Mr. Carmen is a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Aeronautical Science. After a tour in the Air Force working as an aircraft mechanic, he worked for another ten years with a cropduster company, an FBO on Cessna’s and Pipers and lastly on Boeing 727’s with an air carrier. He was employed for a few years as a mathematics instructor for a community college and as high school teacher teaching aviation maintenance. He holds a Private Pilots, Federal Communication Commission, and Airframe and Powerplant license.
Carter Cheatum, Professor of Aviation/Air Traffic Control
Mr. Cheatum is a graduate of Florida State University with a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics. He worked for the FAA as an air traffic controller at Jacksonville Air Route Traffic Control Center for over 32 years. During his time as a full performance level controller, he was involved in all phases of training from classroom procedures and simulations to on-the-job training. Other job responsibilities included a committee to establish national Air Traffic Control performance requirements. After leaving the FAA, he taught math at Orange Park High School. Mr. Cheatum holds a certification in Air Traffic Control and a Teaching Certificate.
David Dagenais, Program Manager for the FAA Certification A&P School Mr. Dagenais is a graduate of Southern Illinois University (B. S. in Aviation Management) and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Master of Aeronautical Science in Aviation Management). Prior to joining FCCJ, Mr. Dagenais was the Airport Manager at the DeSoto Parish Airport in Mansfield, LA. He also taught at an A&P school at Southern University in Shreveport, LA. He is retired from the U.S. Navy with experience maintaining A7 aircraft and the P-3 aircraft as a Flight Engineer. He also served at the local Naval Rework Facility in the area of Pneudraulics repair and a Quality Assurance Specialist. Mr. Dagenais received an A&P Mechanic certification after completing school at Cochise College and holds the following FAA certifications: Inspection Authorization, Commercial Pilot – Single and Multi-Engine, Certified Flight Instructor and Designated Mechanic Examiner.
John Mayes, Professor of Aviation Maintenance Technology Mr.
Mayes served in the U.S. Navy as
an Aircraft Mechanic and a P-3
Flight Engineer. After graduating
from
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a B.S. degree,
his first job was a B727 Flight Engineer and Aviation Technician
at a 121 scheduled passenger airline and promoted to Chief
Flight Engineer and Check Airman Instructor. He then worked
for Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation as an Aviation Technician
in the Flight Operation Department in Savannah, Ga. and
completed his Commercial SEL, MEL, Instrument and Flight
Instructor Certificates and worked for Capital Cargo International
Airlines 121 scheduled cargo operations. He joined the Aviation Center of Excellence (ACE) in October 2002.
Mark
Peeples, Professor of Aviation Maintenance Technology Mr. Peeples served in the
U.S. Navy for 24 years and trained as a Turbine
Engine Mechanic and P3
Flight Engineer. After retirement from the Navy,
he was employed by Raytheon Aerospace in Dallas,
Texas, as a line mechanic. He relocated to Jacksonville
and worked at the Naval Air Station-Naval Aviation
Depot repairing flight controls on the P3 Orion.
He graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
with a B.S. in Aeronautics and a minor in Business
Administration. He is currently working on his
master’s degree
J.
B. Renninger, Director Mr. Renninger is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University
(B.S. in Math) and Webster University (M.A. in Business
Administration). He is a veteran of the U.S. Navy where
he served as a naval aviator for over 26 years. He has
over 6,000 flight hours in various carrier aircraft and
was selected as the commanding officer for three different
aviation commands. He is a graduate of the National War
College at Fort McNair, Washington, D.C., and served on
the Joint Staff under Secretary Colin L. Powell when he
was
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon.
Upon retirement from the U.S. Navy, he developed family
financial plans for military service members before serving
as the director of Florida Community College’s Aviation Center of Excellence (ACE).
Chris Vandiver, Professor of Aviation Maintenance Technology Mr. Vandiver is a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with an Associate’s Degree in Aviation Maintenance Technology. He began his aviation career working at an FBO for two years at Jacksonville International Airport. For the past 17 years, he has worked for Piedmont Airlines/US Airways Express as an aircraft mechanic on the deHavilland Dash 8 100/200/300 series aircraft. During this time, he performed shop duties, line maintenance, field service, RON over night maintenance, and he acted as a lead mechanic on heavy check aircraft inspections. Mr. Vandiver holds an FAA Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic Certificate.
Additional Staff
Steve Adams
Professional Pilot Instructor
904.317.3811 stadams@fccj.edu
Robert Arnold
Commercial Vehicle Driving Instructor
904.317.3845 rarnold@fccj.edu
For more information, contact the Cecil Center South —
Aviation Center of Excellence (ACE) 13450 Lake Fretwell St., Jacksonville, FL 32221 tmeyer@fccj.edu, 904.317.3800
