Release #12.38
August 9, 2012

ALPA Honors Pilots with Prestigious Presidential Citations
Honorees Uphold Highest Standards of Professionalism

WASHINGTON―The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), will recognize two pilots with its Presidential Citation on August 9 during the Association’s 2012 Air Safety Forum in Washington, D.C.

“With these presidential citations, ALPA honors pilots who have made exceptional contributions to advancing aviation safety, security, and pilot assistance and who embody the highest standards of professionalism,” said Capt. Lee Moak, ALPA’s president. “It’s a privilege to recognize these two pilot representatives for their exceptional commitment and dedication to advancing the safety of air transportation and the piloting profession.”

This year, two airline pilots will receive the Association’s prestigious honor—First Officer Mark Rogers (United) and Capt. John Taylor (ExpressJet).

F/O Rogers has led ALPA’s efforts to improve the safe transportation of dangerous goods for more than a decade. His work has included projects to improve the safe transport of lithium batteries, training for flight and cabin crews in responding to onboard battery fires, and improvements in how pilots are notified about batteries aboard their aircraft.

As the Dangerous Goods Committee chairman for the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations, F/O Rogers is a voting member of the International Civil Aviation Organization Dangerous Goods Panel.

In addition, F/O Rogers represents airline pilots’ interests at the United Nations and before a range of industry and government bodies, including the Federal Aviation Administration, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, and the U.S. Congress. He lives in San Francisco.

Capt. John Taylor currently serves as the ExpressJet pilot group’s ALPA Pilot Assistance chairman, overseeing the pilot group’s Aeromedical, Critical Incident Response Program (CIRP), HIMS, Pilot Mentoring, and Professional Standards Committees.

A certified paramedic with an associate’s degree in nursing, Capt. Taylor is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. He uses his RN expertise to assist XJT pilots in fitness for duty examinations, and to address CIRP, Employee Assistance Program, Family Medical Leave Act, and long-term disability issues.

Following the merger of ExpressJet and Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Capt. Taylor has worked to build a foundation for all pilots of the new ExpressJet by coordinating with his Atlantic Southeast colleagues to develop training, protocols, and procedures that will meet the medical and professional standards needs of the combined pilot group. Capt. Taylor resides in Aurora, Ohio.

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s largest pilot union, representing more than 53,000 pilots at 37 airlines in the United States and Canada.

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Contact: ALPA Media, 703/481-4440, or media@alpa.org