First Air Force One

Michael is a driving force for the restoration and future operations of First Air Force One since its inception. His deep belief in the vision to return this living, flying museum back to the American people to tell its story has paved the way and set this project on course.

With over 25 years of experience as a pilot and in aviation project management and worldwide business development, Michael provides overall strategic direction, vision, and leadership as President and CEO at Dynamic Aviation. Michael joined Dynamic Aviation, a family-owned and operated company, in 1990. He started as a pilot and base manager and went on to work in other roles including Manager of Flight Operations, Vice President of Flight Operations, and Chief Operating Officer. Michael was previously employed at Northern Air Cargo as a flight engineer and was President and Co-Founder of De-Ice Systems International. He serves on the Board of The Seed Company and is an active member of the U.S. Capitol chapter of the Young Presidents Organization. Using his professional and personal network as a platform, Michael continues to build relationships and connect friends locally and internationally to enhance their personal growth and development.

Phil Douglas has a deep enthusiasm and passion for this project that has driven him to the position of Executive Director, First Air Force One, where he will have oversight of the development and implementation of the restoration of President Dwight Eisenhower’s Presidential aircraft.

Phil joined the Dynamic Aviation team in 2011 as Director of Engineering, and since, has served in many leadership roles within the organization. Before joining Dynamic Aviation, he spent over 30 years in leadership roles at Cessna Aircraft and Hawker Beechcraft and served in the Oklahoma Army National Guard.

He enjoys being involved with his local community and has served on multiple boards and advisory councils of non-profit and civic organizations. He currently serves on the Executive Advisory Committee for the College of Integrated Science and Engineering at James Madison University.

Phil earned a B.S. in Manufacturing Technology from Southwestern College and graduated from the General Management Program at Harvard Business School.

Lieutenant General (Ret.) Bradley Heithold has over 40 years of dedicated service since enlisting in the United States Air Force in 1974. General Heithold possesses a heavy concentration of career experience within the special operations community. He has amassed over 3,400 hours of flight time primarily in the AC-130-H Spectre Gunship, and has Commanded at the Squadron, Group, Wing, Agency and Major Command levels.

Most recently, General Heithold served as a Deputy Director within the Office of the Secretary of Defense. General Heithold holds a bachelor’s degree in Physics from the University of Arkansas and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Troy State University. Additionally, he attended the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and the Government Affairs Institute at Georgetown University. General Heithold brings forty-five years of aviation experience and leadership to the First Air Force One team.

Ray Palumbo is a leading defense strategist, problem solver, and team builder who supports a broad range of public, private, and philanthropic organizations. He is the founder and senior partner of Venturi Solutions LLC, a firm that delivers winning solutions in the aerospace, defense, intelligence, and IT sectors.

A former US Army 3-star general, Ray served 34 years leading conventional and special operations forces during peacetime and in combat. He completed his military career as the Director for Defense Intelligence where he simultaneously led the Pentagon’s Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Task Force, an organization that delivered critical aerospace and ground-based platforms, sensors, IT, and intelligence analysis to warfighters around the globe.

Ray’s philanthropic passion is committed to improving the well-being of our nation’s military veterans and their families. As such, he serves as director on the board of the Spookstock Foundation and as ambassador for the Boulder Crest Foundation.

Ray has a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from West Point, a Master of Science in administration from Central Michigan University, and a Master of Strategic Studies from the US Army War College. He is a graduate of the British Higher Command and Staff course at the British Defense College in Shrivenham, England.

Merle Zook is directly responsible for developing and overseeing annual financial plans, implementing cost improvement measures, and managing the performance and growth of Dynamic Aviation’s financial resources and assets. He brings these experiences and knowledge to the First Air Force One Board.

He has been a member of the Dynamic Aviation team since 1999, serving as Controller, Executive Vice President, and Chief Financial Officer. Over the years, Merle has been instrumental in the organization’s growth and expansion into new markets.

Prior to joining Dynamic Aviation, he was Manager of Auditing and Accounting for Phibbs, Burkholder, Geisert & Huffman, LLP. There, Merle planned and supervised the audits of various entities including automobile dealerships and manufacturing and processing companies.

Merle is a Certified Public Accountant in the states of Virginia and Indiana. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Merle holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Virginia.