The EAA180 Board of Directors listed below is the new Board for 2025. The Board meets the first Tuesday of each month. All EAA180 members are welcomed to join us. See the Calendar for details.
Ray Deer - President
Ray earned his pilot's license at age 17 and has been an aviation enthusiast his entire life. He joined Civil Air Patrol at age 16 and earned his Spaatz award at age 20, marking as far as you can go in the Civil Air Patrol cadet program. As an adult Civil Air Patrol member and local squadron commander, Ray became involved with EAA Chapter 180 in advocating general aviation with the SRQ airport authority. Upon completing his Civil Air Patrol service, Ray joined the chapter board in 2021 to remain close to the local general aviation community. Ray is the Chief Technology Officer at his employer of over 20 years focusing on the research and development, promotion, and manufacture of intelligent transportation systems and products.
Ed Ripper - Vice President
In 1959 Ed enrolled in the Professional Pilot and Airframe and Powerplant program at the University of Illinois Institute of Aviation campus located at the Champaign, IL airport. He graduated in 1961 with a Commercial ASEL, CFI, and A&P cert’s., then worked for several months at a couple of small FBO’s. Being very eligible for the Selective Service draft which he wanted to avoid, Ed instead applied for and was accepted into the U.S. Navy’s NACAD (Naval Aviation Cadet) program and thus was going to learn how to fly the Navy’s way. After 18 months of training Ed became a commissioned officer and Naval Aviator and was assigned to VP-46 at NAS Moffett Field, CA flying the P-3 Orion (Lockheed Electra 4 engine land based turbo prop) aircraft in support of Anti-Submarine Warfare and Maritime Patrol missions. Upon being discharged from the Navy in 1967 Ed was hired as a Flight Officer for United Airlines, where he started out as Flight Engineer on the DC-6 and 34 years later retired as a Captain on the B-767, having served on the DC-8, B-727, B-737, DC-10, and B-757 in between. Since retirement Ed has not done any flying, but is currently enjoying serving as a volunteer mentor with the EAA Chapter 180 Teen Aircraft Build program.
Ron Handley - Treasurer
Ron serves as the EAA180 Treasurer. Ron is a pilot and one of the mentors who lead the TAFM teens in building RV-12 aircraft. He is actively involved in the build of TAFM's fifth RV-12 airplane that is currently underway. Ron has also built an RV7A along with six other owners, which was completed in October 2023.
Peter Leckband - Secretary
Susie Majesky - Membership Coordinator
Susie serves on the EAA180 Board as the Membership Coordinator. Susie began working at Regal Ware in Kewaskum, Wisconsin and worked her way up to Senior Buyer. She left Regal Ware and moved to California where she worked as a scheduler for for firemen working the movie sets in Hollywood. Moving to Florida, Susie worked at the Van Wezel as a Volunteer Usher, then Captain, then Asst. Head Usher, and finally Head Usher and Volunteer Coordinator. She currently supports her husband in his passion of flying and the EAA180 family as the Membership Coordinator.
Bob Jones - Director
Bob serves an EAA Chapter 180 Director. Bob is a Commercial pilot with instrument rating and lifelong aviation enthusiast. Bob served eight years in the Air Force before joining the FAA. Bob worked as Tower Controller, Approach RADAR controller, Automation Specialist, Area Supervisor, Tower Manager, and District Manager before retiring in June of 2012. Bob is co-owner of an RV12-iS hangared next to the EAA hangars. Bob was one of the owner/builders of the RV7A, N617RV, along with six other owners. Bob performed and completed the flight testing of the aircraft with the help of the other members of the group as Additional Pilots as provided by the FAA in October 2023. Bob has since sold his share in the RV7A after flying just under 100 hours in the aircraft. Great airplane!!!
Gary Stevens - Director
Gary Stevens served as President of Chapter 180 for 4 years. Gary is now devoting his time to public relations, fundraising and putting a team together to make EAA Chapter 180's new permanent home at SRQ Airport a reality. The SRQ Community Aviation Center has been a dream for over 10 years, and the reality of phase 1, our 6,000 square foot hangar is getting close. Gary also serves EAA Headquarters in Oshkosh as a Government Host during AirVenture and is an advisor to EAA on Privately-Owned Airports.He has also enjoyed sharing many Young Eagles rides introducing young people to aviation in his Varga Kachina airplane.
Gary soloed in a J-3 Cub near his home town of St. Louis, MO in 1966 and has owned several airplanes while living in Erie, PA , Springfield, IL and here in Florida. He had the privilege of flying with Bob Hoover,did wing-walking on a Stearman and had a back-seater experience in an F-4 Phantom when serving as President of the Springfield Air Rendezvous air show. Gary retired from the Illinois DOT - Division of Aeronautics career as a Flight Safety Coordinator in 2010. He holds ATP Multi-Engine, CFI- Airplane certificates and is Helicopter rated.
Jim Allen - Director
