Avionics News April 2013 - 94

Past Recipients of
the AEA Lifetime
Achievement Award:
2012
Paul Ryan
Ryan International
2011
Ron Hall
Duncan Aviation

Dan Derby to Receive AEA
Lifetime Achievement Award

2010
Dan Walker
King Radio Corp.

D

2009
Robert Carpenter
Owner, Carpenter Avionics

an Derby is the 2013 honoree of the highest honor
bestowed upon an individual by the Aircraft Electronics
Association’s board of directors,
the AEA Lifetime Achievement
Award. He will be recognized
and receive the award during the official opening at the
56th annual AEA International
Convention & Trade Show
on Tuesday, March 26, in Las
Vegas, Nev.
Derby started working for
Atlantic Aero in Greensboro,
N.C., on July 5, 1976, beginning a remarkable 32-year aviation career
with loyal service to Atlantic Aero in a variety
of roles. For the first six years of his career,
Derby troubleshot, diagnosed, repaired and
installed avionics systems for many customers
and aircraft owners.
In August 1982, he was promoted to avionics manager. During this time, Derby began
attending AEA meetings and events. He eventually served as a member of the AEA board of
directors and became vice chair of the board.
He also served as chair of the AEA Strategic
Planning Committee and was named the AEA
Member of the Year in 2001.
In January 1987, Derby was promoted
again, this time to vice president of line and
avionics. After serving in this role for 10
years, Derby became vice president of service
marketing in January 1997, where he was
responsible for maintaining and expanding
the company’s share of the technical services
market.
Two years later in January 1999, he was
named senior vice president of operations,
where he was responsible for the manage-

2008
Tom Sternig
President, Aircraft Electronics Ltd.
Paul Brenner
President, Flight Components
Bruce Baxter
Partner, Chapman Avionics
2007
Monte Mitchell
Past President, AEA
2006
John Winter
Founder, Mid-Continent
Instruments Co.
2005
Jack Grose
President, Navair Ltd.
2004
Gary Burrell
Co-Founder, Garmin International
2003
George Lewison
Aviation Engineer, Author
2002
Edward King Jr.
Founder, King Radio Corp.
2001
Robert Kauffman
Founder, Electrosonics

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2013

ment of the entire organization. In addition,
he became a minority shareholder and was a
member of the Atlantic Aero Holdings board
of directors.
In August 2002, Derby became executive
vice president and accountable manager for
the repair station.
After his retirement in 2008, the AEA dedicated the Dan Derby Center for Professional
Development on Sept. 24, 2008, at its new
international headquarters in Lee’s Summit,
Mo. Each year, hundreds of AEA members
and industry professionals meet in the Derby
Center to conduct technical training, industry
events and professional development forums at
this state-of-the-art facility.
Since Dan’s retirement, the Derby’s have
been able to spend precious time with their
family and enjoy traveling around the world.
Together, Dan and his wife, Donna, have
experienced memorable moments with trips
to Germany, France, Denmark, Switzerland,
China and numerous sites in the U.S. The
Derby’s are active members of the Sheets
Memorial Baptist Church and enjoy their new
home on the lake. q
Avionics News April 2013

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