipline, and commitment to service, he has made SFTE stronger. For these reasons, and with great respect and enthusiasm, I strongly recommend Kevin Welch for elevation to SFTE Fellow.
From SFTE Fellow Darren McDonald, I enthusiastically support this nomination for Kevin Welch. He truly embodies a mindset of community and service to the greater good of the flight test profession. He brings a wide breadth of knowledge and business acumen to every topic and follows through with a level of deviation and quiet efficiency that is truly impressive. I highly recommend adding Kevin to the esteemed group of SFTE Fellows!
Nomination:
It is my distinct honor, in conjunction with my fellow Fellows Jim Fawcett and Lester Ingham, to nominate Jennifer Uchida for recognition as an SFTE Fellow.
Jen’s record of accomplishment, outlined in the nomination, stands on its own—spanning two decades of leadership in complex, safety-critical flight test and certification across commercial and military domains.
I want to add a more personal perspective. Over the past six years, I’ve had the privilege of serving alongside Jen on the SFTE Board, where she has led as Vice President, President, and now Past President. In each role, she has been a tireless advocate for the Society—consistently investing the time, energy, and judgment required to strengthen our organization and expand the value we provide to our members.
She leads with clarity, discipline, and a genuine commitment to others. She’s the kind of leader who raises the standard around her - and one I’ve come to respect deeply and, candidly, try to emulate.
Career
Jen is a senior test program manager and flight test engineer with 20 years of experience leading complex, safety-critical aerospace test and evaluation efforts across commercial, defense, and UAS domains. She has directed multidisciplinary teams through end-to-end test planning, execution, certification, and reporting - spanning Boeing’s 737 platform and product development portfolios, flight test leadership at AeroTEC, systems engineering leadership at Insitu, and flight test leadership roles at Gulfstream and NAVAIR.
Jen has led integrated test programs for Boeing 737 production, in-service, and certification testing; drives planning/execution of BGS fleet and BCA product development flight test and lab work statements. She has built and managed multi-discipline flight test engineering and software organizations at AeroTEC; implemented long- and short-term T&E strategy, risk management, and operational coordination with regulators and authorities (FAA/EASA). Jen has directed flight controls and flying qualities testing at NAVAIR (MV-22, CH-53K), including rigorous test planning, deficiency management, and technical publications supporting fleet-wide software upgrades.
In parallel with her technical career, she has delivered field-shaping service as an international officer and President/Past President of the Society of Flight Test Engineers (SFTE), founded a chapter (Coastal Empire) and advanced society operations, communications, and member connectivity through sustained leadership, strengthening member engagement and professional standards while expanding SFTE’s operational capability and global connection.
She has won multiple best paper awards (SFTE International Symposium; SETP NW Section), featured industry speaker and keynote, and recipient of the University of Colorado Engineering Alumni Engagement Award and Aerospace Distinguished Alumni Award.
Her sustained technical excellence, proven ability to lead high-stakes flight test organizations, and commitment to mentorship and community building make her an exceptional SFTE fellowship nominee.
Nomination:
John is well known within the flight test community for his work on IADS and was one of the original programmers who developed the filters for IADS. John played a pivotal role in setting up IADS in the control room at the National Test Pilot School that has given exposure to IADS for numerous FTEs. John has assisted with troubleshooting reduction algorithms at numerous test sites. He regularly attends SFTE symposiums, engages with the SFTE community at social functions, and has presented several papers at SFTE symposiums. John is currently serving as a Director on the Antelope Valey Chapter Board.
John’s current responsibilities include mathematical algorithm research, development and verification, data reduction and display, onsite and remote demos, and customer coordination and support for IADS. His previous positions include: Senior Electrical Systems Engineer – BAE Systems Mojave, CA, Electrical Systems Integration Engineer – Electric Boat (General Dynamics) Groton, CT, Electrical Systems Test and Certification Engineer – Boeing Commercial Airplane Group, Everett, WA. He background in test across these several companies include several various functions from drones to many different types of aircraft.
If elected as an SFTE Fellow, John will become one of the few non-aircrew, SFTE senior members to be elected to this prestigious position and he will be an example to all other non-aircrew, SFTE members aspiring to hold higher positions within SFTE. He will also be the first data processing engineer to be elected as a Fellow, a critical flight test function which should not be overlooked.
Nomination
The Wright Chapter is very pleased to nominate Dr. Marc S. Shaver for membership advancement to the rank of SFTE Fellow in 2026. Marc is a Senior Member of SFTE and meets all the requirements to be nominated for Fellow. Through his work experience and involvement with SFTE, Marc has attained a position of notable distinction in both the field of testing and in the Air Force. He is a highly respected member who has served the SFTE since joining in 1995 and is an active member in the Wright Chapter.
Marc is currently the Technical Director for the Directorate of Air, Space, and Cyberspace Operations, Headquarters Air Force Material Command (HQ AFMC/A3) at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. In this position, he provides technical support and advice to the A3 director and staff, with a primary focus on Test & Evaluation (T&E) investment, workforce development, Digital Materiel Management, interfacing with HQ Air Force Test & Evaluation, the Air Force Test Center and the Test Resource Management Center. He is also the Command Information Warfare and Deception Activities Lead.
Marc has accumulated over 35 years of experience in test, weapons system acquisition, and education. He graduated from the United States Air Force Academy and was commissioned into the Air Force in 1987. He initially served at Edwards Air Force Base (AFB) supporting flight test as an F-16 Performance Engineer and a YF-22 Operations Engineer. He then went to the Air Force Operational Test & Evaluation Center at Kirtland AFB, serving as an Operational Test Manager on both the F-22 and Joint Strike Fighter. In 1998, Marc became the chief of Air Force Test Investments in HQ AFMC/A3, defining Air Force T&E infrastructure investments. In 2001, he became the Survivability Test Lead for the B-2/Air Launched Cruise Missile at U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Nebraska. In 2004, Marc became an instructor at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), teaching T&E and Systems Engineering Courses. He moved up in AFIT to become the Deputy Department Head /Systems Engineering Team Lead and later acting Department Head for the Department of Systems and Software Engineering in the School of Systems and Logistics. In 2015, he was made Plans and Program Engineer, serving as a primary advisor to the Air Force Airworthiness Authority at HQ AFMC. His last position was Director of Staff in the 12th Air Force at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona from 2021 to 2025. As a member of SFTE, Marc helped write the Wright Chapter by-laws back in 2009 when the chapter was first reformed. He later served as Chapter Secretary (2011-2012) and Treasurer (2012-2013) and was the Session Chair for the 2014 International Symposium in Dayton, selecting and inviting session chairs, identifying speakers, collecting bios, and conducting daily speaker briefings. Marc received a bachelor’s degree in Astronautical Engineering from the United States Air Force Academy in 1987, has master’s degrees from both Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in 1996 and the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy in 2020, and a Doctorate of Education from Creighton University in 2017.
The Wright Chapter strongly urges both the Board of Directors to forward Marc S. Shaver’s nomination for a vote, and the Fellows to vote for him. With a lifetime record of service in Test, Marc will continue to serve the Society as an experienced member and representative for SFTE!
Nomination:
It is our sincere recommendation that you consider Mr. Ben Povall to the elevation of SFTE Fellow. Mr. Povall is a highly respected and well known flight test engineer in the industry – both American, and European. Below we humbly provide a summary of Mr. Povall’s credentials and our reasoning for his nomination.
Career History
Ben Povall received him Masters in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Liverpool (United Kingdom), and worked on a variety of projects and airframes. He began his career as a Flight Test Engineer at BAE Systems, working on the Eurofighter Typhoon, Harrier GR9, Nimrod MRA4, F35, achieving respect as both a senior flight test engineer and an engineering manager. Completing his eight-year tenure in military flight test, he transitioned to civilian duty with Bombardier. He was a flight test engineer specialist in Canada, working on the C-Series, eventually transferring to the United States Test Center in Wichita, KS, working on the Global 7000, 7500, and most recently, the 8000. He rose in rank as a lead, section chief, and manager of flight test, the position which he currently holds. He’s been with the company for 12 years.
Contributions to Flight Test
Ben’s historical bio speaks for itself. He has been known in the industry as a mentor to younger professionals, an incredible instructor, and a strong technical contributor, becoming a resource for domestic and international regulatory bodies. He has also presented multiple times at international and national conferences, symposiums, and technical talks, sharing knowledge with others and receiving awards for his distinct ability to communicate, share, and transfer knowledge. It should also be mentioned that Mr. Povall has not been shy in sharing emotion-filled talks, including accidents that – although tragic – need to be studied and shared for continued growth.
Contributions to SFTE
Ben Povall is an integral part of the Society. Some would argue that SFTE without Ben is really not SFTE. He has been pivotal in revitalizing and energizing the Wichita Chapter upholding the highest values of inclusiveness, kindness, and light-heartedness during tough times. He is serving as the 2024-2026 SFTE Vice President, 2022-2024 SFTE Secretary, and the Wichita Chapter Secretary and Treasurer between 2018 and 2022. He presented at the 2025 SFTE Symposium, the 2019 FTSW, the 2018 SFTE Symposium only to mention a few. His dedication in the Board of Directors, especially the extensive hours outside of work for the benefit of the Society are unparalleled.
In summary, we are proud and honored to nominate Ben Povall for SFTE Fellow. We cannot think of a more deserving individual who upholds SFTE’s values and mission statement in all his professional endeavors.
Nomination:
Dr Ben “Lex” Luther is an internationally recognised Flight Test Engineer whose career spans more than two decades across military, civil, and research domains on three continents. He has made enduring contributions to flight test safety, developmental and certification test, academic research, and the advancement of SFTE. His achievements include senior flight test leadership roles in the Royal Australian Air Force and Gulfstream Aerospace, establishment of Gulfstream’s developmental flight test SMS, completion of a PhD defining the academic basis of flight test risk management, authorship of universityâlevel T&E coursework, and continuing work for the Flight Test Society of Australia as its President. His sustained contributions to SFTE and the global flight test community make him an exceptional candidate for elevation to Fellow.
Professional Flight Test Career
Dr Ben “Lex” Luther is a Distinguished Graduate of the National Test Pilot School, holding a Master of Science in Flight Test Engineering. He began his career as a Flight Test Systems Specialist at the Royal Australian Air Force’s Aircraft Research and Development Unit (ARDU), where he led and conducted complex trials including sensor detection and GPS jamming programs for Defence Science and Technology and USAF, flight management system evaluations, terrain collision avoidance testing, communications and electronic warfare modifications, and uncrewed aerial vehicle assessments.
Lex was later selected as the customer Flight Test Engineer embedded within Airbus Military (Spain) for the KCâ30A program. His contributions included development of AAR boom flight controls, synthetic 3D vision systems, major A330 platform modifications, development and acceptance testing, and establishment of AAR receiver clearance standards. Returning to ARDU, Lex served as Senior Flight Test Systems Specialist and Flight Test Safety Officer, supervising hazardous flight test operations and providing standardisation oversight.
At Gulfstream Aerospace, Lex served as Test & Evaluation Safety Manager, where he established the developmental flight test Safety Management System in response to NTSB direction following the G650 accident. This pioneering work earned him the Tony LeVier Award. He subsequently served as a Flight Test Lead on the G500, G600, and G700 programs, conducting certification testing across avionics, icing, and mechanical systems for FAA Part 25, EASA CSâ25, and Transport Canada.
At Nova Systems, Lex led the Emerging Markets Team as a Principal T&E Engineer. This group established digital modelling capabilities, enabling rapid technical system prototyping in research environments, and for assuring space operations. The group was active in the genesis and pursuit of a regulatory sandbox within the Australian civil aviation regulatory framework for experimental UAV operations.
Lex now serves as Test & Evaluation Adviser to the Royal Australian Air Force, shaping T&E policy, capability, and governance at the enterprise level.
Academic and Professional Contributions
Lex recently completed a PhD focused on the risk management framework of experimental flight test, using a socialâscience methodology to articulate how flight test professionals conceptualise and manage catastrophic risk in complex systems. This research provides the academic foundation behind long standing flight test practice, equipping flight test professionals with a framework for communicating value and resource needs to external stakeholders.
His peerâreviewed publications include:
- Luther, B., Gunawan, I and Nguyen, N. 2023. “Identifying effective risk management frameworks for complex socio-technical systems.” Safety Science 158. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2022.105989
- Luther, B., Gunawan, I and Nguyen, N. 2025. “Evolving Risk Management Frameworks for Complex Systems—An Empirically Grounded Systems Thinking Approach.” Systems Research and Behavioral Science 42, no. 6: 1836–1848. https://doi.org/10.1002/sres.3118.
Building on this research, Lex authored the postâgraduate Test & Evaluation coursework for the University of Adelaide’s Systems Engineering program, extending T&E science to address nonâdeterministic and AIâenabled systems. He remains engaged with a flight test school in syllabus and courseware development, and he conducts the flight test practical laboratory for the University of Queensland, providing students with firstâhand airborne experience of the profession.
Leadership and Service to the Profession
Lex is President of the Flight Test Society of Australia (FTSA), where he has revitalised the organisation postâCOVID and led the delivery of successful national symposiums. Under his leadership, FTSA has strengthened its role as the professional home for flight test in Australia, spanning engineers, pilots, UAS operators, instrumentation specialists, and systems assurance practitioners.
His service to SFTE has been equally significant. As Secretary on the International SFTE Board of Directors, Lex championed constitutional amendments to make the Society genderâneutral, strengthened references to organisational identity to preserve corporate memory, and advanced amendments enabling international groups (Europe, India, Australia) to freely associate with SFTE while remaining compliant with local laws.
He has presented at International and European SFTE Symposiums, sharing insights on complex systems, assurance frameworks, and flight test safety. Lex has consistently worked to bring SFTE and FTSA into closer collaboration, advocating for a federationâstyle model that respects local legal requirements while strengthening global professional ties.
Future Work
Dr Ben “Lex” Luther exemplifies the highest standards of the flight test profession. His career spans operational and developmental test, safety leadership, academic research, international collaboration, and sustained service to SFTE. He is strengthening the global flight test community by shaping policy, advancing safety practice, and educating future professionals.
His research around the flight test approach to risk management is instructive outside the profession, raising our profile as leaders in the risk management space where consequences cannot be quantified and the probability is best expressed as uncertainty. That work is finding value in providing an approach to assuring complex systems that feature artificial intelligence – T&E of non-deterministic systems.
He would be an outstanding choice for elevation to Fellow of the Society of Flight Test Engineers, and if selected, would be the first from Australia, and possibly the first from the Southern Hemisphere, to receive this honour.