October 24, 2012
United official will keynote aviation banquet
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Peter D. McDonald, executive vice president and chief operations officer with United Airlines, is the featured speaker at the 2012 "Aviation in the Future" banquet on Friday, Oct. 26.
The banquet coincides with the SIU Carbondale aviation program's 18th annual career fair earlier in the day, and the grand opening of the Transportation Education Center.
Banquet doors open at 6:30 p.m. in Student Center Ballroom D. Organizers anticipate the event will attract between 250 and 300 aviation students and industry professionals.
The aviation career fair is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Student Center Ballrooms A, B. and C. Approximately 30 aviation-related employers, including representatives from about one dozen airlines are expected, said David A. NewMyer, chair of the Department of Aviation Management and Flight.
Media Advisory
Reporters, photographers and camera crews are welcome to attend the career fair and banquet. For more information, contact David A. NewMyer at 618/453-8898.
Tickets are $30 for adults and non-students, and $20 for SIU Carbondale students. Tickets are available by calling SIU Carbondale's Department of Aviation Management and Flight at 618/453-8898, or at the aviation flight dispatch and weather counter in the TEC building. Tickets are available from any Aviation Management Society member; tickets will be held at the door for purchase, and those interested can also contact aviation students Brent Muno at brentmuno11@siu.edu or Cody Hepner at codyhepner@siu.edu or NewMyer, at dnewmyer@aviation.siu.edu.
McDonald joined United Airlines in 1969. Prior to his current role, where his responsibilities include overseeing all airport operations, technical operations, inflight, flight operations and United Express, McDonald was executive vice president and chief administrative officer from 2008 to 2010. He was executive vice president and chief operating officer from 2004 to 2008. He has also held various posts in the airline's operations, sales, and marketing departments.
The career fair is not just for students majoring in aviation-related programs, NewMyer said. The career fair is also attractive to students majoring in business, communication, and engineering-related fields.
Career fair participants include Air Wisconsin, ExpressJet, The Boeing Company, Cape Air, Compass Airlines, Delta Airlines, Great Lakes Aviation, Jet Support Services, Inc., Southwest Airlines, Trans State Airlines, United Airlines, Wood Dale-based AAR Corp., Ricondo and Associates aviation consultants, the Air Line Pilots Association, and Landrum & Brown, an aviation consulting company.