Washington, DC—The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) announced today that it is promoting two long-time staff members and welcoming a new technical expert to its Brussels office. Greg Bowles has been promoted to Vice President of Global Innovation & Policy, Kyle Martin is joining the association as Director of European Regulatory Affairs, and Joe Sambiase is now Director of Maintenance & Airworthiness.
In his new position, Greg Bowles, who joined GAMA in 2005, will focus on the integration of emerging general aviation technologies, such as electric and hybrid propulsion aircraft, into the aviation system, and how new products and capabilities for GA aircraft will be designed, manufactured, certified, maintained, and operated. He will work closely with global regulators and industry leaders to expand GAMA’s role in addressing obstacles to general aviation innovation.
For the past nine years, Bowles has been the driving force behind the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)’s Part 23/CS-23 rewrite effort, including acting as the Industry Co-Chair of the Part 23 Reorganization Aviation Rulemaking Committee. Additionally, over the past three years, Bowles has been Director of European Regulatory Affairs & Engineering in the association’s Brussels office. Based in Europe, he worked hand-in-hand with the global aviation community, including European officials, on technical and regulatory issues to create an environment fostering general aviation certification, production, and airworthiness. Before joining GAMA, Bowles served as a certification engineer at Keystone Helicopter (now part of Sikorsky) and began his career as a design engineer at Cessna Aircraft Company (now part of Textron Aviation). Bowles holds a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a master’s degree in business administration from Webster University. Bowles is an active instrument-rated general aviation pilot.
Based in Brussels, Kyle Martin comes to GAMA from the Aerospace and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD), where he most recently served as Civil Aviation Manager. GAMA and ASD work closely together in Europe to facilitate an environment that protects and promotes the general and business aviation industry. At ASD, Martin represented the interests of the European civil aviation manufacturing sector, focusing on policy and technical issues with regulators such as EASA, the FAA, and the International Civil Aviation Organization. Prior to joining ASD, Martin served as a project systems engineer and whole engine design engineer for Rolls-Royce in the United Kingdom. A native of Northern Ireland, he received his master’s degree with honors in aeronautical engineering from the University of Bristol.
Joe Sambiase, who has been at GAMA since 2010, is responsible for GAMA’s activities related to regulatory requirements governing the maintenance, airworthiness, and production of general aviation aircraft. He earned his bachelor’s degree in aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and received his airframe and power plant (A&P) certifications from the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics. Previously a manager at GAMA, Sambiase is also involved in the international standardization of airworthiness activities, as well as coordinating with the FAA and EASA on cabin modifications and completions of aircraft interiors. Prior to GAMA, Sambiase worked at Compass Airlines, US Airways, Independence Air, and Jet Aircraft Maintenance.
“With the well-deserved promotions of Greg Bowles and Joe Sambiase, and the tremendous addition of Kyle Martin to our Brussels office alongside Brian Davey, GAMA is well-positioned to expand our technical reach and industry leadership in the fielding of safety-enhancing technologies and further promoting efficiencies in product certification and validation,” GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce said. “Greg’s tremendous expertise in working with GAMA’s new associate members for electric and hybrid propulsion aircraft and his well-earned reputation as an outstanding and passionate advocate for general aviation in Europe positions him well to be extremely effective in executing his new global responsibilities.
“The addition of Kyle to our international team of technical experts, along with his in-depth knowledge of the European regulatory and certification environment, will allow him to hit the ground running on important issues such as the update of the EASA Basic Regulation and improving aircraft and systems validations between nations and regulatory entities that have bilateral safety agreements in force,” Bunce continued. “Additionally, Kyle’s long service at ASD will further enhance our close partnership with ASD on civil aviation issues in Europe. We are also extremely pleased to recognize Joe with this promotion for his excellent leadership on maintenance and airworthiness issues that are so vitally important to our industry.”