Commission
Mr. Jay Brain, Rogers (appointed 2014)
Mr. Brain was born and raised in Little Rock, but has been living in Rogers, AR for the last 20 years. He and his wife, Kelly, have two teenage children, Jeb and Georgia Grace. Mr. Brain received a BSBA in Finance and Banking from the University of Arkansas in 1992. In 2002, he received an Investment Management Analyst Certification from the Wharton School in conjunction with Investment Management Consultants Association.
Currently, Mr. Brain is Vice President, Stephens Inc. Private Client Group. Prior to taking that position in 2009, he rose to Vice President, Merril Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith. He has also worked as a bank examiner for the Arkansas State Bank Department.
Mr. Brain became interested in flying after his first airplane ride in a Piper Cherokee 180 from Russellville to
Petit Jean Mountain in the late 1970s, and is now an 800 hour private pilot. He enjoys attending several fly-ins a year. He has flown nine times to Airventure Oshkosh including once as part of the Piper Cherokee’s 50th Anniversary mass arrival.
Mr. Brain was born and raised in Little Rock, but has been living in Rogers, AR for the last 20 years. He and his wife, Kelly, have two teenage children, Jeb and Georgia Grace. Mr. Brain received a BSBA in Finance and Banking from the University of Arkansas in 1992. In 2002, he received an Investment Management Analyst Certification from the Wharton School in conjunction with Investment Management Consultants Association.
Currently, Mr. Brain is Vice President, Stephens Inc. Private Client Group. Prior to taking that position in 2009, he rose to Vice President, Merril Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith. He has also worked as a bank examiner for the Arkansas State Bank Department.
Mr. Brain became interested in flying after his first airplane ride in a Piper Cherokee 180 from Russellville to
Petit Jean Mountain in the late 1970s, and is now an 800 hour private pilot. He enjoys attending several fly-ins a year. He has flown nine times to Airventure Oshkosh including once as part of the Piper Cherokee’s 50th Anniversary mass arrival.
Mr. Sam Jackson, Blytheville (appointed 2015)
Mr. Jackson is a native Arkansan who was born in Paragould, then graduated from high school in Conway. He and his wife, Molly Houseworth-Jackson have lived in Blytheville with their two children since 2006.
Mr. Jackson attended Arkansas State University in Jonesboro as well as the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and received a BA in Finance in 1999. He then began his career in banking and finance as a financial advisor for Smith Barney in Plano, Texas. He moved back to Arkansas in 2003 to join Regions Bank in Rogers as a commercial loan officer, then moved to Farmers Bank and Trust of Blytheville as the Senior Loan Officer and Senior Vice President of Loan Operations, where he remains today.
Mr. Jackson has had a life-long love for aviation. His father, a banker, was also an avid pilot who shared the joy of flying with anyone willing to learn. His childhood memories include countless hours around the dinner table as his older siblings plotted their cross-country courses around Northeast Arkansas. Mr. Jackson has been flying since a young age and is a multi-engine rated pilot. Today, he enjoys most of his flying from a grass strip on the banks of Lake Norfork, and he loves sharing his passion for aviation with his children.
Mr. Jackson is a native Arkansan who was born in Paragould, then graduated from high school in Conway. He and his wife, Molly Houseworth-Jackson have lived in Blytheville with their two children since 2006.
Mr. Jackson attended Arkansas State University in Jonesboro as well as the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and received a BA in Finance in 1999. He then began his career in banking and finance as a financial advisor for Smith Barney in Plano, Texas. He moved back to Arkansas in 2003 to join Regions Bank in Rogers as a commercial loan officer, then moved to Farmers Bank and Trust of Blytheville as the Senior Loan Officer and Senior Vice President of Loan Operations, where he remains today.
Mr. Jackson has had a life-long love for aviation. His father, a banker, was also an avid pilot who shared the joy of flying with anyone willing to learn. His childhood memories include countless hours around the dinner table as his older siblings plotted their cross-country courses around Northeast Arkansas. Mr. Jackson has been flying since a young age and is a multi-engine rated pilot. Today, he enjoys most of his flying from a grass strip on the banks of Lake Norfork, and he loves sharing his passion for aviation with his children.
Mr. Will Dawson, Clinton (Appointed 2016)
Mr. Dawson is a native Arkansan, growing up on a Dairy Farm only 13 miles south of his hometown of Clinton, AR. After graduating from South Side High School, he began his aviation career at Spartan School of Aeronautics. He and his wife Anita were married shortly after beginning Spartan. They have 4 teenagers (two boys and two girls) which creates even playing field with a very active fun filled lifestyle and never a dull moment.
Mr. Dawson founded Dawson Aircraft, Inc. in 1990 and resides as current president.
Aviation has been his life now for almost 30 years. He is a certified aircraft mechanic and pilot. He has served as airport manager at the Clinton Mun. Airport all of these years.
His time is spent working with aviation in many facets. He works with State and Federal agencies including NTSB, FAA, Engine and Airplane manufactures. And on a local level he works with Arkansas airports, managers, police, Arkansas game and fish, and on occasion Arkansas Forestry.
Aviation has allowed Mr. Dawson many adventures, from ferrying turbine aircraft to other countries, seeing their infrastructures, making great friends and business partners, or just by playing around with float planes and tailwheels just for fun. Aviation has also provided many opportunities to join efforts doing mission work in the USA and abroad.
Mr. Dawson truly enjoys the aviation community of people that surround him day in and day out, and this industry.
He considers it an honor to serve on this board.
Mr. Dawson is a native Arkansan, growing up on a Dairy Farm only 13 miles south of his hometown of Clinton, AR. After graduating from South Side High School, he began his aviation career at Spartan School of Aeronautics. He and his wife Anita were married shortly after beginning Spartan. They have 4 teenagers (two boys and two girls) which creates even playing field with a very active fun filled lifestyle and never a dull moment.
Mr. Dawson founded Dawson Aircraft, Inc. in 1990 and resides as current president.
Aviation has been his life now for almost 30 years. He is a certified aircraft mechanic and pilot. He has served as airport manager at the Clinton Mun. Airport all of these years.
His time is spent working with aviation in many facets. He works with State and Federal agencies including NTSB, FAA, Engine and Airplane manufactures. And on a local level he works with Arkansas airports, managers, police, Arkansas game and fish, and on occasion Arkansas Forestry.
Aviation has allowed Mr. Dawson many adventures, from ferrying turbine aircraft to other countries, seeing their infrastructures, making great friends and business partners, or just by playing around with float planes and tailwheels just for fun. Aviation has also provided many opportunities to join efforts doing mission work in the USA and abroad.
Mr. Dawson truly enjoys the aviation community of people that surround him day in and day out, and this industry.
He considers it an honor to serve on this board.
Mr. Michael Hutchins, De Valls Bluff (appointed 2017)
Mr. Michael Hutchins is owner and operator of Custom Air, Inc. in Roe, Arkansas. Mr. Hutchins serves the surrounding areas as an agricultural aviator.
Mr. Hutchins is a native Arkansan. Born in Stuttgart, he grew up in the small community of De Valls Bluff and graduated from De Valls Bluff High School in 1991. He attended Arkansas State University. While in college, Mr. Hutchins was employed during the summer months at Custom Air, Inc. working on the ground crew. He quickly developed a love for aviation. Mr. Hutchins began flying in 1994 and earned his commercial pilot's license in 1995. In the following years, he earned his instrument rating, seaplane rating, and most recently, his rotorcraft rating. After 21 years of agricultural flying, Mr. Hutchins has accumulated 15,500+ hours. His flying experience has included anything from fighting fires in the western U.S. to fertilizing trees in the southeastern U.S.
Custom Air, Inc. currently operates three Air Tractor 802s and a Turbine Thrush that are used to serve the aviation needs of the local farmers as well as fulfilling government contracts. Mr. Hutchins is the holder of a Parts Manufacturing Authorization (PMA) and produces parts for various models of ag planes. He also holds two different STCs that cover five different models of aircraft.
Mr. Hutchins has been an active member of the National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA) for the past ten years. He has served on various committees within the NAAA. Mr. Hutchins currently serves as secretary of the Arkansas Agricultural Aviation Association (AAAA). The AAAA awarded him the honor of Pilot of the Year in 2006 and Operator of the Year in 2016. Mr. Hutchins has also been airport manager of the Clarendon Municipal Airport since 2007.
Mr. Hutchins and his wife, Angie, live in De Valls Bluff and have three children, one daughter and two sons. He enjoys spending time with his family and anything related to flying in his spare time.
Mr. Hutchins looks forward to serving as a commissioner within the Division of Aeronautics and hopes to contribute to their mission of furthering the safety and enhancement of airports across the state of Arkansas.
Mr. Michael Hutchins is owner and operator of Custom Air, Inc. in Roe, Arkansas. Mr. Hutchins serves the surrounding areas as an agricultural aviator.
Mr. Hutchins is a native Arkansan. Born in Stuttgart, he grew up in the small community of De Valls Bluff and graduated from De Valls Bluff High School in 1991. He attended Arkansas State University. While in college, Mr. Hutchins was employed during the summer months at Custom Air, Inc. working on the ground crew. He quickly developed a love for aviation. Mr. Hutchins began flying in 1994 and earned his commercial pilot's license in 1995. In the following years, he earned his instrument rating, seaplane rating, and most recently, his rotorcraft rating. After 21 years of agricultural flying, Mr. Hutchins has accumulated 15,500+ hours. His flying experience has included anything from fighting fires in the western U.S. to fertilizing trees in the southeastern U.S.
Custom Air, Inc. currently operates three Air Tractor 802s and a Turbine Thrush that are used to serve the aviation needs of the local farmers as well as fulfilling government contracts. Mr. Hutchins is the holder of a Parts Manufacturing Authorization (PMA) and produces parts for various models of ag planes. He also holds two different STCs that cover five different models of aircraft.
Mr. Hutchins has been an active member of the National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA) for the past ten years. He has served on various committees within the NAAA. Mr. Hutchins currently serves as secretary of the Arkansas Agricultural Aviation Association (AAAA). The AAAA awarded him the honor of Pilot of the Year in 2006 and Operator of the Year in 2016. Mr. Hutchins has also been airport manager of the Clarendon Municipal Airport since 2007.
Mr. Hutchins and his wife, Angie, live in De Valls Bluff and have three children, one daughter and two sons. He enjoys spending time with his family and anything related to flying in his spare time.
Mr. Hutchins looks forward to serving as a commissioner within the Division of Aeronautics and hopes to contribute to their mission of furthering the safety and enhancement of airports across the state of Arkansas.
Mr. Lloyd Wofford, Jonesboro (appointed 2016)
Mr. Lloyd Wofford was born and raised in Weiner, Arkansas located twenty miles South of Jonesboro. After graduating from Weiner High School, he attended Hendrix College his freshman year. He then transferred to Arkansas State University receiving a BSA in 1974. He worked in the family John Deere farm implement dealership while growing up and became a partner with his father, Tommy Wofford, after completing college. In 1978 he and his father became John Deere diesel engine distributors and remain in that business today.
While attending college, Mr. Wofford learned to fly earning his private single engine license at age twenty. In 1979 he received his multi-engine rating and, some years later, his instrument certificate. Flying for both business and pleasure, Mr. Wofford has owned and operated several different planes over the years ranging from J3 Cubs to King Airs and today flies a King Air 250.
Mr. Wofford lives in Jonesboro with his wife Linda and has two grown sons who also live in Jonesboro. He, Linda, and son Cameron own and operate the family business, Engines, Inc., which they relocated from Weiner to Jonesboro eleven years ago.
Commissioner Wofford feels extremely honored being appointed Commissioner and is dedicated to preserving and promoting aviation in Arkansas.
Mr. Lloyd Wofford was born and raised in Weiner, Arkansas located twenty miles South of Jonesboro. After graduating from Weiner High School, he attended Hendrix College his freshman year. He then transferred to Arkansas State University receiving a BSA in 1974. He worked in the family John Deere farm implement dealership while growing up and became a partner with his father, Tommy Wofford, after completing college. In 1978 he and his father became John Deere diesel engine distributors and remain in that business today.
While attending college, Mr. Wofford learned to fly earning his private single engine license at age twenty. In 1979 he received his multi-engine rating and, some years later, his instrument certificate. Flying for both business and pleasure, Mr. Wofford has owned and operated several different planes over the years ranging from J3 Cubs to King Airs and today flies a King Air 250.
Mr. Wofford lives in Jonesboro with his wife Linda and has two grown sons who also live in Jonesboro. He, Linda, and son Cameron own and operate the family business, Engines, Inc., which they relocated from Weiner to Jonesboro eleven years ago.
Commissioner Wofford feels extremely honored being appointed Commissioner and is dedicated to preserving and promoting aviation in Arkansas.
Mr. Ed Sanders, Hot Springs (appointed 2017)
Ed Sanders was born and raised in Hot Springs. He and his wife, Donna, have two children Karina and Blake who are both private pilots. Mr. Sanders received his BSBA in accounting from the University of Arkansas in 1986.
Mr. Sanders is President and CEO of Sanders Supply, Inc. which is a wholesale distributor of heating and air conditioning, plumbing, and electrical supplies.
Mr. Sanders has loved aviation since he was a child. He soloed at age 16, private pilot license at 17, and commercial, instrument, and instructor on his 18th birthday. He currently flies a G58 Baron. He is honored to serve the aviation community by serving on the Arkansas Division of Aeronautics Commission.
Ed Sanders was born and raised in Hot Springs. He and his wife, Donna, have two children Karina and Blake who are both private pilots. Mr. Sanders received his BSBA in accounting from the University of Arkansas in 1986.
Mr. Sanders is President and CEO of Sanders Supply, Inc. which is a wholesale distributor of heating and air conditioning, plumbing, and electrical supplies.
Mr. Sanders has loved aviation since he was a child. He soloed at age 16, private pilot license at 17, and commercial, instrument, and instructor on his 18th birthday. He currently flies a G58 Baron. He is honored to serve the aviation community by serving on the Arkansas Division of Aeronautics Commission.
Dr. Richard Dawe, Melbourne (appointed 2019)
Dr. Dawe and his wife, Chris (also a pilot) have lived in Melbourne the past ten years. He is the president of Ozarka College with campuses in Melbourne, Ash Flat, Mountain View and Mammoth Spring. Having been raised in an airline family near Mammoth Spring, he has been around aviation his entire life.
Prior to serving in higher education, Dr. Dawe spent his first career as a naval aviator flying T-28, T-2, TA-4 and EA-6B aircraft. He has an extensive operational and safety experience and has served as an aircraft mishap investigator. Prior to retiring as a captain in 2004, he logged more than 4,500 hours and 750 ‘traps’ during carrier operations. He also served as a strike leader during Desert Storm aboard the USS Midway.
Dr. Dawe is a commercial multi rated instrument pilot, CFII and MEI with type ratings in the Cessna citation, De Havilland Vampire, L29 and seaplanes. He and Chris have owned and flown several aircraft including the L-29, super decathlon, Yak 52TW, cub and currently fly their C310J. Dr. Dawe also serves on the Melbourne Airport commission, is the current president of the Arkansas Aviation Historical Society, and as safety officer on the recently reestablished Razorback Wing of the Commemorative Air Force.
Dr. Dawe and his wife, Chris (also a pilot) have lived in Melbourne the past ten years. He is the president of Ozarka College with campuses in Melbourne, Ash Flat, Mountain View and Mammoth Spring. Having been raised in an airline family near Mammoth Spring, he has been around aviation his entire life.
Prior to serving in higher education, Dr. Dawe spent his first career as a naval aviator flying T-28, T-2, TA-4 and EA-6B aircraft. He has an extensive operational and safety experience and has served as an aircraft mishap investigator. Prior to retiring as a captain in 2004, he logged more than 4,500 hours and 750 ‘traps’ during carrier operations. He also served as a strike leader during Desert Storm aboard the USS Midway.
Dr. Dawe is a commercial multi rated instrument pilot, CFII and MEI with type ratings in the Cessna citation, De Havilland Vampire, L29 and seaplanes. He and Chris have owned and flown several aircraft including the L-29, super decathlon, Yak 52TW, cub and currently fly their C310J. Dr. Dawe also serves on the Melbourne Airport commission, is the current president of the Arkansas Aviation Historical Society, and as safety officer on the recently reestablished Razorback Wing of the Commemorative Air Force.
