Christopher Thatcher

• Directed all aspects of a private flight department operating a Citation XLS+ (CE-560XL) and King Air 200, with additional PIC time in the Citation Sovereign+ (CE-680) — managing four pilots, scheduling, training currency tracking, and regulatory compliance. • Developed and enforced department SOPs, crew qualification standards, and recurrent training requirements aligned with FAA Part 91/135 regulatory frameworks and insurance underwriting requirements — maintaining zero compliance findings across two-plus years of operations. • Served as primary authority for safety culture, risk identification, and operational decision-making, building contingency procedures for irregular operations and adverse conditions. • Managed owner and principal relations end-to-end — scheduling, communicating operational decisions, and delivering the discretion and service standards expected in high-standard private aviation. • Coordinated with maintenance providers to ensure airworthiness, scheduled inspections, and AOG recovery across domestic and international operations.

• PIC in Part 135 on-demand charter operations serving corporate clients and high-net-worth passengers on domestic and international routes; coordinated complex, time-sensitive itineraries with dispatch and operations teams. • Built deep experience with CE-680 and CE-560XL systems, international trip planning, and maintaining safety and service standards in a demanding operational tempo.

• First Officer on CRJ 200/700/900 in structured Part 121 airline operations; developed CRM, SOP discipline, and crew coordination proficiency in a high-volume environment.

• Part 135 on-demand charter FO supporting PIC in delivering professional service to repeat private clientele; refined situational awareness and crew coordination skills in a dynamic charter environment.

• Provided ground and flight instruction to ab initio cadets under contract with a Chinese airline, managing structured lesson plans on time and within budget. • Developed strong instructional communication and standardization skills across multi-cultural training environments.

• Managed end-to-end training operations for two classes of 30 Chinese airline cadets — from student selection in China through private, instrument, multi-engine, and commercial certification — providing both flight and ground instruction while maintaining per-student budgets at or under $100,000. • Kept total program costs within a $6M+ budget across both cohorts, directly supporting contract profitability for the airline partner. • Delivered FAA-required ground and flight instruction on time and to standard, maintaining curriculum compliance and checkride readiness across a multi-cultural training environment.

• Led and managed teams of up to 12 personnel across high-pressure operational environments; oversaw training, performance, scheduling, and equipment accountability. • Executed operations as U.S. Army Infantryman, leading personnel through high-stakes, time-critical missions requiring sound judgment, disciplined execution, and composure under pressure — instincts that translate directly to cockpit decision-making and crew resource management.