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 holding 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 career skydiving in 1959 at the first American commercial skydiving center in Orange, Massachusetts. Throughout his skydiving career, he participated in many competitions both in the states as well as abroad. By the time he officially retired from skydiving, he had logged 3,500 jumps. In the last 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.

Gene Paul Thacker, D-167 | Vice President
In 1968, Gene Paul started Raeford Parachute Center and School with a dirt runway, no facilities and a Cessna 182. With Gene Paul coaching, Raeford rapidly became known worldwide as the premier place to train for style and accuracy. Now a full service dropzone, P.K. Airpark still houses the Raeford Parachute Center School (owned by Gene Paul's son, Tony and his wife Kate). It is also home to Raeford Aviation, Paraclete Aviation, Dragon's Den Gear Sales, Y-not Today Rigging, Aviators Bar and Grill and a RV park. In 1970 Gene Paul started Raeford Aviation. Today, with a Twin Otter, PAC 750 and two Cessna 182s, they fly skydivers and military contracts both on and off Fort Bragg. Gene Paul has been a pilot since 1965 and served in the U.S. Army from 1948 to 1951 and again from 1954 to 1971. He received numerous military awards including the Distinguished Flying Cross for aerial display, Legion of Merit for service with the U.S. Army Golden Knights, the Bronze Star for service during the Korean War and both a Bronze Star and Purple Heart during Vietnam. He started jumping in 1959, was the third person in the U.S. to accumulate 2,000 jumps and has logged 4,000 total jumps. In 2004, Gene Paul was awarded the USPA's Lifetime Achievement Award. He has served as Chairman of the USPA Board of Directors, a Regional Director, chairman of the USPA Competition Committee, Head of the U.S. Delegation and coached many National and World Champions. Gene Paul currently resides in Raeford, North Carolina with his wife Billie. They have four children.

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.

James F. "Curt" Curtis III, D-1407 | Treasurer
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.

 

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. For the last thirty-eight years, Dori has been a partner in Para-Gear and, for the last twenty years, has been an active participant in her son Chris’ snowboard business. She was elected to the position of treasurer in the Parachute Industry Association, of which Para-Gear is a founding member seventeen years ago 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.

Tim D'Annunzio, D-7083 | Trustee
Tim is the owner of Paraclete XP SkyVenture Indoor Skydiving Center in Raeford, North Carolina. The 12,000 square feet facility houses the world’s largest and most powerful vertical wind tunnel. He was also the founder, president and chief designer of Paraclete Armor and Equipment, a manufacturer of military and law enforcement tactical gear in St. Pauls, North Carolina. Tim is a master rigger with 7, 777 jumps beginning in 1974 in the military as an Army Parachute Rigger and then beginning in 1978 as a skydiver. His military experience includes serving as a Military Freefall Instructor with Halo Committee and as both a competitor and demonstrator with the US Army Golden Knights. Tim and his wife Colleen have six children and reside in Raeford, North Carolina.

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.

 

Cliff Schmucker, D-5059 | Trustee
Cliff began his skydiving career in 1973 while a freshman at the University of Cincinnati pursuing his degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Shortly thereafter, he began designing, testing, servicing, and manufacturing parachute equipment. Cliff has made 2600+ jumps, is a FAA Master Parachute Rigger, and over the years has held various skydiving instructor and jumpmaster ratings. In 1983 he co-founded SSK Industries to manufacture the Sweethog sport harness-container system. Leveraging Cliff’s talents in the electronics/computer and parachute technology fields, in 1991 SSK became the Western Hemisphere Service Center for the CYPRES parachute automatic activation device, which has saved the lives of over 1000 skydivers. Under the leadership of Cliff and his partner Karen Dean, SSK designs, manufactures, services, and integrates hi-tech parachute safety, guidance, and training systems and equipment in both the civilian and military sectors. Cliff is active in the Parachute Industry Association, and has served as President since 1994. With his guidance, PIA has transitioned from a sport trade association to encompass all aspects of skydiving and parachuting: sport, government/military, and commercial. In addition to making an occasional jump with his son Adam, Cliff also enjoys driving and restoring classic automobiles with son Nathan.

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 (1979-2000), president (1997-2000) and chairman of the board (2003- current). 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 holding 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 career skydiving in 1959 at the first American commercial skydiving center in Orange, Massachusetts. Throughout his skydiving career, he participated in many competitions both in the states as well as abroad. By the time he officially retired from skydiving, he had logged 3,500 jumps. In the last 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.

Gene Paul Thacker, D-167 | Vice President
In 1968, Gene Paul started Raeford Parachute Center and School with a dirt runway, no facilities and a Cessna 182. With Gene Paul coaching, Raeford rapidly became known worldwide as the premier place to train for style and accuracy. Now a full service dropzone, P.K. Airpark still houses the Raeford Parachute Center School (owned by Gene Paul's son, Tony and his wife Kate). It is also home to Raeford Aviation, Paraclete Aviation, Dragon's Den Gear Sales, Y-not Today Rigging, Aviators Bar and Grill and a RV park. In 1970 Gene Paul started Raeford Aviation. Today, with a Twin Otter, PAC 750 and two Cessna 182s, they fly skydivers and military contracts both on and off Fort Bragg. Gene Paul has been a pilot since 1965 and served in the U.S. Army from 1948 to 1951 and again from 1954 to 1971. He received numerous military awards including the Distinguished Flying Cross for aerial display, Legion of Merit for service with the U.S. Army Golden Knights, the Bronze Star for service during the Korean War and both a Bronze Star and Purple Heart during Vietnam. He started jumping in 1959, was the third person in the U.S. to accumulate 2,000 jumps and has logged 4,000 total jumps. In 2004, Gene Paul was awarded the USPA's Lifetime Achievement Award. He has served as Chairman of the USPA Board of Directors, a Regional Director, chairman of the USPA Competition Committee, Head of the U.S. Delegation and coached many National and World Champions. Gene Paul currently resides in Raeford, North Carolina with his wife Billie. They have four children.

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.

James F. "Curt" Curtis III, D-1407 | Treasurer
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.

 

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. For the last thirty-eight years, Dori has been a partner in Para-Gear and, for the last twenty years, has been an active participant in her son Chris’ snowboard business. She was elected to the position of treasurer in the Parachute Industry Association, of which Para-Gear is a founding member seventeen years ago 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.

Tim D'Annunzio, D-7083 | Trustee
Tim is the owner of Paraclete XP SkyVenture Indoor Skydiving Center in Raeford, North Carolina. The 12,000 square feet facility houses the world’s largest and most powerful vertical wind tunnel. He was also the founder, president and chief designer of Paraclete Armor and Equipment, a manufacturer of military and law enforcement tactical gear in St. Pauls, North Carolina. Tim is a master rigger with 7, 777 jumps beginning in 1974 in the military as an Army Parachute Rigger and then beginning in 1978 as a skydiver. His military experience includes serving as a Military Freefall Instructor with Halo Committee and as both a competitor and demonstrator with the US Army Golden Knights. Tim and his wife Colleen have six children and reside in Raeford, North Carolina.

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.

 

Cliff Schmucker, D-5059 | Trustee
Cliff began his skydiving career in 1973 while a freshman at the University of Cincinnati pursuing his degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Shortly thereafter, he began designing, testing, servicing, and manufacturing parachute equipment. Cliff has made 2600+ jumps, is a FAA Master Parachute Rigger, and over the years has held various skydiving instructor and jumpmaster ratings. In 1983 he co-founded SSK Industries to manufacture the Sweethog sport harness-container system. Leveraging Cliff’s talents in the electronics/computer and parachute technology fields, in 1991 SSK became the Western Hemisphere Service Center for the CYPRES parachute automatic activation device, which has saved the lives of over 1000 skydivers. Under the leadership of Cliff and his partner Karen Dean, SSK designs, manufactures, services, and integrates hi-tech parachute safety, guidance, and training systems and equipment in both the civilian and military sectors. Cliff is active in the Parachute Industry Association, and has served as President since 1994. With his guidance, PIA has transitioned from a sport trade association to encompass all aspects of skydiving and parachuting: sport, government/military, and commercial. In addition to making an occasional jump with his son Adam, Cliff also enjoys driving and restoring classic automobiles with son Nathan.

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 (1979-2000), president (1997-2000) and chairman of the board (2003- current). 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.