The Hon. George H.W. Bush, D-20000 | Honorary Chairman of the Board
On June 12, 2004, George Herbert Walker Bush went skydiving in honor of his 80th birthday. It was his third parachute jump since World War II. He also made a jump on June 9, 1999, before his 75th birthday, and told reporters then he had also parachuted in Arizona two years earlier. George H.W. Bush is a World War II veteran who served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States from 1981 to 1989 and the 41st President of the United States, serving January 20, 1989 - January 20, 1993.

Lewis B. Sanborn, D-1 | Honorary President
Lew Sanborn is one of the legends in skydiving and holds the coveted D-1 license. Lew started jumping in the Army Airborne in 1949 and has made more than 6,000 jumps. In 1959, Lew and Jacques Istel opened Parachutes Incorporated in Orange, Massachusetts, the first commercial parachuting company in the United States. Lew has the honor of being the "first" to do many things in the skydiving world including the "first" person to jump with a sleeve tied on to the apex, the "first" to film another jumper with a motion camera, and being a member of the group to hold the "first" World Parachuting Record claimed by the U.S. In 2000, Lew became the first person to celebrate 50 years of freefall skydiving. When Lew retired from construction work in 1992, he and his wife, Jacky, traveled around the country living in a motor home. They eventually settled into retirement in Missouri to be close to family.

L. Len "Lenny" Potts, D-220 | President
L. Len (Lenny) Potts officially began his skydiving career in 1952 in New Jersey with the United States Special Forces and his civilian skydiving career in 1958.  By the time he officially retired from skydiving, he had logged 3,500 jumps and participated in many competitions both in the states as well as abroad. In the late 60’s and 70’s, Lenny served as the USPA’s FAA liaison on Capitol Hill. His personal persuasiveness was instrumental during the growing years of the USPA. Lenny has served as the president of the National Skydiving Museum since 2006 and has been a driving force taking the museum from a mere vision on paper to owning four acres of land and on its way to raising funds to build the museum. He currently resides in Port Orange, Florida.

James F. "Curt" Curtis III, D-1407 | Vice President
With more than 30 years of executive level experience in sports marketing, Curt is the owner of CCA (CurtComm Associates) of New York City. CCA is a full service marketing and communications entity specializing in the sports, special events and entertainment arenas. In partnership with its clients, CCA develops strategically targeted programs designed to meet predetermined business objectives. Curt served as a member of the US National Parachute Team, was the US National and World Parachuting Champion in 1977, assistant executive director, national director, president and chairman of the board for the US Parachute Association and a US delegate to the Federal Aeronautique Internationale. He was educated at Boston University and completed his military service with the U.S. Marine Corps.

Lee Schlichtemeier, D-16256 | Treasurer
Alvin "Lee" Schlichtemeier lives in Plano, Texas, with his wife Carol and together they own and operate Skydive Dallas parachute center in Whitewright, 60 miles northeast of Dallas. Lee made his first jump in 1989 and has almost 500 jumps. He’s active as a national and international competition judge and, as a commercial, instrument, single-engine-rated pilot, flies his own Cessna 206.
Lee joined USPA’s board of directors in 1997 as the Southwest Regional Director and began serving as its treasurer in 1999, holding that position on the executive committee until 2013 when he decided not to run for the board again. Doc Lee is a physician, radiation oncologist, and medical director of the St. Joseph's Regional Cancer Center Radiation Oncology Department in Bryan, Texas. He earned his bachelor's degree and medical degree from the University of Nebraska and completed his medical residency in radiation oncology at the University of Arizona Medical Center. Lee served in the U.S. Air Force, and Florida and Arizona Air National Guards.

Christopher J. Needels, D-1765 | Secretary
Having served in the White House as Director of International Programs on the National Security Council Staff, Chris went on to train former President George Herbert Walker Bush to skydive four years later. His 28 years of service in the U.S. Army included two combat tours in Southeast Asia, service with infantry, armor, airborne, intelligence, Ranger and Special Forces units, and a tour as commander of the U.S. Army Parachute Team, the "Golden Knights." Following his military service he became executive director of the U. S. Parachute Association, where he remained for more than thirteen years. Chris now resides in Accomac, Virginia, with his wife Conny. He holds USPA license D-1765 and has made more than 3,000 skydives. He received a B.S. (Engineering) from the U.S. Military Academy, an M.S. in Operations Research (Engineering) from the Navy Postgraduate School, and a Master of Military Arts and Science from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.

Dori Bachman | Trustee
Dori is the owner of Para-Gear Equipment Co., one of the largest distributors of parachuting equipment in the world. In the early sixties, Dori tried her hand at skydiving but at the time preferred teaching scuba diving. She married Lowell Bachman, founder of Para-Gear in 1970 and became a drop zone wife giving her husband moral support as he judged numerous local, national and international parachute meets. In 1971, Dori left her job as manager of a medium-sized construction firm to become a full-time mom with the birth of her first son, Chris. In 1974, her mom duties doubled with the birth of her second son, Curt. Since 1970, Dori has been a partner in Para-Gear and became an active participant in her son Chris’ snowboard business in 1988. She was elected to the position of treasurer in the Parachute Industry Association, of which Para-Gear is a founding member in 1992 and still holds that position today. In addition to her duties as treasurer, Dori has also served on various PIA committees and helped with numerous symposiums.

Larry K. Bagley, D-4522 | Trustee
As a member of the Utah National Guard Special Forces, Larry made his first jump at Fort Benning, GA, in 1963, started sport jumping in 1965 and has logged over 5,000 jumps. Before retiring from the National Guard/Federal reserve in 1990 as a major, he flew helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, logging almost 4,000 hours. In 1975, he joined the USPA board of directors as the Mountain Conference Director and served four years before being elected as a national director. During his 20-year stint on the board, he served as President for eight years and two years as chairman of the board. Larry and his wife, Cindi, owned and operated a commercial parachute center in Utah for 10 years and have traveled to almost 100 countries, mostly on behalf of skydiving. They became honorary Golden Knights in 2007.
In 1995, Larry joined the USPA staff in Virginia as director of government relations; later he served as deputy executive director and finally as the first director of competition, before retiring in 2011. He collaterally served as alternate delegate to the International Parachuting Commission, including six years as IPC technical secretary. 

Donald Jenkins, D-3776 | Trustee
Don served as a parachutist on the Army Parachute Team Golden Knights from 1973 until 1976. He has made over 1,220 jumps. After being medically retired from the U.S. Army in 1976, Don was a parachutist for The Great American Air Show from 1976 to 1977. Since 1977, Don has been involved in the retail automotive business as a salesman and dealer. He currently owns and operates six new car dealerships in Florida.

Dan Poynter, D-454 | Trustee
Dan has served as president of the Parachute Industry Association, chairman of the board of the U.S. Parachute Association, president of the International Hang Gliding Commission and as vice-president of the Publishers Marketing Association. He has all the skydiving licenses and ratings (D-454, I/E, SCR-271, SCS-63, etc.), 1200 jumps, 12 hours of freefall time, is a master parachute rigger and a licensed pilot. He jumped onto the North Pole in 1994. Since 1962, Dan has written more books, reports, CDs and magazine articles on parachutes and skydiving than any other author. He is a frequent speaker, successful publisher and renowned consultant. His seminars have been featured on CNN, his books have been pictured in The Wall Street Journal, and his story has been told in US News & World Report. A professional speaker, he travels more than 6,000 miles each week. He resides in Santa Barbara, California. 

B.J. Worth, D-3805 | Trustee
B.J. Worth has made more than 6,200 skydives, holds 11 FAI World Records, is a three-time world champion and was the first person to jump on all seven continents. He has served in various capacities for the U.S. Parachute Association (USPA) including national director (1979-2013), president (1997-2001) and chairman of the board (2003- 2013). B.J.’s career includes owner of Big Sky Productions, Inc., an independent film production company; producer, director and writer; aerial unit director, stunt coordinator and stunt performer for feature films, television shows and commercials; and aerial stunt coordinator and principal stunt double in nine sequences of seven James Bond films. His most famous jump was from the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. B.J. resides in Whitefish, Montana.

The Hon. George H.W. Bush, D-20000 | Honorary Chairman of the Board
On June 12, 2004, George Herbert Walker Bush went skydiving in honor of his 80th birthday. It was his third parachute jump since World War II. He also made a jump on June 9, 1999, before his 75th birthday, and told reporters then he had also parachuted in Arizona two years earlier. George H.W. Bush is a World War II veteran who served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States from 1981 to 1989 and the 41st President of the United States, serving January 20, 1989 - January 20, 1993.

Lewis B. Sanborn, D-1 | Honorary President
Lew Sanborn is one of the legends in skydiving and holds the coveted D-1 license. Lew started jumping in the Army Airborne in 1949 and has made more than 6,000 jumps. In 1959, Lew and Jacques Istel opened Parachutes Incorporated in Orange, Massachusetts, the first commercial parachuting company in the United States. Lew has the honor of being the "first" to do many things in the skydiving world including the "first" person to jump with a sleeve tied on to the apex, the "first" to film another jumper with a motion camera, and being a member of the group to hold the "first" World Parachuting Record claimed by the U.S. In 2000, Lew became the first person to celebrate 50 years of freefall skydiving. When Lew retired from construction work in 1992, he and his wife, Jacky, traveled around the country living in a motor home. They eventually settled into retirement in Missouri to be close to family.

L. Len "Lenny" Potts, D-220 | President
L. Len (Lenny) Potts officially began his skydiving career in 1952 in New Jersey with the United States Special Forces and his civilian skydiving career in 1958.  By the time he officially retired from skydiving, he had logged 3,500 jumps and participated in many competitions both in the states as well as abroad. In the late 60’s and 70’s, Lenny served as the USPA’s FAA liaison on Capitol Hill. His personal persuasiveness was instrumental during the growing years of the USPA. Lenny has served as the president of the National Skydiving Museum since 2006 and has been a driving force taking the museum from a mere vision on paper to owning four acres of land and on its way to raising funds to build the museum. He currently resides in Port Orange, Florida.

James F. "Curt" Curtis III, D-1407 | Vice President
With more than 30 years of executive level experience in sports marketing, Curt is the owner of CCA (CurtComm Associates) of New York City. CCA is a full service marketing and communications entity specializing in the sports, special events and entertainment arenas. In partnership with its clients, CCA develops strategically targeted programs designed to meet predetermined business objectives. Curt served as a member of the US National Parachute Team, was the US National and World Parachuting Champion in 1977, assistant executive director, national director, president and chairman of the board for the US Parachute Association and a US delegate to the Federal Aeronautique Internationale. He was educated at Boston University and completed his military service with the U.S. Marine Corps.

Lee Schlichtemeier, D-16256 | Treasurer
Alvin "Lee" Schlichtemeier lives in Plano, Texas, with his wife Carol and together they own and operate Skydive Dallas parachute center in Whitewright, 60 miles northeast of Dallas. Lee made his first jump in 1989 and has almost 500 jumps. He’s active as a national and international competition judge and, as a commercial, instrument, single-engine-rated pilot, flies his own Cessna 206.
Lee joined USPA’s board of directors in 1997 as the Southwest Regional Director and began serving as its treasurer in 1999, holding that position on the executive committee until 2013 when he decided not to run for the board again. Doc Lee is a physician, radiation oncologist, and medical director of the St. Joseph's Regional Cancer Center Radiation Oncology Department in Bryan, Texas. He earned his bachelor's degree and medical degree from the University of Nebraska and completed his medical residency in radiation oncology at the University of Arizona Medical Center. Lee served in the U.S. Air Force, and Florida and Arizona Air National Guards.

Christopher J. Needels, D-1765 | Secretary
Having served in the White House as Director of International Programs on the National Security Council Staff, Chris went on to train former President George Herbert Walker Bush to skydive four years later. His 28 years of service in the U.S. Army included two combat tours in Southeast Asia, service with infantry, armor, airborne, intelligence, Ranger and Special Forces units, and a tour as commander of the U.S. Army Parachute Team, the "Golden Knights." Following his military service he became executive director of the U. S. Parachute Association, where he remained for more than thirteen years. Chris now resides in Accomac, Virginia, with his wife Conny. He holds USPA license D-1765 and has made more than 3,000 skydives. He received a B.S. (Engineering) from the U.S. Military Academy, an M.S. in Operations Research (Engineering) from the Navy Postgraduate School, and a Master of Military Arts and Science from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.

Dori Bachman | Trustee
Dori is the owner of Para-Gear Equipment Co., one of the largest distributors of parachuting equipment in the world. In the early sixties, Dori tried her hand at skydiving but at the time preferred teaching scuba diving. She married Lowell Bachman, founder of Para-Gear in 1970 and became a drop zone wife giving her husband moral support as he judged numerous local, national and international parachute meets. In 1971, Dori left her job as manager of a medium-sized construction firm to become a full-time mom with the birth of her first son, Chris. In 1974, her mom duties doubled with the birth of her second son, Curt. Since 1970, Dori has been a partner in Para-Gear and became an active participant in her son Chris’ snowboard business in 1988. She was elected to the position of treasurer in the Parachute Industry Association, of which Para-Gear is a founding member in 1992 and still holds that position today. In addition to her duties as treasurer, Dori has also served on various PIA committees and helped with numerous symposiums.

Larry K. Bagley, D-4522 | Trustee
As a member of the Utah National Guard Special Forces, Larry made his first jump at Fort Benning, GA, in 1963, started sport jumping in 1965 and has logged over 5,000 jumps. Before retiring from the National Guard/Federal reserve in 1990 as a major, he flew helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, logging almost 4,000 hours. In 1975, he joined the USPA board of directors as the Mountain Conference Director and served four years before being elected as a national director. During his 20-year stint on the board, he served as President for eight years and two years as chairman of the board. Larry and his wife, Cindi, owned and operated a commercial parachute center in Utah for 10 years and have traveled to almost 100 countries, mostly on behalf of skydiving. They became honorary Golden Knights in 2007.
In 1995, Larry joined the USPA staff in Virginia as director of government relations; later he served as deputy executive director and finally as the first director of competition, before retiring in 2011. He collaterally served as alternate delegate to the International Parachuting Commission, including six years as IPC technical secretary. 

Donald Jenkins, D-3776 | Trustee
Don served as a parachutist on the Army Parachute Team Golden Knights from 1973 until 1976. He has made over 1,220 jumps. After being medically retired from the U.S. Army in 1976, Don was a parachutist for The Great American Air Show from 1976 to 1977. Since 1977, Don has been involved in the retail automotive business as a salesman and dealer. He currently owns and operates six new car dealerships in Florida.

Dan Poynter, D-454 | Trustee
Dan has served as president of the Parachute Industry Association, chairman of the board of the U.S. Parachute Association, president of the International Hang Gliding Commission and as vice-president of the Publishers Marketing Association. He has all the skydiving licenses and ratings (D-454, I/E, SCR-271, SCS-63, etc.), 1200 jumps, 12 hours of freefall time, is a master parachute rigger and a licensed pilot. He jumped onto the North Pole in 1994. Since 1962, Dan has written more books, reports, CDs and magazine articles on parachutes and skydiving than any other author. He is a frequent speaker, successful publisher and renowned consultant. His seminars have been featured on CNN, his books have been pictured in The Wall Street Journal, and his story has been told in US News & World Report. A professional speaker, he travels more than 6,000 miles each week. He resides in Santa Barbara, California. 

B.J. Worth, D-3805 | Trustee
B.J. Worth has made more than 6,200 skydives, holds 11 FAI World Records, is a three-time world champion and was the first person to jump on all seven continents. He has served in various capacities for the U.S. Parachute Association (USPA) including national director (1979-2013), president (1997-2001) and chairman of the board (2003- 2013). B.J.’s career includes owner of Big Sky Productions, Inc., an independent film production company; producer, director and writer; aerial unit director, stunt coordinator and stunt performer for feature films, television shows and commercials; and aerial stunt coordinator and principal stunt double in nine sequences of seven James Bond films. His most famous jump was from the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. B.J. resides in Whitefish, Montana.