Lombardo covers business aviation maintenance-related issues. He is also a writer and on-air reporter for AINtv. He has over 3000 articles published and is the author of several books on aircraft systems for pilots and on the topic of flight simulation.
He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in education from the University of Illinois, has taught aviation for over 35 years in industry and as a university professor and academic dean at three different universities. He is also a frequent seminar and after-dinner motivational speaker.&nbsp;
Lombardo holds an A&amp;P Certificate, ATP, CFI and Ground Instructor ratings. He was a corporate pilot and was a research pilot and flight instructor at the University of Illinois. An FAA Safety Counselor for over 25 years, he was one of the original 13 Counselors appointed to the FAA’s Airworthiness Safety Program for maintenance technicians.&nbsp;

Contributor

David A. Lombardo

Greg Alan Caires: Lieutenant, U.S. Naval Reserve, Public Affairs Officer - Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, International Security Assistance Force; v-p of media relations - Cobham
I am in the process of being deployed to Afghanistan. It is the first time I’ve gone on active duty since I joined the reserves in 2003. I’ve already reported for duty, but it takes some time to do the processing, paperwork and orientation, so I won’t actually be in Afghanistan until the end of February and expect to return home Christmas 2010. 
In Afghanistan I will serve as a public affairs officer. My primary duty is media team leader with a mobile public affairs detachment assigned to International Security Assistance Force Headquarters. Essentially what I do is accredit and escort media to forward areas to see the U.S. and coalition forces perform their missions. 
For as long as I can remember I have wanted to be in the military. That dream was finally realized when I was given a direct commission in November 2003. 
In civilian life I am vice president for media relations at Cobham. While gone I have a colleague in the UK who will write and issue news releases. I have another colleague in the U.S. who will continue to represent the company at U.S. events. We had a plan for me to hire a deputy in 2011, but given my deployment that timetable has been moved up in an attempt to get someone to help cover my vacancy. 
I know I’m not the first nor will I be the last person to put his life on hold and deploy to a war zone in service to our country. However, I sincerely hope, and will try to ensure, that my service and the sacrifice made by my family are worth it. 
I have been married to my wife, Jennifer, for 12 years, and though I haven’t been deployed previously she understands the issues and sacrifices required. 
It’s my two sons–Griffyn, age nine, and Elijah, age six–and my four-year-old daughter Sophia who don’t quite understand I’ll be away for almost a year. 
On the bright side, they’re all digital natives, and I expect to be able to maintain nearly continuous contact via e-mail and Skype. Next to my most significant concern that someone under my command might get hurt or killed, I worry about my family while I’m gone. I miss the physical proximity, which is a fancy way of saying it’s going to be a long time before I start getting my daily dose of hugs from my family again. 
If you know someone from the business aviation industry who is currently serving our country in a war zone, please contact David A. Lombardo at <a href="mailto:david@bizwriter.com">david@bizwriter.com</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Bizav Warrior: Greg Alan Caires

Greg Alan Caires: Lieutenant, U.S.

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