Meet Our Team
Susi Herowati
Managing Director
Founding Member and former President of AWB-USA. Board Member of Rockville Chinese School (RCS) and former Executive Board Member of Potomac Valley Youth Orchestra (PVYO). Considered as a leading expert on US-Indo-Chinese relations.
Prior to moving to the USA, Susi was the Contracts & Finance Director for Soufan Engineering FZE in Dubai.
In 2003, Susi deployed to Baghdad with IMC/Abt Associates. In 2018, she deployed to Indonesia as a volunteer in response to the Palu tsunami.
Kevin Noone
CEO
Trustee of START Network and former Executive Director of International Medical Corps UK (IMC-UK) where he oversaw IMC-UK’s intervention in all leading emergencies over the past 7 years. More recently Kevin also led IMC-US’s Global Emergency Response unit.
Kevin’s entree to the humanitarian community was with GOAL Ireland in 1992, where he deployed as a volunteer to Somalia. Having left Goma, he subsequently deployed to Bosnia in 1994.
In 2004, he rejoined the private sector to provide life support commodities and services in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
Kevin returned to the humanitarian sector with IMC in 2011 as the result of the Japan tsunami.
Ashley Lackovich-Van Gorp
Gender and Education Specialist
Ashley is a gender and education specialist focusing on rights-based approaches to education and empowerment. She designed and led global education programs for populations displaced by war and marginalized by poverty and inequality. Considered an expert in sexual violence prevention and response, she led Mercy Corps’ MENA Girl Center and created child marriage prevention and response guidance for UNHCR’s Syria response.
Ashley is the Executive Director of the Brunner Literacy Center, an organization in Dayton, OH that empowers adults to lead better lives through literacy. She is also the co-founder of Enhance Worldwide, an organization that works with girls’ education in Ethiopia.
Ralph Schendl
Senior Pilot & Transport Management Advisor
Ralph started his career as a pilot with Tyrolean Airways, in between, he joined the Red Bull team to pilot their North American B-25J Mitchell out of their base in Salzburg. He also piloted Emirates Airline and VVIP International’s aircrafts as their Captain.
Ralph is certified to fly B777, Gulfstream GV/550, King Air B200, and of course North American B-25J Mitchells. To date, he has accumulated 15,000 flying hours, with many more hours ahead of him.
Curtis Allcorn
Senior Pilot & Transport Management Advisor
Having grown up as an expatriate and living in many different parts of the world, Curtis considers himself to be a citizen of the world. After attending the University of Washington in Seattle, his professional life as a pilot started on Norman Britain Islanders and Twin Otters. This progressed on to the Boeing 737, 767 and 777.
With over 19,000 flight hours accumulated, he has also been involved with Flight Safety, Auditing and CRM. His involvement with various aviation projects has continued over the years, ranging from Air Ambulance, Coastal and Economic Zone Protection, as well as Executive Inter Island Shuttle Service Projects.
Stephen Tomlin
Senior Advisor - Program Planning and Policy & Ethics and Risk Management
Stephen is known as a true humanitarian. He brings over 30 years of dedicated service to the global humanitarian sector. His initial involvement within the sector started in the mid-80s as an instructor for the USAID Central American Peace Scholarship EAP project. From there Stephen has led complex emergency response programs around the world.
Over the past decade, Stephen has played a key role in the design and implementation of the USAID regionally funded Pandemic Preparedness and Planning project and in 2016 he co-led a newly formed Ethics, Compliance, and Risk Management team at International Medical Corps.
Rami Eid
Risk and Compliance Officer
With over 20 years of international experience, Rami has held several key leadership positions with renown INGOs and has focused on improving the effectiveness & efficiency of their internal controls in more than 50 countries through Risk Management, Audit & Compliance efforts.
Rami is deeply committed to his Lebanese homeland, he continues to mentor the youth of his nation in leadership roles through his involvement as a board member of “Heart for Lebanon”.
Neil Rodriguez
Supply Chain Advisor
Neil is a supply chain leader in the international development, aid and relief, commercial logistics, international trade & engineering sectors.
He worked with AP Moller Maersk Group, Agility, CGI and a range of NGOs, including International Medical Corps, Save the Children UK and International, Merlin and serves on the Advisory Boards of the Humanitarian Logistics Association & the World Humanitarian Forum.
Alex Kroll
Program Development & Innovation Advisor
Alex is an Air Force Test Pilot and aviation enthusiast living in Los Angeles, CA. As a test pilot, he ensures the safety and operational effectiveness of advanced aircraft and technology demonstrators in concert with multiple government organizations.
With an education in engineering and business from UCLA, he also has 2,000 hours of flight time in over 40 different aircraft types. His passion is developing and encouraging more environmentally friendly, alternative means of aviation, including personal aircraft and electrified propulsion systems.
Zhaohan Dong
Media & Communication Advisor
Having moved to New York to attend college at NYU Zhaohan actively pursued his twin passions of flying and cinematography.
Over the past years, Zhaohan has qualified as an FAA Remote Pilot, Ground and Aircraft Flight Instructor, and more recently as a Commercial Aircraft Pilot. In 2020 he graduated from NYU having majored in Cinematography and Filmmaking.
During his study in cinematography and filmmaking, he experienced firsthand the ever-increasing inequalities of the disenfranchised around the globe and is committed to using his skills in assisting those most in need.
Zhaohan continually strives to find innovative solutions within the aviation sector and its impact on Humanitarian relief.
Brian Futterman
Pilot and Last-Mile Advisor
Brian Futterman (“Fuh-ter-man”) is a professional pilot from New York City. His humanitarian activity started in 2013 while traveling to the Philippines to assist with relief after Typhoon Haiyan, and the experience made clear how access to the last mile can determine the fate of an entire region.
While working for a commercial airline over the past decade, he has traveled throughout Africa, Asia, and the Americas to observe this critical link in the logistical chain and consider the role aviation can play to improve support. Most recently, he is working to stand up a non-profit, last-mile cargo airline based in Panama City.
Fabiano Franz
Humanitarian Program Specialist
Fabiano Franz is a progressive and visionary professional with 21 years of experience in leading humanitarian and development programs in tough environments. He is a consummate communicator who garners opportunities through his networking for creative partnerships in solving dynamic challenges in the diverse working environment.
Fabiano is passionate about entrepreneurial solutions to the toughest global challenges and motivated to develop expertise in emerging technologies and business models. Recently, he is focusing on effective operational management through responsible financial technology.
Owais Hussain
Middle Eastern Affairs Advisor
Owais Husain is a multi-disciplinary contemporary artist based in Dubai. His work explores issues around identity, cross-cultural experience, iconography, urban mythology.
Owais is the creative director and head art consultant of a US-based NFT platform- HEFTY Art (for digital art trade and distribution in the blockchain space). Owais is also presently creating and curating public art projects in multiple locations for the governments of UAE and India, as well as public art installations in Dubai, KSA, London, New York.
Owais is committed to furthering AWB-USA’s footprint in the Middle East in his spare time.
Steve Honegger
Human Development Advisor
Steve co-founded a start-up aimed to help people and businesses become more prepared for the 21st-century using human-centered design. Internationally, he created performance assessment indicators and consulted local staff on implementing evaluations for the USAID-funded workforce development project, Enter Jovem Programa de Empregabilidade serving impoverished youth in the Bahia region of Brazil.
Steve has also served as a thought leader, proposal strategist, and donor researcher for Partners of the Americas and as a grant reviewer for their 100 Thousand Strong Project implemented in conjunction with the State Department and NAFSA.
Matthew Olker
Senior Community Outreach Officer
Matthew is an Air Force pilot living on the US Gulf Coast. He graduated from Purdue University with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering, employing upcoming technologies to advance aviation’s role in society.
With over 3,000 flight hours in some of the most underprivileged regions of the world, he has experience overcoming extreme challenges through diversity, teamwork, and careful planning. He is dedicated to helping those in dire circumstances by leveraging the power of small, dedicated teams and outside-the-box thinking.
In his spare time, Matt entertains friends and neighbors as a bagpiper.
Meet Our Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors are proven leaders in the corporate and humanitarian sectors. Together, they guide AWB-USA on our journey.
Marie-Luise Thune
Founding Member and Vice President of Luftfahrt ohne Grenzen e.V. – Wings of Help Germany. In May 2019, she was appointed General Secretary of Aviation Sans Frontieres International.
Marie-Lu is a renowned actress and scriptwriter. She received the Medal of Merit Rhineland-Palatinate in 2015 and Ehrensache SWR in 2010.
Thomas Schrade
Having served his country, Tom left the US Navy in 1973. During his service, Tom was made an honorary member of the US Coast Guard for his role in various underwater search and rescue operations.
Tom used his GI Bill money to pursue his dream of becoming a pilot. This culminated in his commissioning the rebuilding of the Sikorsky S-38, sometimes called “The Explorer’s Yacht”, which he has flown across the Atlantic.
Tom continues to be an active member of the Living Legend of Aviation.
Kevin Noone
Trustee of START Network and former Executive Director of International Medical Corps UK (IMC-UK) where he oversaw IMC-UK’s intervention in all leading emergencies over the past 7 years. More recently Kevin also led IMC-US’s Global Emergency Response unit.
Kevin’s entree to the humanitarian community was with GOAL Ireland in 1992, where he deployed as a volunteer to Somalia. Having left Goma, he subsequently deployed to Bosnia in 1994.
In 2004, he rejoined the private sector to provide life support commodities and services in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
Kevin returned to the humanitarian sector with IMC in 2011 as the result of the Japan tsunami.
Susi Herowati
Founding Member and former President of AWB-USA. Board Member of Rockville Chinese School (RCS) and former Executive Board Member of Potomac Valley Youth Orchestra (PVYO). Considered as a leading expert on US-Indo-Chinese relations.
Prior to moving to the USA, Susi was the Contracts & Finance Director for Soufan Engineering FZE in Dubai.
In 2003, Susi deployed to Baghdad with IMC/Abt Associates. In 2018, she deployed to Indonesia as a volunteer in response to the Palu tsunami.
Christian Georlette
Founding Member, President and Chairman of Aviation Sans Frontieres International (ASF International) since 2016.
Christian spent much of his early life in the rural region of DRC. He joined Belgian Red Cross Rescue Service in 1980 as a volunteer and subsequently served in many countries-in-conflict, including Rwanda in 1994, where he was stuck in Kigali in the middle of the genocide. It was a miracle that he escaped.
Christian joined ASF Belgium in 2007 as the CEO.
Frank Franke
President of Luftfahrt ohne Grenzen – Wings of Help Germany. In May 2019, he was also appointed as Vice President Aviation Sans Frontieres International.
Frank is a journalist and author. He was the former editor-in-chief at Hessischer Rundfunk.
He was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany and WACS Humanitarian Award in 2012.
Pittman Shay
Pittman Shay began his career with Sotheby’s in Las Vegas, facilitating Arabian horse auctions. He continued to work at Sotheby’s as a consultant, New York, until 2018 where he facilitated business development, art purchases and sales in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East.
Pittman is currently a Charlie Russell Riders member which carries on the core traditions and life of the American West.
Jean-Yves Grosse
Aviation Sans Frontières family, specifically Aviation Without Borders USA is fortunate to have Jean-Yves in the team. He joined the cabinet of the France Ministry of Transport in 1981, the next phase of his career in various leadership positions in the Air France Group, and consistently spent his entire career in the aviation-related industry.
Under his leadership Aviation Sans Frontières (ASF) France received the European Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) and is the only NGO in the world to meet such standards in the same way as any certified airline.
Jean-Yves devotes his expertise to ensuring a better aviation response to relieve the suffering of those who need humanitarian assistance.
