Meet the 2026–27 VAI Board of Directors Executive Committee The Board of Directors for VAI proudly announces the newly elected leadership team, who will assume their roles Jul. 1, 2026. The officers were elected by their peers on the VAI Board of Directors and will serve one-year terms as the association’s Executive Committee. 2026–27 Executive Committee Brian Jorgenson, Chairperson. Jorgenson is co-owner and VP of Timberline Helicopters in Sandpoint, Idaho. Since founding the company in 2004 with a single Kaman K-Max, he and his wife, Ammy, have grown Timberline into a prominent utility operator with a diverse fleet that includes Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawks. With more than 20,000 flight hours, Jorgenson brings deep operational and business expertise to the board. Chris Baur, FRAeS, Vice Chairperson. Baur is CEO of Houston, Texas–based Hughes Aerospace Corp., one of the world’s largest independent air navigation service providers and a leader in emerging communications, navigation, and surveillance technologies, developing and delivering instrument flight procedures across helicopters as well as fixed-wing and electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. A pioneer in global performance-based navigation and the industry co-chair of the US Helicopter Safety Team, Baur is a dual-rated ATP with more than 45 years of experience spanning military, law enforcement, and Part 135 and Part 121 operations, including Airbus, Bell, MD Helicopters, Robinson, and Sikorsky rotorcraft platforms. He actively flies the Robinson R66, Boeing 787, and TBM, with extensive international operational experience. Mark Wegele, Treasurer. Wegele has led the flight department at Salt River Project (SRP) in Phoenix, Arizona, since 2019, overseeing and expanding aviation operations that support the utility’s electric power and water services across Arizona. With more than 20 years of aviation experience, he has held leadership roles at SRP and Erickson and on US government contracts with the Departments of State and Defense. Throughout his career, Wegele has managed complex aviation operations, led global maintenance teams, and driven innovation in high stakes, compliance-focused environments. Brandi Rector, Assistant Treasurer. Rector is a US Marine Corps veteran and aviation professional with more than 17 years of experience in aviation operations, maintenance, flight training, and business management. She is the owner and CEO of Semper Fly Helicopters, a female veteran–owned FAA Part 141 helicopter flight school in Norman, Oklahoma, and the founder and CEO of Cleared 4 Flight Consulting, an FAA medical certification consulting firm that helps pilots navigate the medical application process, deferrals, and special issuances. Rector is committed to advancing pilot development, safety, and training excellence in the rotorcraft industry. She plans to focus on education, workforce development, and veteran integration into the industry during her tenure on the VAI Board.
