Major General Whitehead’s Last assignment was Assistant to the Director of the Air National Guard at the Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia from 1990-1993. He also served on active duty and is a veteran of the Cuban Crisis, Cold War, Vietnam and was assigned to his position at the Pentagon during the first Iraqi War.
Major General Whitehead has 32 years of senior level management experience in the areas of military, corporate and federal government.
His academic degrees and a few of the senior military schools have included; Bachelor of Science Degree, Secondary Education University of Illinois, extensive Masters level training in Counseling Monmouth University, NATO Senior Officer’s School, National War College and USAF Air War College plus extensive senior management level positions and training at Trans World Airlines, Orion Airlines, and the Federal Aviation Administration.
USAF Command Pilot – During his 36 years of military aviation he has flown many multi and single engine aircraft that have included the U-2, KC-135 and the RF-84.
Additional aviation experience has included TWA and FAA pilot, Check Airman and Instructor on Boeing 707, 727, and 747. Greek Civil Aviation Board approved Olympic Airlines Check Airman and instructor on 727 plus Saudi Airlines Boeing 747 instructor.
Major General Whitehead’s community involvement has been and remains a major focus of his life. A few of his past and present activities have included, President and elected member of Old Bridge, NJ Board of Education, President and member of Kiwanis, President for 5 terms and member of Fox Foundation, Chairman of the Minter Field Air Museum for 5 terms member for 8 years, member of Bakersfield Downtown Rotary, Southern Sierra Boy Scout Council Board of Directors, member Air Force Association, mentor in the Mentor Program for High Risk Youth and Chairman, Community Advisory Board for the President of California State University Bakersfield..
Tax Exempt ID 26-1492466
BIOGRAPHIES of ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Philip VanZandt
Born in Kalamazoo, MI 1936 to father in YMCA work. Parents had young friend killed during the USS PANAY incident in China pre-war, and shadow of that tragedy was to darken memories and instill patriotism within them both. WW II years spent with parents in the USO; moving frequently throughout middle, south, and western states as father set-up and managed many USOs at air-base city locations. Post-war moved back from Philadelphia to Detroit and was educated at Detroit University School, followed by Michigan State University BS in 1958. 4-years Air Force ROTC and summer-camps, but with Korean War over, pilot demand was not high. Employed by the automotive industry until 1973 when relocated to Florida and opened a sailboat hardware & rigging shop. Retired in '98; moved to China to explore countryside & culture. Married a Chinese lady from Guilin and resided there off and on until 2008. Current location: St. Petersburg, FL. Personal e-mail: vansos@hotmail.com
Simone F. Wright
Simone Wright is the widow of Peter Wright, one of the original AVG pilots. Mrs. Wright is fluent in both English and Chinese and brings to our efforts a back ground as an Educator and Text Book Writer. Mrs. Wright was a Registered Representative of the American Foreign Trade Corporation in China and Director of American Immigration and Citizenship Education Institution. Mrs. Wright Served as Assistant to the Chairman of the Board of the American Helicopter Museum and Education Center from 1999 to 2007. Mrs Wright has since 2007 been a Board Member and Director of China Affairs for the Flying Tiger Association (AVG).
Charles C. Michel
Mr. Charles Michel graduated from Colorado State University (Colorado A&M) as a Distinguished Military Graduate, receiving a Regular Army Commission, as a 2nd Lieutenant. Mr. Michel served as an Artillery Battery Commander in Korea, attaining the rank of Captain.
Mr. Michel was an Account Executive with the Ethyl Corporation for 18 years and then was Vice President of Sunland Refining Corporation.
Mr. Michel has owned three business in Bakersfield, CA.
Presently retired Mr. Michel serves as Board Chairman, Golden Empire Transit District, and has been a Board Member 20 years.
Mr. Michel has been a pilot for 47 years and a flight instructor for 35 years. He holds a Commercial Pilot Certificate with Multi-engine and Instrument Instructor ratings and has accumulated over 4500 hours of flight time.
Thomas K. Jue
Thomas Jue resides in Rio Vista, CA. His specialty is accounting and finance. He graduated from California State University at Hayward, CA. Shortly after, he became a licensed Certified Public Accountant.
He has worked for a number of companies in various capacities, including Division Controller, Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer.
His current passions are sailplanes and digital photography. He is the newsletter editor for the Valley Soaring Association in Williams, CA.
The specific purpose of this corporation is to promote friendship, understanding, and an appreciation of the shared heritage of the United States and the People's Republic of China and to educate people of today and future generations about the history and heroics of both countries and their people during World War II.
One of the projects to accomplish our goal will be through the restoration of the Flying Tiger historical airstrip and command cave located in Guilin, China. The legacy of physical artifacts, intangible attributes, and tangible cultural and natural heritage will be maintained in the present and bestowed for the benefit of future generations. This will provide citizens of both countries, and all over the world, a firsthand opportunity to see, hear and understand the significance of what transpired in China during World WAR II.
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Chairman of the Board: James T. Whitehead, Jr, Major General USAF (Ret)
President: Larry Jobe (UAL Captain, Ret)
Vice President: William R. Silzer, ABA, ATP, Son of Flying Tiger Captain Warren R. Silzer
Secretary: Michael J. Ward, Esquire, Administrative Law Judge
Treasure: William R. Silzer, ABA, ATP
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
James T. Whitehead, Jr Major General, USAF (Ret)
Larry Jobe President, Travel Aire
William R. Silzer President, Precision Accounting Services, Inc.
Michael J. Ward Administrative Law Judge
K. C. Ma President, Asia Holiday Travel
Michael F. Bianco Chairman & CEO American Capital Markets Group
David Thuillez Sr. Project Manager Colombo Construction Company, Inc.
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS
Philip VanZandt Historical Advisory Board
Simone Wright Flying Tiger AVG
Thomas K. Jue CPA
Charles Michel Retired Account Executive Ethyl Corporation, Pilot, Flight Instructor
Mel McGowan Business Executive
BOARD OF DIRECTORS BIOGRAPHIES
Larry Jobe
Retired from United Airlines in 2001 flying B747-400 Internationally. In his 32 year career he flew most of the aircraft operated by United Airlines to destinations all over the world.
Currently President of Travel Aire specializing in VIP aviator tours to China. Has had the pleasure of accompanying several Flying Tigers on their return to China and has seen first hand the adoration the Chinese people have for the Flying Tigers.
Mr. Jobe is a licensed realtor in the state of California. Mr. Jobe served on the Board of the Danville Homeowners Association and was President for one year, currently serves on the Civic Advisory Board for the Sonora Regional Medical Center. Served on the Grand Jury of Tuolumne County for one year and has been a Federal Aviation Administration Flight Safety Representative for several years. Active in the aviation community where he lives Mr. Jobe continues to fly and promote aviation in all its forms. A pilot for 44 years with over 20,000 hours he holds a Single and Multi-engine ATP rating and is type rated in B737, B747-400, B757, B767, B777 aircraft, holds Single and Multi-engine and Instrument Airplane Instructor ratings, having given nearly 7,000 hours flight instruction. He also holds a Turbojet Powered Flight Engineer rating.
During travels to China Mr. Jobe became informed and then passionate about the history and records set by the Flying Tigers and CBI pilots as well as the goodwill they created for the United States in China.
William R. Silzer
Bill Silzer is the proud son of WWII Flying Tiger, the late Capt. Warren R. Silzer. For many years now, he and his wife have been heavily involved with his dad's fighter squadron group. They have hosted two of their annual reunions with great joy and success. Mr. Silzer was given the great privilege of being made an Honorary Flying Tiger of the 529th Fighter Squadron, 311th Fighter Group at the September 2006 reunion in Atlanta, GA.
Professionally, he has been operating Precision Accounting Services,Inc. in 1981, serving businesses and individuals throughout the United States. In addition, Mr. Silzer is currently the President and Executive Officer on the Board of Directors of the Accountants Society of Virginia and the Virginia State Director of the National Society of Accountants.
Mr. Silzer has served on the Board of Directors of Huntington Ridge II HOA and was President for eight years. Mr. Silzer is a licensed Realtor in the Commonwealth of Virginia and has held positions of Controller and CFO in other companies with budgets in excess of $3.5 million. Mr. Silzer brings to the organization his extensive financial knowledge and his comprehensive experience in serving on Boards of Directors.
Michael J Ward Administrative Law Judge
Michael J. Ward has been an attorney and judge for over thirty five years. He traveled to China with Larry and Nina Jobe on their American Aviator VIP Tour to China in 2006. He became fascinated with the Chinese Flying Tiger mystique and its surrounding history. He volunteered to provide legal assistance to the Flying Tiger Historical Organization, Inc. project as well as any other contribution he might make.
K. C. Ma
K.C. Ma, president of Asia Holiday Travel INC has been working in the travel business for more than 29 years. He once served as a General Manager of China International Travel Service Xi’an Ancient Capital Branch and the standing deputy General Manager of China Travel Service of Shaanxi Province. He is officially pointed as a consultant of Tourist Administration of Hebei Provincial Government of Peoples Republic of China. He has very strong and close connections with the people from the government throughout China owe to his working experience.
David E. Thuillez
David E. Thuillez graduated from Kansas State University with degrees in Architecture and Building Construction. David is a Licensed Architect, holds the National Council Architectural of Registration Board (NCARB) Certification and is a Certified Construction Manager through the Construction Manger Certification Institute in McLean, Virginia. His professional experience includes managing the design and construction of public and private sector work.
Michael F. Bianco
Michael F. Bianco, Chairman of American Capital Markets Group, has been engaged in corporate banking, investment banking and management consulting in the United States and Asia during the past 42 years. Mr. Bianco was Managing Director and National Partner, Corporate Financial Consulting for Arthur Andersen & Company. Previously he served as President & CEO of Loeb Rhoades Securities Corporation, a subsidiary of the investment banking firm, Loeb, Rhoades & Co. which merged with Lehman Brothers.
He started his corporate finance career with Chase Manhattan Bank in New York City and served as the Chase Bank Representative in Taiwan. He has nearly 40 years experience in doing business with China and has pioneered several cross border financial transactions in China involving both debt and equity instruments. His early contributions to China’s overseas financing were recognized in 1980 by Madame Soong Ching Ling , Chairman 0f the National People’s Congress and the wife of Sun Yat Sen, the first President of China
He has managed or co-managed over $5 billion in public and private equity and debt financing for Asian and American corporations in the domestic and foreign capital markets. His clients have included both Fortune 1000 companies and numerous medium size enterprises including Chevron, Borg Warner, Safeway, Dole, Bechtel, Del Monte, and many leading Asian companies including Canon, Orix, Seiko, JAFCO and Neusoft
In addition Mr. Bianco has founded and led several financial services companies both in the USA and China including an internet based bank, as well as consumer finance, securities investments and equipment leasing companies..
Mr. Bianco is a Partner in Ganson Ventures which produced and distributed 18 travel documentaries from the USA, Asia and Europe . He was the Executive Director of “A Touch of Beijing” filmed on location in China and broadcast nationwide on the PBS network He is also a Director of several companies.and served as a Director of Junior Achievement and the Enterprise Network of Silicon Valley, the largest private technology incubator in Silicon Valley. In addition, he was elected to Who’s Who in the West and Who’s Who in International Finance, and is a life member of the Stanford University Alumni Association.
In 2009 in celebration of the 30th Anniversary of US China diplomatic relations Mr. Bianco received a prestigious award from the United States and China Foundation at the Lincoln Center in New York City. The award recognized special contributions to US China relations. Other award recipients in the Lifetime Achievement category included President Richard M. Nixon and Premier Zhou Enlai and Ambassador Leonard Woodcock the first American Ambassador to China.
He is a private pilot and has a lifelong involvement with aviation. He was as an intern at NASA on the Saturn 5 rocket to the moon program. He graduated from the US Navy School of Pre-Flight and served on two deployments as a naval aviation officer in the Vietnam War earning several combat awards and commendations. His Uncle and Godfather Major S.Thomas “Bud “ Bianco served with the Flying Tigers in the China Burma India region during World War ll.
Mr. Bianco received a Master’s Degree from the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan, graduated from Stanford University Advanced Management College, received an undergraduate degree from Wilkes University and studied law at Georgetown University Law School.
In 1986 and support for the Arizona Wing of the now Commemorative Air Force (CAF) located at Falcon Field in Mesa, Arizona, David designed a master plan of the site, a 10,000 SF museum hanger, equipment storage and maintenance facility building. The Phase I was completed and occupied by the Arizona Wing in 1987.
As a team member of the Arizona Wing’s Construction Committee for the Phase II design and construction, David coordinated numerous meetings with the Falcon Field Airport staff, the Mesa Building Department Staff and the Architect / Contractor of Record. Phase II included an additional 35,000 SF museum hanger, offices, PX, and maintenance work area contiguous to Phase 1. Phase II was completed in 2002.
David became a Commemorative Air Force Life Member whose head quarters are in Midland, Texas. As a crew member, David has flown in the Arizona Wing’s B-17, Sentimental Journey, the Heinkel HE 111, AT-6 and a privately owned P-51 Mustang. David has been the past Master of Ceremonies for the “Night in the 40’s Dance” held every year since 1987.
He now resides in Bakersfield, California and is a member of the Minter Field Air Museum in Shafter California.
