Douglas M. Auclair – Aviation Biography I began my aviation journey in 2005, earning my Private Pilot Certificate the same year. Since then, I have steadily advanced my certifications and experience, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to aviation education, safety, and leadership. My certifications and ratings are as follows: • 2005 – Private Pilot Certificate • 2007 – Instrument Rating • 2008 – Commercial Pilot Certificate & Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) – Airplane Single-Engine • 2009 – Certified Flight Instructor – Instrument (CFII) • 2010 – Commercial Pilot – Multi-Engine • 2015 – Type Rating: CE-525S (Citation Jet) • 2017 – Certified Flight Instructor – Multi-Engine (MEI) FAA Certificates and Ratings: • Commercial Pilot – Airplane Single and Multi-Engine Land • Certified Flight Instructor – Single Engine, Multi-Engine, and Instrument • CE525S Type Rating (Single Pilot Certified) • Endorsements: Tailwheel, High Performance, High Altitude, Complex • FAA Second Class Medical – Issued February 2025 Flight Experience (Logged): • Total Time: 9,394 hours • Pilot in Command: 9,060 hours o Single Engine PIC: 7,577 hours o Multi-Engine: 1,798 hours o Turbine: 1,808 hours o Night: 596 hours o Instrument: 551 hours • Instruction Given: 5,529 hours Aircraft Ownership and Personal Passion: I am the proud owner of a Stinson 108-3, reflecting my deep passion for tailwheel flying and traditional airmanship. I specialize in tailwheel instruction and advocate for preserving foundational stick-and-rudder skills through immersive training in vintage aircraft. Professional Roles: • Owner / Chief Flight Instructor, AIR Ventures Flying School LLC (2010–Present) Managing all training, flight operations, and maintenance at a successful FAA-certified flight school in Lincoln, RI. • Client Aviation Manager / Lead Pilot, KM Ventures (2011–Present) Managing Part 91 operations for company aircraft in Waltham, MA. • Lead Captain – Citation CJ4, M&R Aero (2016–Present) Conducting corporate and charter operations as lead captain. • Certified Flight Instructor, Horizon Aviation Inc. (2008–2010) Primary through advanced Part 141 instruction; served as Check Instructor. Education: • Master of Science – Space Operations (with Distinction), Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University • Bachelor of Science – Aviation, Utah Valley University FAA WINGS Program Achievements: • Basic WINGS: Phase 8 • Advanced WINGS: Phase 6 • Master WINGS: Phase 4 Affiliations and Professional Memberships: • Board of Directors, Black Pilot Association of Rhode Island • Founding Contributor, IMC Club – Assisted Radek Wyrzykowski with the initial organizational development of the IMC Club, which has since become a nationally recognized IFR proficiency resource for general aviation pilots. • Lifetime Member – National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) • Founding Contributor & Lifetime Member – Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE) • Member – Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) • Member – Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) • Member – Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Recognition and Accolades: • NAFI Master Flight Instructor (4-time honoree) • AOPA Flight Training Awards: o Honor Roll (2015, 2016, 2019) o Distinguished Flight Instructor (2022, 2024, 2025) o Best Flight Instructor – East Coast (2023) I bring a deeply rooted commitment to aviation safety, education, and community engagement. Through my leadership roles, instructing legacy aircraft, and support for innovative pilot proficiency programs, I strive to advance general aviation and foster the next generation of aviators. I would be honored to contribute my experience, insight, and dedication to your board.

I was one of the founding contributors to SAFE

With nearly two decades of professional aviation experience and over 5,500 hours of instructional flight time, I have dedicated my career to elevating the standards of flight education, safety, and mentorship values that are directly aligned with SAFE’s mission. My work as a four-time NAFI Master CFI former FAA DPE, FAA WINGS Program participant (Master Phase 4), and award-winning educator has allowed me to shape not just individual pilots but entire training ecosystems. As the owner and chief flight instructor of AIR Ventures Flying School LLC, I have built a successful, safety-focused flight training organization from the ground up. I oversee all operations—training, compliance, and maintenance—and I am actively engaged in developing curricula, mentoring instructors, and embedding a culture of accountability and continuous improvement. This leadership perspective allows me to support SAFE’s goals from both a grassroots and organizational level. Additionally, I serve on the Board of Directors for the Black Pilot Association of Rhode Island, providing strategic input and helping to grow inclusive access to aviation. My early collaboration with Radek Wyrzykowski during the formation of the IMC Club reflects my commitment to building community-based programs that promote ongoing proficiency, decision-making, and pilot mentorship—hallmarks of SAFE’s own initiatives. I am a lifetime member of both NAFI and SAFE, as well as a member of EAA, RAF, and AOPA, and I bring to the boardroom a seasoned voice grounded in daily instructional activity, client-facing charter operations, and broader advocacy efforts. My aviation business management experience, combined with my graduate-level education in Space Operations from Embry-Riddle, equips me with both technical fluency and executive-level operational insight. Special Skills & Previous Board Experience: Board member, Black Pilot Association of Rhode Island Business Owner, 15+ years of leadership, compliance management, and fiscal oversight Strong public speaking and outreach experience through educational events, FAAST seminars, and media engagements Familiarity with regulatory frameworks, curriculum development, and instructional program design Collaborated with organizations at the formation stage (e.g., IMC Club), offering strategic planning experience I view this opportunity as a continuation of my lifelong advocacy for excellence in flight instruction, safety, and mentorship. I would be honored to contribute my leadership, operational perspective, and commitment to instructional quality to further SAFE’s mission.

In the next three years, I believe SAFE’s most pressing concerns and opportunities center on three core imperatives: modernizing flight instruction, expanding the national presence of professional flight educators, and positioning SAFE as the central hub of instructional excellence in both traditional and emerging aviation domains. Modernization and Professionalization of Flight Instruction SAFE must lead the national conversation on redefining the role of the flight instructor—not simply as a time-builder, but as a professional educator with a safety-critical mission. This includes: • Establishing a recognized professional standard for CFIs, including mentorship, continuing education, and compensation models that reflect the depth of their responsibility. • Expanding the SAFE toolkit and mentorship programs to include best practices in scenario-based training, CBT integration, and adaptive instructional design grounded in contemporary cognitive science. • Most critically, SAFE must take a lead role in shaping the FAA’s upcoming Part 141 revamp, advocating for a modern, scalable, and pedagogically sound framework that supports flexibility in curriculum design, allows for the use of emerging technologies, and streamlines administrative burdens without compromising training integrity. With its national network of experienced instructors and Part 141 school operators, SAFE is uniquely positioned to offer both strategic vision and practical insight to FAA stakeholders during this reform process. DEI and Talent Pipeline Development The aviation industry is facing a demographic crisis: the instructor and pilot workforce is aging, and systemic access barriers remain. SAFE should: • Scale its outreach and partnerships with organizations representing underrepresented groups, such as the Black Pilot Association of Rhode Island (with whom I serve), Latino Pilots Association, and Women in Aviation. • Formalize a Diversity in Flight Instruction Initiative that includes scholarships, mentorship pipelines, and visibility programs highlighting CFIs from diverse backgrounds. • Use SAFE’s influence to ensure that the next generation of instructors reflects the future of aviation. Expanding into New Frontiers of Aviation Education The rapid emergence of eVTOLs, AAM (Advanced Air Mobility), and spaceflight training systems means that tomorrow’s instructors must be prepared today. SAFE should position itself as: • A thought leader in integrating new technologies into pilot proficiency programs and certification standards. • A policy influencer, partnering with FAA working groups to ensure safety standards for new pilot categories reflect the excellence and rigor SAFE stands for. • A home for cross-domain instructors, including those in UAV operations and spaceflight crew training, preserving instructional excellence across all aviation modalities. Internal Board and Organizational Strategy The SAFE Board of Directors should: • Pursue strategic growth of the member base by offering tiered membership with added benefits for lifetime members and aviation organizations. • Enhance SAFE’s digital infrastructure for member engagement, including webinars, certification tracking, and an instructional best practices repository. • Strengthen financial resilience through grants, sponsorships, and donor relations while maintaining mission alignment and nonprofit integrity. SAFE’s opportunity is profound: to not only uplift the flight instructor profession, but to architect the instructional frameworks that will define general and commercial aviation for the next century. By leading in FAA regulatory reform, promoting diversity, embracing innovation, and modeling professional instructional standards, SAFE can become the recognized authority for aviation educator excellence across all platforms from tailwheel to turbine to suborbital.

To ensure SAFE continues to grow and thrive, I believe we must invest in scalable, high-value programs that elevate instructor professionalism, foster community engagement, and amplify SAFE’s national voice as a standard-bearer in aviation education. A centerpiece of this growth strategy should be the expansion and national scaling of the CFI-PRO™ Instructor Development Program. This program is already one of SAFE’s most valuable assets—an in-person, mentorship-driven experience that elevates instructors beyond basic certification and immerses them in real-world instructional excellence. Expanding this initiative can directly address three critical goals: 1. Standardizing Excellence: CFI-PRO™ should become the gold standard for professional CFI development across the U.S., integrated into university programs, flight schools, and FBO training pipelines. By modularizing its content and offering hybrid (online + in-person) delivery, we can reach hundreds of instructors annually while maintaining the experiential integrity that defines the program. 2. Creating a Credentialed Pathway: SAFE could explore credentialing CFI-PRO™ graduates with a recognized SAFE-endorsed professional distinction, similar to a master-level designation. This would promote brand loyalty and elevate SAFE-certified instructors in a highly competitive job market. 3. Partnering with Industry: Collaborations with aviation universities, simulator training centers, and major Part 141 and Part 61 flight schools can help embed SAFE values and practices into broader curricula, bringing instructional consistency and rigor across the nation. Additional Strategies for SAFE’s Growth and Impact: • Instructor Career Lifecycle Engagement: SAFE should aim to support instructors from first-time CFI to lifetime educator. This could include resources for managing burnout, building a sustainable CFI career, and eventually transitioning into training management or examiner roles. • Digital Platform Enhancement: A mobile-friendly member portal with curated resources, WINGS-compatible training modules, and a searchable database of instructional best practices would be invaluable to members and attractive to new instructors. • National Advocacy & Visibility: SAFE should continue engaging with the FAA, NAFI, AOPA, and university advisory boards to advocate for instructor representation in aviation policy, including upcoming rulemaking and curriculum reforms. Elevating SAFE’s public profile through speaker events, aviation podcasts, and conference panels will position the organization as the national voice for CFI excellence. • Instructor Retention & Compensation Initiatives: Working with industry partners, SAFE can create instructor retention strategies, including grant programs, scholarship-supported CFI-PRO™ attendance, and campaigns for instructor compensation equity—key to solving the long-term talent pipeline issue. • Community-Driven Micro-Grants: Launching a SAFE Innovation Fund offering small grants to CFIs with projects focused on instructional innovation, DEI outreach, or local aviation community-building would empower grassroots leadership and foster new ideas from within the membership. SAFE’s greatest strength is its community of dedicated, mission-aligned educators. By expanding high-impact programs like CFI-PRO™, engaging instructors throughout their professional lifecycle, and asserting SAFE’s thought leadership across the industry, we can secure a thriving future built on professionalism, innovation, and service.