return to FCCJ home page
skip to main content skip to main content nav skip to contact information student resourcesclass schedulesstaff directorysearch/site index
Return to FCCJ home page

  Message from the
 Director
  Contact Information
  Faculty/Staff Bios
  News/Events
  Map/Directions (PDF)
  Aviation Programs
  ACE Assessment   Center
  Aerospace Resource  Center (ARC)
  Commercial Vehicle
 Driving Program
  Aviation Math and  Science Camps
  Cecil Center North
  Cecil Center South
 (ACE) Home
The Cecil Center - Cecil Center South - Aviation Center of Excellence (ACE)

Staff Bios

John Carmen, Airframe and Powerplant InstructorJohn Carmen, Professor of Avionics
Mr. Carmen is a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Aeronautical Science. After a tour in the Air Force working as an aircraft mechanic, he worked for another ten years with a cropduster company, an FBO on Cessna’s and Pipers and lastly on Boeing 727’s with an air carrier. He was employed for a few years as a mathematics instructor for a community college and as high school teacher teaching aviation maintenance. He holds a Private Pilots, Federal Communication Commission, and Airframe and Powerplant license.

David Dagenais, Powerplant Program CoordinatorDavid Dagenais, Program Manager for the FAA Certification A&P School
Mr. Dagenais is a graduate of Southern Illinois University (B. S. in Aviation Management) and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Master of Aeronautical Science in Aviation Management). Prior to joining FCCJ, Mr. Dagenais was the Airport Manager at the DeSoto Parish Airport in Mansfield, LA. He also taught at an A&P school at Southern University in Shreveport, LA. He is retired from the U.S. Navy with experience maintaining A7 aircraft and the P-3 aircraft as a Flight Engineer. He also served at the local Naval Rework Facility in the area of Pneudraulics repair and a Quality Assurance Specialist. Mr. Dagenais received an A&P Mechanic certification after completing school at Cochise College and holds the following FAA certifications: Inspection Authorization, Commercial Pilot – Single and Multi-Engine, Certified Flight Instructor and Designated Mechanic Examiner.
John Mayes, Professor of Aviation Maintenance TechnologyJohn Mayes, Professor of Aviation Maintenance Technology
Mr. Mayes served in the U.S. Navy as an Aircraft Mechanic and a P-3 Flight Engineer. After graduating from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a B.S. degree, his first job was a B727 Flight Engineer and Aviation Technician at a 121 scheduled passenger airline and promoted to Chief Flight Engineer and Check Airman Instructor. He then worked for Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation as an Aviation Technician in the Flight Operation Department in Savannah, Ga. and completed his Commercial SEL, MEL, Instrument and Flight Instructor Certificates and worked for Capital Cargo International Airlines 121 scheduled cargo operations. He joined the Aviation Center of Excellence (ACE) in October 2002.

Mark Peeples, Professor Aviation Maintenance TechnologyMark Peeples, Professor of Aviation Maintenance Technology
Mr. Peeples served in the U.S. Navy for 24 years and trained as a Turbine Engine Mechanic and P3 Flight Engineer. After retirement from the Navy, he was employed by Raytheon Aerospace in Dallas, Texas, as a line mechanic. He relocated to Jacksonville and worked at the Naval Air Station-Naval Aviation Depot repairing flight controls on the P3 Orion. He graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a B.S. in Aeronautics and a minor in Business Administration. He is currently working on his master’s degree.

J. B. Renninger, Director J. B. Renninger, Director
Mr. Renninger is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University (B.S. in Math) and Webster University (M.A. in Business Administration). He is a veteran of the U.S. Navy where he served as a naval aviator for over 26 years. He has over 6,000 flight hours in various carrier aircraft and was selected as the commanding officer for three different aviation commands. He is a graduate of the National War College at Fort McNair, Washington, D.C., and served on the Joint Staff under Secretary Colin L. Powell when he was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon. Upon retirement from the U.S. Navy, he developed family financial plans for military service members before serving as the director of Florida Community College’s Aviation Center of Excellence (ACE).

Chris Vandiver, Professor of Aviation Maintenance TechnologyChris Vandiver, Professor of Aviation Maintenance Technology
Mr. Vandiver is a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with an Associate’s Degree in Aviation Maintenance Technology. He began his aviation career working at an FBO for two years at Jacksonville International Airport. For the past 17 years, he has worked for Piedmont Airlines/US Airways Express as an aircraft mechanic on the deHavilland Dash 8 100/200/300 series aircraft. During this time, he performed shop duties, line maintenance, field service, RON over night maintenance, and he acted as a lead mechanic on heavy check aircraft inspections. Mr. Vandiver holds an FAA Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic Certificate.

Additional Staff

Steve Adams


Steve Adams
Professional Pilot Instructor
904.317.3811

stadams@fccj.edu


Joe Clairmont


Joe Clairmont
Tool Room Technician
904.317.3825
jclairmo@fccj.edu


     
Pat Conway

Pat Conway
Aviation Senior Support Specialist
904.317.3824

pconway@fccj.edu

  Phil Fuss Phil Fuss
Test Examiner
904.317.3818

pfuss@fccj.edu

     
Ed Gilmer Ed Gilmer
Retention Specialist
904.317.3813

lgillmer@fccj.edu
  Drew Hambridge Drew Hambridge
Micro Support Technician II
904.779.4199

ahambidg@fccj.edu
         
Jim Harvey Jim Harvey
Commercial Driving Professor
904.317.3812

jharvey@fccj.edu
  Nathaniel Jones Nathaniel Jones
Security Officer
904.317.3803

njones@fccj.edu
         
Joe Lackey Joe Lackey
Commercial Vehicle Driving Instructor
904.317.3812
jlackey@fccj.edu
  Tammy Meyer

Tammy Meyer
Business Administrative Assistant II
904.317.3814
tmeyer@fccj.edu

         
James Mitchel

James Mitchel
Airframes & Powerplant Instructor
904.317.3824

jmitchel@fccj.edu

  Jim Naylor Jim Naylor
Airframes, Powerplant, Pilot Instructor
904.317.3824

jnaylor@fccj.edu
         
Lola Oliverio Lola Oliverio
Plant Service Worker
904.317.3806

loliveri@fccj.edu
  Wanda Porter Wanda Porter
Commercial Driving Senior Support Specialist
904.317.3845
wporter@fccj.edu
         
Mary Jefferson Roache Mary Jefferson Roache
Commercial Driving Senior Support Specialist
904.317.3822

mroache@fccj.edu
  Judy Strickland

Judy Strickland
Aviation Administrative  
Assistant I
904.317.3800

jstrickl@fccj.edu

         
Lisa Westberry Lisa Westberry
Student Success Advisor
904.779.4115

ewestber@fccj.edu
  Rob Wilkinson Rob Wilkinson
Instructional Assistant
904.317.3813

rwilkins@fccj.edu

Aerospace Resource Center [ARC] Staff

Learn more about ARC

Sam Fischer


Sam Fischer
Aviation Training Coordinator
904.317.3844

sfischer@fccj.edu


Mitch Kozak


Mitch Kozak
Program Manager
Aerospace Resource Center
904.317.3842
mkozak@fccj.edu


     
Jennifer Thomas

Jennifer Thomas
ARC Administrative Assistant II
904.317.3843

jlthomas@fccj.edu

     

     

 


back to top arrow



 © 2008 Florida Community College at Jacksonville
Disclaimer
Revised June 23, 2008

For more information, contact the Cecil Center South —
Aviation Center of Excellence (ACE)
13450 Lake Fretwell St., Jacksonville, FL 32221
tmeyer@fccj.edu, 904.317.3800