Air Safety Institute
ASI Leadership
- Bruce Landsberg, President AOPA Foundation
- Kathleen Vasconcelos, Vice President Education and Operations
- Paul Deres, Director Education
Bruce Landsberg, President AOPA Foundation
Bruce Landsberg became the President of the AOPA Foundation in May 2010. He has led AOPA Air Safety Foundation since 1992, serving as President and Executive Director During his tenure, the organization has been nationally recognized with numerous awards on aviation safety leadership and educational program excellence. He writes the monthly “Safety Pilot” column in AOPA Pilot magazine, has a weekly blog and is a frequent seminar, webinar presenter and keynote speaker . Bruce serves with many groups to represent general aviation safety interests in the FAA, NTSB, National Weather Service, and collegiate aviation education in addition to various industry groups.
Landsberg was product marketing manager for FlightSafety International in Wichita, Kan., specializing in new business development, training for owner flown high performance aircraft and for airline pilot recruitment programs. Prior to that, he managed Cessna Aircraft Company’s Air Age education department fleet sales of aircraft to colleges and universities.
A former U.S. Air Force officer Landsberg holds a B.A. in Psychology and a master’s degree in Industrial Technology from the University of Maryland.
Bruce has logged more than 6,000 hours and holds airline transport pilot (ATP), single-engine, multiengine, and instrument flight instructor certificates. He has been an AOPA member for more than 40 years.
Kathleen Vasconcelos, Vice President Education and Operations
Kathleen Vasconcelos is responsible for day-to-day operations of the AOPA Foundation, including oversight of the development administrative team and all of the functions of the Air Safety Institute from the production of training courses and seminars to oversight of the accident database. Prior to joining the Foundation she worked in AOPA’s Media Relations department where she communicated AOPA’s message to the media and general public. Vasconcelos is a commercial pilot with instrument and multiengine ratings, and an instrument-rated flight instructor. She holds a degree in Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Paul Deres, Director Education
Paul Deres manages the ASI creative team and its safety education projects, including award-winning online courses, webinars, live seminars, safety quizzes and more. He also represents ASI at various industry meetings. Paul joined ASI as a project manager in 2007 and became manager of safety education in 2009. He is a certificated flight instructor and holds both A&P mechanic certificates, as well as a bachelor's degree in Missionary Aviation from Piedmont Bible College.
Updated January 10, 2012
