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LEADERSHIP
Executive Team
Rob McKinney
CEO
Rob McKinney is chief executive officer of FLOAT Alaska LLC and its subsidiaries—Northern Pacific Airways and Ravn Alaska—where he leads a team of 400 employees and manages a growing fleet of aircraft that fly to destinations statewide. In addition to being a Learjet captain, Rob has over 30 years of airline experience piloting commercial aircraft and managing flight operations. In 2002, as VP and director of operations at Pacific Wings, a Hawaiian-based commuter airline, Rob oversaw exponential customer growth which tripled passenger traffic during his three-year tenure. He thereafter joined Mokulele Airlines in Hawaii as chief operating officer, where he successfully converted the company from a small air-touring service into a fully scheduled commuter airline. Rob returned stateside in 2007 to join SeaPort Airlines, a small start-up based in Portland, Oregon. As chief operations officer, and later chief executive officer, at SeaPort, Rob established a commuter shuttle service between Portland and Seattle. In 2018, Rob co-founded FLOAT (Fly Over All Traffic) Shuttle Inc., a commuter and corporate transportation service in southern California. In April 2020, Rob and the FLOAT Shuttle Inc. team orchestrated the acquisition of Ravn Air Group. Rob received his Bachelor of Science in Technology from Purdue University and has an MBA from Ellis College/NYIT. He hails from the state of Indiana.
Tom Hallam
COO
Tom Hallam is the chief operating officer of FLOAT Alaska LLC, parent company to FlyCoin, Ravn Alaska, and Northern Pacific Airways. A USAF fighter pilot by training, he retired from Delta Air Lines as a Captain and International Line Check Pilot on the B-767-300ER. He later served as the first ever Designated Inspector authorized by the Ministry of Transport, Aruba for their Department of Civil Aviation, specializing in Aircraft Certifications. With over 20,000 flight hours and 50 years in aviation, Tom has developed multiple Flight Training Programs for international airlines, has been a frequent guest speaker at Aviation Forums and has considerable experience working with the International Air Transport Association (IATA). He has held Senior Management positions with airlines in Central Asia, including Air Astana, in Kazakhstan and was the CEO of Somon Air LLC, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan for five years before joining Northern Pacific Airways. A classically trained violinist, Tom has performed with multiple orchestras, was founder and CEO of the now Georgia Philharmonic and serves on the board of the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra in Massachusetts where he was previously Chairman. He is married to Ava Hallam and they have five children and seven grandchildren.
Tom Hsieh
President
Tom Hsieh is president of FLOAT Alaska LLC, parent company to FlyCoin, Ravn Alaska, and Northern Pacific Airways. Tom began his career in communication technology, joining EarthLink in the 1990s, where he managed engineering and IT functions for over a decade. Tom oversaw Earthlink’s growth from a fledgling start-up through its successful IPO on the NASDAQ exchange. Tom’s passion for entrepreneurship and innovation has led him to spearhead a number of organizations and initiatives focused on driving social change. He serves on the boards of the Intervalley Health Plan in Pomona, CA; the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership; the Los Angeles County Fair Association; and the Claremont Graduate University. An active community member and business leader in southern California, he co-founded FLOAT Shuttle Inc. in 2018, a venture-funded shuttle airline service catering to commuters and corporations in the greater Los Angeles area. In April 2020, Tom was instrumental in the acquisition of Ravn Air Group. Tom received his Bachelor of Science in Physics from Harvey Mudd College and has an Executive MBA from the Peter F. Drucker School of Management. He and his wife, Bree Devones Hsieh, live a purposeful life and are committed to non-profit and civic efforts.
Tina Hanley
CCO
Tina Hanley is the Chief Commercial Officer for Northern Pacific Airways and Ravn Alaska. Tina began her airline career with United Airlines as an Account Executive to Fortune 500 corporations in downtown Chicago. Having developed a love for travel, she transitioned into hospitality, growing her career rapidly, representing large complexes of hotels in both the Hilton and Marriott brands. Airlines still called to her as she returned to Ravn Air Group in 2019, involved in all aspects of sales, marketing and scheduling. In 2021, she returned to the revitalized Ravn Alaska, playing an integral role in its growth and now with the launch of Northern Pacific. In her free time, Tina enjoys volunteering and spending time with her family.
Josh Jones
Chairperson
Josh Jones is Chairperson of FLOAT Alaska LLC and its subsidiaries—FlyCoin, Northern Pacific Airways, and Ravn Alaska. He is a business leader, visionary, entrepreneur, and investor in many successful enterprises. Josh began his career in 1996 as a college undergraduate, co-founding DreamHost, a web hosting provider and domain name registrar. An early proponent of the concept of digital currency, in 2014 he founded Bitcoin Builder which played an indelible role in the future success of digital currency. Josh is recognized throughout the investment industry as an expert in blockchain technology, the foundation that enables the existence of cryptocurrency. He serves on a variety of boards and committees including The Fund, a community-centered venture capital firm that extends support to future entrepreneurs, as well as HMC INQ, an investment network offering mentorship and start-up support to Harvey Mudd College students and alumni. Josh received a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Harvey Mudd College. He and his family are residents of Los Angeles.
Operations Team
David Temple
VP Flight Operations-Boeing
A veteran in flight operations, David Temple’s aviation career has taken him all over the world. With work spanning five continents, he has over 40 years of experience in commercial aviation, and 20,000 hours of flight time. David’s certifications and licensure run the gamut, as he has served as Captain on Boeing 757 and 767, and is also Type Rated in BAC111, SF340 and BE1900. In two periods of work with Orient Thai, from 2004–2006 and then from 2012–2014, he flew from Bangkok to Korea, Japan, and 13 cities in China. Based in Bahrain and Malta, David was Post-Holder Flight Operations for Comlux Aviation from 2015–2019 and served as Captain on the B767 BBJ flying Royal Family and Head of State. David’s most recent experience brings him back to Anchorage, Alaska, piloting for Security Aviation and Katmai Air. David holds a Master’s in Business Administration. He is married with three children.
Steven Pruitt
VP Maintenance-Boeing
Steven Pruitt has over 30 years of experience in aircraft maintenance. In 1986, he started off his aviation career with US Airways where he worked for 16 years and later with JetBlue and Virgin America. He then transitioned to Alaska Airlines, leading 100 A&P technicians and support staff in the safe operation of a station with 90 daily departures and 22 RON aircrafts. Additionally, Steven oversaw the technical operations of over seven stations in the Southwest United States and Mexico from 2012 to 2018. Steven’s aircraft specialties include the Airbus A320, Boeing 737, Boeing 757 and 767, Douglas MD80, Fokker F100, and BAE 146. Steven is a graduate of Northrop University in aviation management.
Joel Rhodes
VP Quality–Boeing
Joel Rhodes was the Boeing Field Service Regional Manager in Doha, Qatar, where he was responsible for Central Asia and parts of the Middle East. Joel began working with Boeing in 1987 and has held various positions throughout his tenure at the company. Prior to moving to Doha, he oversaw the Field Service teams in Seoul, Korea (Korean Air and Asiana Airlines), and Taipei, Taiwan (EVA and China Airlines). He also worked within the Boeing Warranty and Product Assurance Contracts Group as a Warranty Regional Manager responsible for airlines in Korea, India, Hong Kong, and the United States. Joel is no stranger to operating large and complex teams, having managed the Customer Quality Support Representatives for 747, 767, and 777 programs and the Preflight and Delivery Quality Assurance Team for the 787 program. He has worked with Boeing for 33 years, beginning at Everett as a factory mechanic and pre-flight and delivery inspector. Joel has a Bachelor of Science degree and an MBA degree alongside FAA Airframe, Power Plant, and FCC licenses.
