Global Aviation Forum Speakers

Aksam Aboasali 

Global Aviation Subject Matter Expert
Genetec

Robert Jensen

Crisis-Management Specialist

As a former U.S. Army officer and Chairman of Kenyon International Emergency Services I spent 35 years of my life responding to the deadliest accidents, attacks, and natural disasters the world has seen. Events such as the Oklahoma City bombing, the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the 2003 Bali bombings, the bombing of UN Headquarters in Baghdad, Hurricane Katrina, the South Asian Tsunami, the Haitian earthquake, the Grenfell Tower fire and multiple major aviation disasters.

Aviation responses with lessons for Airport Operators included TWA 800, Swiss Air 111, Egyptair 990, Alaska Airlines 261, Gulf Air 72, Scandinavian Airlines System 686, US Airways 5481, Helios Flight 522, Spanair 5022, Afriqiyah Airways 771and British Airways 38. Sadly, I have responded to multiple other aviation losses. My husband and I sold Kenyon international Emergency Services, in 2021. While I do not miss the responses or being on call, there is still a lot of unfinished business. Emergency planners and response managers are busier than ever. Fortunately, not with the larger mass fatality events. However, these events are sadly cyclic, and I fear we are overdue. Many disaster response systems have still not recovered from the pandemic.

While many of the most experienced people have left, fortunately, there aren’t many new lessons to be learned, there are new people who must learn old lessons. The bad part is this learning often comes at unbearable price for those people directly affected by an incident – the victims, survivors and families. I hope sharing some of those lessons today will help you. Beyond my work, I enjoy travel, photography, diving, back country horse and hiking, as well as trips on my adventure motorcycle.

Darren Large

Director, Facilities & Operations
Morristown Municipal Airport

Darren Large is the Director, Facilities & Operations at Morristown Municipal Airport. He has been with MMU for the past 21 years and has served in various capacities such as Operations, Projects and Grants and Facilities Manager. He is currently responsible for day-to-day maintenance and operations at the facility, snow removal activities, airport capital improvement plan, wildlife control, obstruction removal/approaches and any other number of things that come his way throughout the day. Darren received his bachelor’s in history with airport management minor from Dowling College and a master in Aeronautical Science and Management from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. He is also a licensed private pilot. 

Eleanor Robichaud, C.M., ACE 

Director of the Aviation Advisory Team
Kinexis Consulting

Eleanor Robichaud, C.M., ACE, serves as the Director of the Aviation Advisory Team at Kinexis Consulting, bringing almost 40 years of extensive experience in the aviation industry. With a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management from the University of South Florida, Eleanor has built a robust career characterized by leadership in aviation security compliance and operational efficiency. Before stepping into her current role, Eleanor was a pivotal figure at Tampa International Airport, where she spent nearly a decade as the Senior Manager, Airport Security Compliance. Here, she expertly managed security operations, ensuring adherence to TSA, FAA, DOT, and other critical regulations. Her tenure in this role was marked by her initiative to oversee credentialing for over 12,000 ID media holders, manage access control for more than 900 doors, and operate a vast CCTV network, reinforcing her reputation as a compliance expert. At Kinexis Consulting, Eleanor leads with a strategic vision, creating and deploying aviation sales strategies, nurturing industry partnerships, and forecasting revenue. Her business acumen is complemented by her ability to motivate teams, fostering a culture of innovation and excellence.  Throughout her career, Eleanor has received numerous accolades, including recognition from American Airlines Eastern Region Managing Director for resolving compliance challenges, the Aircraft Plaque Corporate Award, and the Agent Excellence Award. Her leadership is further evidenced by her role as Agent Advisory Board Chairperson and in developing a Local Procedures Manual still used today. Eleanor's combination of compliance expertise, strategic foresight, and dedication to team development makes her a visionary leader in the aviation sector, committed to driving the industry forward through innovation and solid partnerships.

Erin Trapp

Deputy Executive Director Major Events & Strategy
Los Angeles World Airports

Erin is an accomplished leader responsible for guiding LAWA's efforts in preparing for and managing major events coming to Los Angeles, including the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, Super Bowl LXI, 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the highly anticipated 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. She oversees LAWA's planning and execution for these large-scale events, ensuring that LAX and VNY provide an exceptional experience for visitors, athletes, employees, and stakeholders. She works closely with LAWA's senior leadership team, city leaders, and event planning organizations to ensure operational excellence. In addition to the Major Events, she co-leads LAWA's Transformation Office, which will implement results from a diagnostic study conducted in 2024 in preparation for the Olympics coming to Los Angeles.  Erin previously launched multiple flourishing startup organizations, most recently as the Executive Director of Colorado Thrives, where she spearheaded a statewide initiative to transform educational opportunities for underserved individuals. Previously, she served as the founding Executive Director of Climate Vault, leading efforts to address global climate change through market-based solutions. With her appointment at LAWA, Erin returns to her roots in international events and civic leadership. She was the founding Executive Director of the Biennial of the Americas, an international organization dedicated to fostering collaboration and dialogue across the Western Hemisphere, and served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for the City and County of Denver.  Erin's expertise in international events, building relationships, managing complex projects, and leading diverse teams will be invaluable as she takes on this new and important role at LAWA. Her experience in civic engagement and large-scale event management makes her the ideal leader to direct our preparations for upcoming milestones. Erin holds extensive expertise in planning and executing large-scale events and has demonstrated exceptional leadership in civic engagement and project management, making her a key asset to LAWA as Deputy Executive Director for Major Events & Strategy.

David Wilson

Aviation Consultant

David Wilson is an experienced aviation consultant with a distinguished career in airport operations and management. He previously served as Chief Operating Officer at Oman Airports and as Senior Vice President of Operations at Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar. David brings extensive expertise in airport operations, strategic planning, and international aviation best practices, helping airports optimize performance and manage complex operational challenges.