Count Ferdinand von Galen—Chairman of the Board

A long-time aviation enthusiast and successful investor, Count Ferdinand von Galen serves as Chairman of the Arizona Aerospace Foundation.  

Born near Muenster, Westphalia, Germany, Count von Galen was educated at Oxford University in England and Bonn University Law School. He currently owns and operates the Rail X Ranch in Patagonia, Arizona. Count von Galen is a private investor and served as Chairman of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. (Now the German Stock Exchange)

He chaired one of the largest private investment banks in Germany. He also served on the Board of Directors of several European and American Corporations and Institutions including, the United States Trust Company, North American Rockwell, US Filter Corporation, Bangor-Punta Corporation, Lone Star Industries, Man-Roland AG and Georgetown University.

Count von Galen resides in Patagonia, Arizona.

Boyd P. Drachman—Vice Chairman

Boyd P. Drachman is President and owner of Drachman Insurance Services, a commercial insurance brokerage agency in Tucson specializing in property, casualty, surety and employee benefits for businesses. He began his career at the age of 21 in 1977 with a regional brokerage firm and completed an internship with a large London broker in 1979. In 1984 he founded Drachman Leed Insurance and in 2011, started his present company.

Mr. Drachman has been active in many local private and governmental organizations and committees including past director of the Tucson Conquistadors, past member of the Centurions, current vice chairman of the Arizona Aero Space Foundation/Pima Air Museum, past member of the Tucson/Pima County Historical Commission, and current member of the Pima County Trial Courts Nominating Committee.

Mr. Drachman is an avid pilot, hunter, fisherman and outdoorsman. A lifelong resident of Tucson, Arizona Mr. Drachman lives with his wife and children on Tucson's east side.

George Henderson—Treasurer

George Henderson graduated from the University of Arizona with a BS in Business Administration. A shareholder with Beach, Fleischman & Co., P.C., Mr. Henderson has planned and performed audits, reviews and compilations of numerous privately held companies during his twenty-four years in public accounting. He coordinates income tax planning and compliance services, and performs other business consulting. He has industry experience with construction, employee benefit plans, manufacturing, real estate, retailing, service industries, transportation, water companies and wholesaling. He is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Arizona Society of Certified Public Accountants. Mr. Henderson came to the Arizona Aerospace Foundation Board in February 2003. In addition to serving as the Treasurer of AAF, he is the Treasurer of the Verde Ranch Homeowners’ Association and was the Treasurer of the Children’s Museum Tucson for nine years. His past executive duties with other agencies includes roles of President and Treasurer of the Sahuaro Optimist Club and Tucson Pop Warner.

Tom Murphy

Tom Murphy is a third generation Tucsonan who graduated from the University of Arizona College of Law in 1972. Murphy practices general corporate and commercial law with an emphasis on healthcare law at Gust Rosenfeld. Prior to joining Gust Rosenfeld, Murphy served as General Counsel for the Carondelet Health Network, the oldest and largest nonprofit healthcare provider in Southern Arizona.

In addition to healthcare law, Murphy also has expertise in nonprofit corporation law. He is a life member of the Tucson Fiesta Bowl Committee and of the St. Mary's Centurions. A member of the DM-50 since 2001, he has served as Secretary, Vice President and President and he is currently the immediate Past President.

Gary L. Abrams

Gary L. Abrams was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona. He began his career as a second generation leader of Abrams Airborne Manufacturing, Inc., a precision sheetmetal manufacturing company that was founded by his father in 1965. Gary currently serves as the President of Abrams Airborne. Gary is also the President of Vltor Weapons Systems, a weapons manufacturing company that supplies weapon accessories to the US Military and many law enforcement agencies. He is an owner and the President of Milkor USA, Inc., a manufacturer of the M32A1 multi-shot grenade launcher.

As a lifelong pilot, Gary’s passion of flying and his drive for business enabled him to establish two companies in the field of aviation. Gary is the President of Pima Aviation, which acts as the long term lease holder of the Marana Regional Airport, as well as the President of a FBO at Marana Regional Airport, titled Tucson Aeroservice Center. Gary has been an active member of the Pima Air and Space Museum for many years serving as a past President, and currently serving his third term as the Trustee on the Board of Supervisors.

Gary continues to be an active member in the aviation industry, military and community through the various businesses. He has inspired youth through flight programs at Tucson Aeroservice Center and Pima Aviation. Milkor USA and Vltor Weapon Systems serve as a voice for Gary’s immense support for the Nation’s armed forces. Finally, through Abrams Airborne, Gary continues to improve and give back to the very community in which he grew up.

Acorn, Kim B.

Mr. Acorn graduated, in 1973, from the University of Arizona, College of Architecture. In 1977, Mr. Acorn established Acorn Associates Architecture, Ltd. Practice areas consist of retail, multifamily, institutional, industrial, and office buildings. The firm has developed a reputation for professional services which are creative, dependable, on time and on budget.

Today, as Principal in Charge and President of Acorn Associates Architecture, Ltd., he is the leader on all projects undertaken by the firm. With an office staff of seven, including four registered architects, the firm primarily serves local government, institutional and development clients. Active in community affairs, Mr. Acorn financially supports and contributes his time to many civic causes and nonprofit entities.

Chanda S. Bhudabhatti, FAeSI

Chanda Bhudabhatti was brought up to equal her two brothers—breaking the traditional mold of India women by becoming the third woman commercial pilot of India. Chanda was the Founder/President of the Indian Women Pilot’s Association and has been a member of many aviation organizations. Chanda was the first non-US candidate for Presidency of the Ninety-Nines, Inc. Chanda pioneered and chaired major events such as the 1986 & 1994 World Aviation, Education & Safety Congress. Chanda’s effort to promote aviation amongst women worldwide and especially in India is evident. After fifteen years of continuous efforts by Chanda, the Indian Air Force opened the doors for women pilots. Chanda was the first Asian woman to receive the “Chuck Yeager Aerospace Education Award.”

William J. Fishkind, MD, FACS

William J. Fishkind, MD, FACS is a Clinical Professor at the University of Arizona and the University of Utah. He is a Director of the Fishkind, Bakewell, Maltzman, Eye Care And Surgery Center in Tucson, Arizona.

He attained his medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine and completed an internship in medicine at Mount Auburn Hospital, both in Boston. He then completed the Harvard Primary Care Internal Medicine Residency, and taught at Harvard. He is board certified in internal medicine.

He practiced general medicine and was medical director at the USPHS Indian Hospital in Sacaton, Arizona. He was awarded the USPHS Commendation Medal during his tenure there.

He subsequently completed and ophthalmology residency at a combined program of the USPHS Hospital and Louisiana State University in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Dr. Fishkind is board certified in ophthalmology, a Fellow of the American Board of Ophthalmology and has been awarded their senior honor award. Additionally he is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He is a member of multiple committees of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He is past president of the Outpatient Ophthalmology Surgery Society.

Presently, Dr. Fishkind practices in Tucson, Arizona, but travels extensively teaching both nationally and internationally. He has been a visiting professor at many universities, given many scientific presentations, and has authored many articles as well as book chapters on phacoemulsification and intra-ocular lens implantation

He has authored numerous textbook chapters but is most proud of his accomplishment as editor of his textbook, Complications in Phacoemulsification; Avoidance, Recognition, and Management which has been published by Thieme Publications in New York City. He is one of America’s top doctors from 2009 to the present and is listed in “Who’s Who in America.”

Dr. Fishkind is married to Wendy Weston Fishkind, a physical therapist. They have two children and 3 grandchildren.

LtGen. Robert B. Johnston, USMC (Ret.)

Lieutenant General Johnston joined the Marine Corps in 1961 and has served various tours in Vietnam, Lebanon and in the Persian Gulf. During the Gulf War, Lieutenant General Johnston was the Chief of Staff to General Norman Scwarzkopf and was instrumental in the liberation of Kuwait. Following that assignment, he commanded the US multinational force in Somalia. He retired from the Corps in 1995 and Lieutenant General Johnston serves on the Governor's Military Affairs Commission and is a member of the Southern Arizona Leadership Council. Lieutenant General Johnston came to the Arizona Aerospace Foundation Board in February 2003.

Patrick Pepper

Mr. Pepper is a member of the Boeing Commerical Aircraft Special Projects Team responsible for managing special projects in support of BCA Engineering Leadership, the BCA Executive Leadership Team and Boeing Corporate Office. Responsibilities include; Liaison with External Technical Affiliations including serving as the Boeing Focal to the SAE, assisting Sales with the donation/restoration of historic aircraft to airline customers, advisory support to aircraft restoration projects, and liaison with aviation museums. Patrick is also a member of the Boeing Historic Council.

Patrick has 37 years in aerospace with Boeing and formerly McDonnell Douglas. He began his career in 1978 as a Production Scheduler, in Manufacturing. In 1983, he moved over to the MD-80 Program Office as a Program Planning & Control Specialist. In 1985 he moved into the Contracts and Pricing organization as the Business Manager of the Ultra High Bypass Engine Program, within Advanced Products. Tn 1990, he moved to Customer Support as the Twin-Jet Program Manager, adding the TriJet Program to his responsibilities in 1996. Patrick was a member of the McDonneLl Douglas/Boeing Merger Team for Customer Support in 1997. After the merger, he served as a senior Business Analyst in Commercial Aviation Services — Finance prior to moving to his current position in Engineering in 2009.

Along with his responsibilities at Boeing, Patrick has been very active in his community. Patrick was appointed by the Anaheim City Council to the City of Anaheim Budget, Investment and Technology Commission in 2005 where he served for ten years, nine years as the Chair. Patrick was also appointed to the Orange County Transportation Authority Citizens Advisory Committee in 2005 by the Mayor of Anaheim. where he served for ten years, the last four years as the Chair. Patrick currently serves as an Executive Advisor to the Support Our Anaheim Resort (SOAR) non-profit organization.

Patrick has a bachelor of arts in Urban Geography and a master degree in Public Administration from California State University, Long Beach. Along with being a member of the SAE, he is a senior member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and serves on the Finance Committee.

Michael Rusing

Michael “Mick” Rusing is a founding member of the law firm Rusing Lopez & Lizardi, P.L.L.C., formerly Rusing and Lopez, P.L.L.C. Mr. Rusing is a graduate of Stanford Law School. He has received many top honors and awards in the legal field and has also authored numerous professional legal publications. Among his major practice areas is Business Ligation, including Construction, Real Estate, Labor and Employment Law and Environmental Law. Some of his community and social activities include board membership in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Los Charros del Desierto, senior member of the Tucson Conquistadores, as well as serving as a lifetime member of the Tucson Fiesta Bowl Committee.

Michael A. Stilb

Mr. Stilb is President and Owner of M.A.S. Real Estate Services that develops and manages office, retail, light industrial, self-storage and hospitality facilities throughout Southern Arizona. He has over 40 years of experience in real estate development, management and brokerage. He retains ownership interests in various commercial properties including Hacienda del Sol. Mr. Stilb studied landscape architecture and land planning at the University of Arizona. His community and social involvement includes Los Charros del Los Desierto, the Mountain Oyster Club, Tucson Country Club and was formerly a board member of both the Tucson Museum of Art and the Southern Arizona Chapter of Confrerie de la Chaine des Rotisseurs. Mr. Stilb became a Trustee for the Arizona Aerospace Foundation in February 2002 and is a current Member of the Tucson Airport Authority.

John Tallichet

John Tallichet graduated from the University of Southern California and he also holds MBA degrees from the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley and the Columbia Business School at Columbia University. Mr. Tallichet has over 25 years of restaurant industry experience and he is the CEO and President of Specialty Restaurants Corporation where he is responsible for the company's restaurant, real estate and aviation divisions. Mr. Tallichet is a member of the California Restaurant Association and has served on the CRA's Orange County Board of Directors. He also serves as a board advisor to The Sam Pievac Company and he is a Trustee of the Flight Test Historical Foundation which supports the development of the Air Force Flight Test Museum at Edwards AFB, California and the museum's Blackbird Airpark Annex at USAF Plant 42 in nearby Palmdale.

Russell L. Violett

Former United States Air Force Major General Russell L. Violett holds a Bachelor of Arts in Building Industry and Real Estate from the University of Denver. He also completed Armed Forces Staff College in 1973, and the Air War College in 1978. Russ had more than 300 combat hours serving two tours flying F-105’s against targets in Laos and North Vietnam. He has logged over 3,600 flying hours in combat aircraft including the F-100, F-105, F-106, F-4, A-10, T-33, T-38, and T-39. A long-time resident of Tucson, Russ retired from the Air Force in 1987 and consulted with the Aerospace Industry in marketing and management services until 2007.

John W. Wisner

John Welling Wisner is the President and owner of J.W. Wisner, Inc., a service company in the mining industry, which he founded in 1989. In January, 2016 he became a founding member and President of AZX Americas, LLC., a large logistics company that transports copper concentrates from the United States to the Port of Guaymas in Mexico.

John was born and raised in Mexico City, Mexico and prefers to be called Juanito. He served in the Mexican Army from 1968 to 1969 before coming to the United States to serve in the U.S. Navy from 1969 to 1973 he was a jet mechanic in the VT-23 training squadron in Kingsville, TX. He worked on TAF-9J Cougars, TA-4J Skyhawks and T-2C Buckeyes. He was aboard the USS Lexington on various tours for the squadron’s aircraft carrier qualifications. Juanito still has a deep love and respect for naval aviation to this day.

Juanito currently is a member of the Society of Mining Engineers, The New York Copper Club, Copper Council and the London Metal Exchange. He previously was a board member of the Arizona Mining Society.

Juanito enjoys fishing, both fly and deep sea, mountain biking and gardening. He has called Tucson home for the past 30+ years and loves to spend time with his wife, children and many grandchildren exploring the desert.

Bert L. Zaccaria

Bert L. Zaccaria has been a venture capital investor, and an entrepreneur, CEO, and value-added board member of technology companies for more than 30 years.

He was a co-founder of Xidex Magnetics, which became the world's largest manufacturer of both flexible magnetic media and hard disks. Mr. Zaccaria then went on to serve as Chief Operating Officer, Chief Executive Officer of Xidex Corporation. With his leadership, Xidex became a Fortune 500 company through internal revenue growth and by acquiring over 20 companies.

Anticipating the growth in CD-ROM technology, Mr. Zaccaria founded Triptych CD Corporation and served as its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer until it was acquired. Mr. Zaccaria has served on the Board of Directors of numerous other public and private companies.

Mr. Zaccaria's accomplishments have been recognized by several organizations, including the Harvard Business School Alumni Association, which honored him with an Entrepreneur of the Year award, and Rochester Institute of Technology who elected him Alumnus of the Year. He is a fellow of the IMC, and a past member of the American Business Conference.

He is an active pilot with over 6000 flight hours in more than 40 aircraft. He founded and was CEO of Sierra Warbirds, a company which imported, refurbished and sold former military and historic aircraft.

Mr. Zaccaria served three tours of duty off the coast of Vietnam as a Naval officer.