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OUR TEAM

Meet the Leading Edge Flight Academy Team

For nearly 20 years, Leading Edge Flight Academy has specialized in training helicopter and airplane pilots and launching aviation careers. With over 37,000 cumulative hours and 100+ years in the industry, our management team of pilots knows what it takes to prepare you for an aviation career. Meet the team that makes it all possible. 

Brad Fraley

CEO

Travis Warthen

President

Arianna Moore

CFO

Terry Riessen

Director of Safety

Nicole Wolf

Director of Flight School Operations

Jay Bunning

Director of Training

Chris Jordan

Helicopter Chief Instructor

Stephen Shoffner

Airplane Assistant Chief Instructor

Matt Smith

Director of Student Progress

Kate Ayres

Director of Admissions

Courtney Massey

Accreditation Manager

Kelly West

Director of Aircraft Scheduling

Sara Lower

Aircraft Scheduling and Billing

Noma Nelson

Human Resources Manager

Connor O’Brien

Line Service Manager

Jeff Bishop

Facilities Manager

Matt Parkes

Aircraft Scheduling and Billing

Want to join our team?

We always seek passionate, professional instructors and staff to join the Leading Edge Flight Academy team. Visit our careers page to see current openings and submit your application. 

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“
I moved to Bend, OR after I retired from the Navy to pursue my passion of becoming a professional pilot.  Even though I was a relatively junior instructor with just a handful of CFI experience, I was hired by Leading Edge Flight Academy. Over the past two years I’ve  had the opportunity to grow and hone my skills as a pilot and ultimately assume the title and responsibilities of Lead CFI and Check Instructor. Flying in Central Oregon presents unique challenges and opportunities for young students and their instructors. Pilots are presented with real-world flying scenarios that can teach them valuable lessons about flying safely while executing sound decision making skills.  I had the pleasure of having Nick as one of my first students when I started teaching at Leading Edge. It has been very rewarding to see him (and others) earn their pilot wings and become instructors as well! As I move on to a career in the airlines I reflect on my time at Leading Edge and am thankful for the amazing people I have had the opportunity to work with.

Andrew Reischauer

Andrew Reischauer