Don Cestari, a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, CASS Senior Partner and Chief Counsel, brings thirty-plus years of experience spanning all segments of the Aerospace/Aviation Industry: Military, Defense, Major Airframe Manufacturers, Airlines and Corporate/VIP Operations.
Don’s experience spans all segments of the Aerospace/Aviation Industry: Military, Defense, Major Airframe Manufacturers, Airlines and Corporate/VIP Operations, including Grumman, McDonnell Douglas, the USAF including Air Force One, American Airlines including its SABRE Division and CITGO’s Corporate Flight Department.
His assignments include a lengthy track record with the USAF, Boeing, AIRBUS, British Aerospace and Rolls-Royce among others.
He developed and managed a world-wide aerospace consulting practice with American Airlines/SABRE for seven years and then with his own firm for the past three years. The areas of practice included Maintenance & Engineering, Flight Operations, FAA and Foreign Regulatory Compliance and Certification, Technical Training, Aviation Facilities Planning and Construction, Legal Contracting and Out-sourcing, Procurement, Supply and Warehousing.
On one major assignment he was retained by Boeing Commercial Airplane Company to provide the technical maintenance and engineering support programs for the launch of the Boeing Business Jet (“BBJ”) B737-700IGW as a new division within Boeing including developing program costs, establishing the supply chain and setting up the out-sourcing support contracts.
As Revenue Contracts Manager at American Airlines he had responsibility for marketing and negotiating third party airframe, engine and component repair services. He also conducted Legal Contract Reviews and Vendor Programs.
During his tenure at CITGO he managed a separate company subsidiary controlling the aircraft maintenance and administration of their world wide 52 aircraft fleet under FAR Part 91 rules for six years including P&L responsibility.
While at McDonnell Douglas Corporation he implemented a material tracking system to meet USAF specs. At Grumman Aerospace Corporation during college he was a summer intern in production and manufacturing engineering and then hired as a management trainee upon graduation and subsequently entered the Air Force.
Don served on active duty in various positions in maintenance support and material world wide including the Vietnam War. For 1975-1980, he was competitively selected to be Air Force One’s Maintenance and Material Support Officer, which also included supporting the assorted VIP fleet of 43 other aircraft. During the period of 1980-1991 he served as a reservist in the United States Air National Guard in various operations support positions in a tactical fighter group.
He received an MBA degree in Management and Finance from Southern Illinois University: a JD Doctor of Law degree from the University of Tulsa and a BS degree in Management Science from St. John’s University.
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